Author: alwaysbridging

Given new guidance from the CDC, I hugged my daughter Carolina yesterday for the first time in a year. We are both fully-vaccinated as she was in the now-unblinded Moderna test, God bless her! We were masked and outdoors. Still….holding and being held. I noticed and reveled, which is my intent, to FEEL these firsts as they return.

And this little bee is beckoning me too, “Come play, Aunt Penny. Come play!” Teary now. Flooding with gratitude. 

Nannie scratched my little back until I fell asleep, singing or cooing, “Be still, honey. Rest is as good as sleep.” I resurrect this mantra when the night is long or the morning is early, glad I’ve memorized the Lord’s Prayer in English and Spanish. Wishing I’d memorized more poetry. Just think of the lucky ones who can sing themselves to sleep with the Magnificat.  

Since retiring, I have struggled with the perennial question, “What now?” Don’t get me wrong, I love reporting to God. I just like the definition of a job.

Last week I became an ESP—Essential Support Person—the title used for those who can come inside at Mom’s. This apparently is an official government phrase according to a lawyer in my small “Radix” group. She helped conjure up the terminology. How’s that for the magic of connection?

After months of brief visits outdoors, it was blissful to be together inside and warm.

The job fits. I’ll take it.    

……that’s enough for today.

Period.

The thing about Lent is sin surfaces. Back when 70-and-above was the age to get vaccinated, I was only 65 and desperate to get poked. Privileged me tried to finagle the definition of “multi-generational household” in my mind until a friend straightened me out. Oh, the embarrassment, then remorse. Me, who speaks of justice. Today we get our second jabs. I know every shot in every arm benefits everybody. I hope and pray the stats shift showing the most vulnerable are getting protection too.