What day is it?

I’ve lost track of the days in that weird way when a lack of routine causes time to cease existing. But my phone tells me it’s Friday so...

I am waiting for April 1. I want the information, the numbers, that will tell us if this is working. I need it. I also want to work. Not just staff meetings and Skype but connecting with my students. April 1 is the day that I get to do that again.

I already knew this to be true but I learned whilst on maternity leave that “teacher” is an essential part of my identity. I am a better person when I can teach. It’s an outlet for me creatively and socially and I desperately miss it when it’s not there. I am so looking forward to having that piece of myself back again.

The daily update for Alberta just happened. We’ve surpassed 500 cases now. Almost all non-essential businesses have been shuttered. Gatherings will be no more than 15 people (which if we’re being honest feels like a lot). Canada is sitting at 4600 cases at the moment. 

Globally we’ll be past 600 000 by the end of the day. The rate of infection (or is it diagnosis?) is speeding up and feels overwhelming. The United States has confirmed another 15 000 cases today to add up to over 100 000.

I find that it’s easy to ignore Covid most of the time but every evening, just after putting the baby to bed, it gets intensely scary for about 5-20 minutes. I’ve started navigating this by using tools that help me to manage anxiety - specifically replacing the negative thought pattern with a positive one. So when it feels overwhelming I focus on what I am grateful for.

Today, I’m grateful for sunshine and puddles and the gift of time.



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