And…it’s a wrap…
All good things must come to an end. What began with unforeseen suddenness mid-March and adjusted with equal abruptness on May Day will be ending this weekend. Summer 2020 is transferring into my book of memories. I’ll mostly remember it as one sees things through a kaleidoscope. Jumbled up, barely recognizable, but with its own distinct beauty. The pre-cancer MK would have loved this summer beyond all recognition, while the cancer-dominated MK would have found it remarkably difficult.
I acknowledge for many 2020 is being viewed as a disaster. When it comes to me I’ve been lucky. While inconvenienced, I’ve managed to stay healthy, never mind masking up, and loved having the extravagance of family members join my work-from/stay-at-home bubble. After all, 19 weeks of family is something I’ll never, ever complain about.
Plus I know full well Napa joins me in relishing having spent so much of her summer bounding, shoulder-to-shoulder, with her favorite furry friends Stella, Benny, Bruno, BB, and Bravo.
When I look back on this summer in its entirety, I easily see my years as a caregiver having prepared me well for the disappointments and inconveniences endured this summer.
I’d already perfected stay-at-home, how to fight the feelings of isolation, shop once every two weeks, and find joy and comfort in the tiniest aspects of life. I’d already learned to overcome the feelings of disappointment that accompany having to cancel trips, not being able to see friends or have them visit, and enduring as a force completely beyond your control overrules your life and desires with no thought given to whatever the hell your own plans had envisioned.
On the plus side, besides prized family times: weather-wise we had a truly gorgeous summer; Napa took an impressive step up in her training; I repaid a long outstanding debt to a very significant person in our families’ lives; crafted our wine wall; and due to fewer outside distractions, took on a formidable fundraising task achieving its daunting goal. Oh, and I can’t ignore the recent euphoria over the outcome of our national election!
Now it’s time.
Our beautiful autumn leaves are browned and down, our temps are sinking below freezing, plus we’ve snow on the ground with more churning in the air. Time to gather up, say my temporary farewells, convince Napa there are good things on the horizon after our drive, and kiss the house.
In the quiet of Pallino as I check the windows and doors I feel, as I always do, an increased sense of emptiness over the loss of MK. I hear her voice, plain as day, explaining to me, while lounging in her smoking lanai, her decision regarding Pallino. Telling me in no uncertain terms keeping it in the family would be something I would always look back on and say…
‘You’re right! Thank you, Mary Kay!’
