Faith, family help through pandemic
One year ago, the news of COVID-19 became real and close to home. Stay-athome orders were put in place and I settled in with adequate supplies for at least a month with food and toilet paper on hand.
Here I was, 78 years old, living with my Leo-cat and Baby-dog to keep me company as I watched an empty street in front of my condo. I just knew the medical community in our very civilized and scientifically progressive country would have this under control within days, weeks, or at most, a few months.
Little did I know that I would turn 79 eight months later and still be living with my Leo-cat and Baby-dog for company, making furtive trips to grocery stores and pharmacies always wearing a mask.
Speaking of masks, I have sewn and donated several hundred of them this year. As a hearing-impaired person, masks make my world mostly voiceless. Even with good aids, without seeing mouths, I cannot catch the words. Is a silent world in my future as I age?
So I spent my 79th birthday alone, followed by Thanksgiving alone and along came Christmas. I invited my daughter and granddaughters to come for Christmas dinner. I roped off part of my small living room with Christmas lights that was their designated space for eating and gift opening. A memorable but fun Christmas for sure.
That was my excitement for the year. I decided it was my year of practicing aging. I know as I get older I will spend most of my time alone as my children and grandchildren are in Columbus, Cincinnati and New Jersey.
Also as I age, I will be driving less or not at all. I might not be able to be as active in Quilt Guild, church and Bible study, Thursday Sewing Friends (we
just talk and eat), Card Club (we just talk and eat) and Comfort Quilters (we talk and sew). I know my grandchildren have lives of their own with new jobs, relationships and interests. Visiting Grammie regularly might not be easy because of time and distance. That is happening in real time, even though I am capable of being out and about enjoying life.
After realizing activities that were part of my life were not going to start up soon, Zoom became a way to connect. I had to learn quickly so that I could be part of those groups that were not meeting in person.
At our family Christmas Zoom gettogether, my son made a comment about just getting through the Year of Covid and moving on to years ahead. That’s easier to say when you are 55 than when you are 79. I hated the thought of losing this year when I could still be meeting face-to-face with friends.
Later, as I thought about it, I realized that the Year of Covid has been a valuable year of practicing the art of aging.
I have had moments, days and weeks of feeling totally alone and out of touch — especially during this cold winter when I seldom left home. I found that I can survive on what food I have on hand and, when I do go to the store, I am more thoughtful about what I purchase.
I can choose to take longer to finish quilting projects. I am using text as the major communication tool with grandchildren and children, although I long to hear voices and see faces.
I have had a good year, although I miss seeing faces with mouths that I can lip-read, going to church instead of watching on Facebook Live, eating out with friends.
My front porch table is like a drop box where friends put things for me or I leave items for them to pick up. It would be nice to invite them in.
After a year of isolation, my friends and family are treading lightly as we think about seeing one another in person and maybe even hugging someday. At my age, I do not want to risk getting COVID-19, so I will continue to mask and be cautious.
I have practiced aging in place and have found it challenging but doable. I do not know what is ahead as I prepare for being 80. What I do know is that my faith is strong and that nothing that is presented to me in the coming years can separate me from the love of God. What a relief to know something is real and will not change.
Cathy Johnston, 79, lives in Heath.