Monday, March 16, 2020

NASCAR?

I was talking on the phone to Mz just now, telling her how disappointed I am in the unimaginative response of the Church ("the Church"?) to this viral time. (Does this epoch have a name yet?)

Mz was needling me about how I've been out the Church for years, but I snap back to having outlandish expectations of it.

"You're right . . . " I said. "I know it's ridiculous, I know better, but I still want the Church to be Christlike."

"When I hear that," she said, "it makes as much sense as if you said you're disappointed in NASCAR."

Ohgod, that made me laugh and set me to rights.

I needed that.

I went from feeling enraged most of the day to feeling really sad in the evening. HouseMate and I usually go to the neighborhood pub Buster's for dinner on Tuesdays. 

MN governor Tim Walz, however, has declared all restaurants must close by noon tomorrow (Tuesday), for the duration––and gyms, museums, theaters, and other "places of entertainment" too, on top of schools and libraries––so we went tonight instead for a last supper. (Walleye tacos for me.)

(Not sure about the thrift store. I've heard nothing... But the governor gave this advice regarding businesses and activities not specifically banned: “If it seems like it’s probably not a good idea, it’s probably not a good idea.”)

Buster's was fairly lively, but by the time we left at eight, they had started to close down the back half-- putting chairs up on tables. When I saw that, all of a sudden I felt terribly sad.

This is a posed selfie, but I really did feel like crying.

I actually took this to put on Facebook. I wrote, "Is anyone else feeling really sad?"
Seems so. One friend replied, "Yes... sadness is setting in...", but added, oddly, "we must fight it."

I replied that it's alright to feel sad for awhile. She wrote back agreeing it's also good to be honest about emotion.

I wouldn't normally Facebook my emotions, but this is such an abnormal time--I wanted to. I don't know what's happening, but it really is happening. To all of us.

I want to pay attention. And I guess I'm wanting to post about feelings because I/we might feel alone and confused, and admitting to feelings might help both me and others feel less alone, 
... though probably not less confused!

Like an Internet version of what the toys say as they are forced toward the trash incinerator
in Toy Story 3 (or is it 2?),

"Let's hold hands."


[NASCAR?
*laughs*]

4 comments:

  1. Let's stretch our long internet arms across the ocean, for a distant hands-holding!

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  2. Yes! Thank you. *squeezes hand*

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  3. And this is how you help people during this time: https://patch.com/new-hampshire/concord-nh/nh-coronavirus-governor-suspends-evictions-foreclosures

    Way to go NH!

    Kirsten

    ReplyDelete
  4. This may well revive caring and sharing and social frameworks. As people run errands and garden for those who cannot go out.

    ReplyDelete