Painting by Belynda Wilson Thomas

Whether we manage to find joy and success in the daily struggle is largely dependent on our ability to persevere through even the toughest adversity without ever giving up. Unknown

Last night we gathered around our computers for another Toastmaster meeting on Zoom. The speeches were good, the camaraderie was nice. We have members showing up who haven’t been able to come to our regular meetings.

People are staying in touch over the phone, internet, FaceBook, and we are sitting and talking with those in our household. A cousin sent a picture on FaceBook of her and her neighbor’s social distancing by sitting more than six feet away in lawn chairs in the front of their houses.

It was beautiful day for a walk with my dog and a phone call to Mom at the same time. Its spring here but my brother is still snowmobiling where he is and it was too cold to do that yesterday he told me in a long phone conversation. We had a lot of laughs and we need to do find the funny in our situation and in the situations we’ve shared. His wife interacts with people who don’t remember but they lost siblings to the pandemic of 1918.

Our grandparents on Dad’s side would have gone through 1918 in Saskatchewan with babies and they all got through it. October 20, 1918, was the first “Churchless Sunday.” They had to go through that pandemic without all the modern amenities we have. In Saskatoon, all places of amusement were closed on October 17, 1918, and the council passed an order to re-open such places on November 25, 1918, but only between 5:15 and 7 p.m. Schools were permitted to open on December 2, 1918.

Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Thich Nhat Hanh

Four-ply cheesecloths were used as masks in 1918. By looking at what was done in the past we have an idea of what worked. Social distancing is what worked; from everything I’ve read, everywhere people celebrated in large numbers the death toll was higher.

Some people are really getting into cooking and baking. It is time-consuming, creative and rewarding when everyone sits down and enjoys our culinary creation. Having a fabulous meal to look forward to might be one of the bright spots in our day.

We need to have faith that what we are doing with social distancing is making a difference and keep doing it. We won’t know the worst is over until it’s over and we need to keep doing our part to keep the numbers down.

We have so many ways to amuse ourselves now but knowing we can’t do something makes us want to do it more. Keep on keeping on, we must be steadfast and get through this.

We can smile, wave, and have a laugh but are we making sure we are keeping our distance?

The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity. Ulysses S. Grant

He knows not his strength who hath not met adversity. William Samuel Johnson

I ask not for a lighter burden but for broader shoulders. Jewish Proverb

Thank you for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope you will come back and read some more. Have a blessed day filled with gratitude, joy, and love.

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