Memorial Day Weekend

Hari and Da are away this weekend. Their first time traveling since the pandemic. From the checklist for travel to the drive to the airport, I felt a little out of touch. It has been a while. What do we typically need when we travel? What do we need in the light of Covid? Not having driven as far as the airport since the pandemic, the busyness of the airport road felt a little alien. After being together within the same space, day in and day out, Ram and I felt a little bit of vacuum the first evening that the rest of the Jing Bang Gang was away.

The first step is the hardest, the next step and the step after that feels like we are treading in familiar territory. In their absence, Ram and I are enjoying some exclusive time. Lots of TV watching, cuddling, reading, and what we call as ishi pishi. The work days are all consuming leaving little time for anything or anyone else at all. The long weekend has brought in the much needed slowdown to my routine. The weather is wet, so the temptation to be out is not there. Less truly feels like more this weekend.

I am thankful that Hari had a chance to play some cricket. Sports took a beating with the pandemic and as academics gets more rigorous in high school,

New Normal

Cases in the US have been steadily declining for sometime now. About 50% of the population is vaccinated. I felt a wave of gratitude and relief when Da, Hari and I got our first shots. Just to know that so many people have worked so hard to get us to a safer state is humbling. The US has vaccines manufactured by three companies – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson. We all took the Pfizer vaccine and had mild to no after effects. We are waiting for the little one in our house to be vaccinated.

My state has relaxed the masks requirements. It is not uncommon to see people without masks outdoors. Ram’s school is back in full strength full time. Hari’s too but given the school year is so close to an end, we have chosen to have him remote. Extra curricular activities have resumed in person for the most part. Da has been going to work in person for three days per week.

From being surreal to hunkering down, we are now graduating to living with the pandemic. On our part, we are trying to strike a balance between resuming activities and not letting our guard down. Keeping fingers crossed.

Second Covid wave in India

It is hard to talk about the second wave of Covid in India without feeling like a hypocrite. It triggers a lot of difficult emotions. Not being there, not doing enough, just watching it all unfold with a certain numbness. We all know someone who has succumbed to this treacherous pandemic. A life lost too soon, families with multiple deaths, and folks scrambling for hospital beds and oxygen. In my FaceBook and WhatsApp groups, I see families making frantic efforts to bid final good bye to their loved ones. It’s heartbreaking.

Words feel meaningless and emotions feel useless in the face of this devastation. I donated thinking that it would make me feel like I am doing something about it but it feels like nothing, an escapism from doing something more substantial.

I surrender and fold my hands in prayer. I hold my loved ones and my country of birth close to my heart and pray for their well being. Let the ones facing devastation have the strength and courage to rebuild their lives. Let the ones suffering heal from the pain. Please keep my family and friends safe and healthy. To those brave souls risking their own lives, deep heartfelt thank you. May you live long healthy happy lives with your loved ones. Take care India, rooting for you.