The Next Chapter

Good Morning. Nothing feels real this morning as I had set the alarm to get up at a certain time so that I could have a shower and get ready for work. Yes, back to the office. I am a little nervous and I am not sure why. So much has been changing over the last two weeks including my personal circumstances with the loss of my beloved Alvin. My life has been turned upside down the past couple of months. Where does one go from here/from there? I am trying to take one day at a time. Alvin has always been in here in the morning except when he visited at his sister’s house or for those handful of times that I was away. He wasn’t sitting on the mat in the bathroom with his back to me while I showered. I did not wake up on the sofa. I no longer have middle of the night trips outside with him. I miss him and everything little thing about him. I ate a banana yesterday morning and I felt guilty as that was his most favourite food ever. Everything in the house reminds me of him. I never want to forget him and what he brought to my life. The joy, laughter and most of all the love. In the early days of going back to work when he was much younger, I remember having to leave him. Making sure he went outside for a pee and maybe even a poop at the last minute before heading out. Ensuring his water dish was filled with clean cool water. Leaving the television on for company until it went into sleep mode. Telling him that I loved him and would see him later after work. The best thing to come out of the Pandemic for me was that for 2.5 years I was able to work from home almost everyday and be with him. I think we would both admit that sometimes we did get on each other’s nerves (trying to smile here). I always said that we were just like an old married couple. But all in all, it was the best time of my life as I was here for him. If he needed to go to the vet right away, I was able to take him. He would lay on one of his beds in the kitchen not far away from my “workspace.” When I had a late breakfast, he would sit beside me on the sofa and I would give him a treat and if I had a banana, we shared that precious fruit. Walks, oh how we loved out walks. Most days if the weather was favourable, we would head out at my lunch break and then again after work. On those days when the weather was hot, we would head out before I started work and then sometimes again after supper if it had cooled down. I loved how he would be with me wherever I was in the house. Since his last surgery on his knee in July of 2021, I seldom allowed him to follow me into the basement, just too many stairs. Sometimes I would just carry him when I was going down for longer than a couple of minutes. When I carried the laundry basket downstairs, he knew what I was doing and would wait patiently near the basement door. Oh, what a guy he was!

Well I suppose I should head downstairs and finish getting ready to leave for work. I am grateful that I have a ride with my coworker to the office. I am also grateful that she will be joining me when we move to the site office. She is changing jobs. There will be a few days, perhaps one week where she will be in training so I will catch the bus. Get this a Senior’s bus pass is $35.00 for one month which is cheaper than buying bus tickets for the week.

My daughter has a dental appointment after work nearby so she will be spending the night. I look forward to seeing her.

Trying to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.

Always, Carol & Alvin, my forever Angel.

Last Half 2022 – October

Good Morning ALL! How are you this morning? We are doing pretty well. I will admit to feeling just a bit tired. Lights out at 10:00 p.m. last night and then we were up at 2:00 a.m. and then up to stay up at 5:30 a.m., so all in all not a bad night. I think that it will take a bit of time to get adjusted to this new normal and hopefully it will remain this way until I retire. Having some extra days at home is great and will be most appreciated come winter time. The coworker that I am carpooling with will be taking some vacation days in November and December to use up days before end of the year. I will need to secure another way to work for those days. Might be possible to take some of the same days off. There are others that have vacation time to use as well. So we will be even more short staffed for some time over the next few months. I was thinking about it being October 6th already and that I usually have my Christmas tree up and decorating the house starting on the first day of November, 2022,

I am excited for that time although I do not wish to rush the days away. Time to start hauling the “summer” ornaments/decorations to the basement and bringing up the rest of the fall items. My fall things go into Halloween. All works together.

Alvin did good yesterday. He could have drank more water but I understand. It was the first time that a “man” has come over to check on him. Usually it is a “woman” but as usual he was more interested in the food aspect than the actual visitor. Husam told me that he had been laying down when he arrived and after saying hello, Alvin led him to the kitchen and directed him to the top of the counter where his “treat” was waiting. I think it is going to take him a bit of getting used to different faces coming and going. Today my neighbour Sonja will take over the Alvin responsibilities for the rest of the week which is a change from the original plan. Whenever possible always better when it is Sonja as she knows Mr. Alvin the best. Also she is able to check on him more than once during the day which is great for my heart. It is difficult to leave your beloved pet home alone after he has got used to you being there 24/7. I am not sure how we did this before the pandemic but now he is almost 14 and that is a total different story. He needs to be able to go outside and pee, he needs to drink a certain amount of water each day. I will say this, I am so grateful to my friends in the neighbourhood for taking on this added responsibility. I do have the best friends and neighbours on the planet. This is a fact.

Alvin was even more clingy last night and I am sure that will be the case from now on.

Back to the office for the second day in a row for this month. I will say that the noise level during the day is too much, too many distractions, and listening to people coughing and such, does not give me a good sense of well being. Definitely going to take some adjustment but if this is what has to be, then I will just suck it up and get it done. I know that at least I do not have to work for too much longer which is good to know. I am grateful that we have two days at home each week and hopefully they will leave that the way it is.

The best part of going back to the office honestly is free coffee.

Time to head back downstairs and take Mr. Alvin outside for one last pee before I leave for work.

I am grateful that I am carpooling with a gal from work. That is so great.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: tomorrow ride home with my daughter and she will be staying for a sleepover which means I have a long list of things to do this evening, yay. I cannot wait.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Wow, another Saturday morning! How are you this morning! I hope that you slept well. Alvin did again wake up at like midnight and a couple of times after that but I coaxed him to stay in bed and then he slept until 4:00 a.m. I went outside with him as it was still dark and I wanted to ensure that he had no problems getting down to the grass area of our backyard. Thankfully one deck of the deck is actually lower (isn’t life great, the actual deck is level but because the backyard is graded on such a slope, one end is close to the grass when he jumps off). So happy to see that beautiful powder blue filling the sky with that sun shining so magnificently. We are off to a great start.

Yesterday we lost a great Canadian, Pluto the cutest four-legged pup. She and her Mom Nancie created PLUTOVERSE (PLUTO LIVING). Nancie posted so many videos over the Pandemic of Pluto giving us advice and sharing their lives with the world. Pluto is now known worldwide. She had the best advice, sense of humour, told the best stories. She brought so much joy to us all. Pluto had the cutest laugh and wore the hippest apparel. I was very sad to learn that Pluto had passed away.

To Nancie, Pluto’s Mom: Oh my goodness Nancie, so sorry to hear that your beloved Pluto has passed. I think it is safe to say that we all felt like she was part of each of our families. We will miss her and “her” unique view of the world. You and Pluto will stay in our hearts forever. The sheer joy and laughter you brought to us, to the world, when most of our skies were cloudy and grey. Please accept my deepest sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your beloved Pluto.

Yesterday we went on two walks and although neither were our regular full ones, it was still great to get outside. On the walk after work, we chatted with two neighbours on the way to the park. One neighbour I had not seen in awhile due to their household having COVID twice in since March. I still cannot believe how many people I know are coming down with COVID in the last couple of months. Seems odd why now? Maybe not when I think about it, a vast many people are back to work and not everyone is wearing a mask. I get the mask thing. Not my favourite thing to do but in large crowds, I still wear one and will likely do so for the rest of my life. Pre COVID, I remember people wearing blue masks on the bus (public transportation) going back to my first times catching the bus in Edmonton. So nothing new. I know that in the larger cities in China they were wearing masks for years mainly due to the pollution. Although I am not sure how much they actually helped but even if it gives the wearer a “false” sense of security – that may be enough. You know if we keep telling ourselves the same thing over and over again – that we can convince our brain that it is true. Now is the time to start telling myself all of the time that I have more than enough money to retire, pay off my mortgage and get on with the next chapter of my life.

Talk about being all over the place. That is what lack of or reduced sleep will do to one. That was my week. We had what was supposed to be a 30 minute meeting yesterday which turned into 1.5 hours. I was chatty Carol. Wishing now that I would have kept my mouth closed but I did not. Sometimes being vocal or having the need to share is not a great thing. I just keep rolling the conversations over and over in my head and just gag. Not that I said bad things but just maybe too much. You know those times when you have been in a meeting or with someone that does not seem to “shut up” well I feel that was me yesterday. Although honestly I did not talk continuously but almost. I did tell everyone that I had literally no sleep Thursday night and that I was sorry. Here I go again. I am sorry. Done. I wrote my feelings down – so walk away.

This morning I am invited to Gillian’s for coffee along with our friend Signe. I am excited to get out of the house on my own. I won’t be leaving Alvin for long, only a couple of hours. Good for me and good for him. I love my boy but 24/7 is not healthy for any relationship. So I may just start to go for the odd walk by myself in the evenings. Alvin just cannot walk as far as I can. So will see. Just a thought. Also I can walk to the grocery store and pick up a couple of things. I also am planning to go outside and pick up trash in the neighbourhood today if time allows, I would like to trim our tree and rake the front lawn. So those are things that I will be doing on my own.

Life, is always about some kind of balance. Never even, but if we are happy, joyful, content and in good health – then whatever that balance is – works.

Well time to get cleaned up for my coffee date with the girls. I have gathered up the laundry and changed the bedding on our bed. So at least started some of my chores.

I hope that you have an awesome day.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I have Miss Pluto in my head and will try to live up to her positive, unique view of the world instead of the direction that I have been finding myself going lately. Even with little or no sleep, I will remain positive, happy and ready to do what needs to be done. To give Mr. Alvin or to continue to give him the best life I can with whatever time he has left. It may be years or not, I do not know. Even Alvin cannot live forever, I know that.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Well second last day of my vacation. How are you? We all are fine. The sky is overcast and we had some moisture last night. Rain, not the other. Thankfully. Windy out there this morning. We thoroughly enjoyed our walks yesterday. I had a one hour walk with Miss Aspen and 30 minute walk with the boys: Alvin and Mi-Mi. The sun shone for the most part and it was warm. I believe it got to about 12 yesterday. Not to be the case today, Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

My mind has been wondering to the upcoming times that I have to go to the office. My immediate neighbours that were once able to come and check on Mr. Alvin multiple times during the day are now having to go back to their respective places of employment. Thankfully I have others that hopefully will be available on those days that I have to go back to the office. I cannot imagine him home alone for 11-12 hours again. He will not drink. I just do not want to do that to him again. For all those people with pets that have to leave them at home for extended periods of time, I say this. Train them to pee on pads so at least that way they will be comfortable drinking water. Going to the office gives me anxiety partially because of Alvin and partly because I do not wish to be around people in that close proximity. No wonder people were always sick in the past, it is because like those above are always looking at the money aspect. How much can we make? Easy for them to want us to go back to the office sitting in their offices with a door. Just saying. I am grateful to be working for home, I am just going to repeat this often and feel it to my core. There are many employers who are leaving their employees work from home. I believe after this length of time, it should be our choice. I know that some people do not have a choice due to their type of employment but for those of us who work in this environment, why not, work from home. This is 2022. Times they are changing.

Today is the second last day before my grandpups go home. I shall miss them. I shall always miss being on vacation. This was a good relaxing, happy time. Me and the pups.

I cannot believe that we are over halfway through the month of April. One quarter of 2022 almost on the books. 2022 has been a year already.

Well I think it is time to go back downstairs and make some coffee. I did not make it when I came back upstairs to brush my teeth and get dressed and do this post. I am enjoying my coffee these days as I do most days. Again, so nice to be on vacation. I look forward to warmer sunny days ahead.

I wish you a great Tuesday. Be safe and well.

I do want to make one note, during this whole two years of the Pandemic – COVID, this moment is the time where I have known the most people, family and friends that just got over the virus or have the virus. Seems strange, that when it is “winding” down – it would be the highest numbers.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin, Aspen and Mi-Mi

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Another beautiful morning. The sunrise is not as colourful as yesterday but beautiful all the same. How are you this morning? What did you do on Saturday? Well I did mostly the usual like laundry and bit of cleaning. I still have a couple of loads to finish today and to clean the bathrooms. Yesterday I gave the boy a haircut and bath and chipped away the ice from my front walk and out front with thanks to my friend and neighbour who had come and place ice melt and gravel on the walks Friday night and yesterday on the big patch of deep ice in the low spot. We have a storm drain out front so it always pools in one spot and can get ugly quickly. We went for a walk but it was short lived as we had to walk on the side of the road as the sidewalks were either icy or covered with ice melt not conducive for safe walks. Alvin despite being dry he was shivering even with his warm sweater on so a bit of fresh air was better than nothing. We were talking to a newer neighbour who happened to be outside when his neighbour who happens to be a friend of ours saw us and came out on her porch. She introduced us and then started to tell me that she was just getting over the flu. Seems like a lot of the flu going around. We chatted for a few minutes before carrying on and then back home. When we got home I wiped Alvin’s feet and took off his sweater and harness and then carried on outside to clear the ice. My neighbour that I share the lawn with saw me and came out to clear her half. After that, I worked on the laundry and then decided that I wanted shorter hair. I had been tossing around the idea and then decided to just do it. I grabbed the electric clippers that my son-in-law had given us and did the deed. It turned out pretty much how I was planning it to be. A short rough bob. It is not perfectly even and that is what I wanted. Now later I did find the odd extra long strand so of course I snipped it off. But otherwise I had no intentions for it to be perfectly even. Why should I? If someone happens to notice and brings it up, I shall say that I cut it with that intention. It suits me and I LOVE it and really isn’t that all that matters. I am so grateful that I have the tools and can cut my own hair. One less expense and because it is super cool to cut your own hair. Now I know it is taking away work from another human being but really since I moved to Edmonton almost 13 years ago, I have only ever gone to the salon a handful of times and I also had a neighbour cut my hair a few times but she moved away. This is the perfect solution and especially during the pandemic when it is difficult to get out and about. You know actually I really do like to cut my hair. I like doing Alvin’s as well but he is not quite so happy about the process. I had to have a shower immediately after the haircut as the t-shirt that I had put on was covered in hair. So we both had a haircut and bath/shower yesterday. Check.

That was our excitement for the day. I watched a couple of movies on Netflix last night.

In addition to the laundry and housework today, I want to bake some oatmeal raisin cookies. So better get to it. Sometimes I lose my drive and just want to veg. I think a lot of people are finding that these days and most especially once you get older. I always get things done but do it on my own speed and desire. My house always is clean – just might have a fine layer of dust at the worst. Alvin is a neat guy. Only leaves a couple of toys out and about.

Wishing you a great day. Have fun.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. I am excited to have a mug of coffee and watch “ESCAPE to the COUNTRY which is my Sunday thing to do in the mornings.

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! The sun is shining and the sky is mainly clear. Alvin and Cookie just had a chase going on upstairs as we get this Sunday morning underway. Yes, it is true that we have been sleeping in much later than normal but with the extra four-legged in the house and her being younger she is playing both of us out. So extra sleep is necessary. Besides what difference does it make. This is our time off and we are making the use of it. This is Cookie’s last sleep with us before she goes home. Tomorrow night her family arrives back home. I am going to check the temperature and find the pups outdoor gear and perhaps we should get outside for some fresh air. We have been inside for the majority of the last two weeks with the exception of my shovelling, Alvin going out to do his business and that sort of thing. I think that would be a great idea. I would like to do some laundry today and will do towels and bedding tomorrow. I will have to use my PET Bissell Crosswave tomorrow or Tuesday after work and clean the area rug in my bedroom. Freshen it up. This next week once Cookie returns home, I will take down the Christmas Tree and ornaments. I believe that the temperature is to be cold after today for another week so it is the perfect time to take down Christmas. Ornaments/decorations that is! It sure will be quiet around the house without the little one here. She brings life to us. I cannot remember the last time that Alvin tore through the house like he was 2. Now him tearing around is not so much a great idea after his last surgery in July. He seems to know his limits. Cookie is so funny, she just keeps poking and he just lays down on his belly outside the office door as if to say, “enough already” and knowing Alvin I am quite certain that he has a few further “choice” words to say.

It is hard to believe that we are now on Day two of the New Year and two sleeps until I start back to work. I am so grateful that I can continue to work from home. These past almost two years have been so great for me in that I am able to work from home and be with Alvin. No commute. Has been fantastic. Perfection. I have wanted to work at home for years but who knew it would take a pandemic for that “wish” to come true. Now of course, I would not wish for a pandemic. The loss of life and economics has been horrible. Humans have been talking about working from home since the 1970’s. I think working from home makes a lot of sense. Once we have more freedom to see family and friends – our mental health will improve greatly. For folks like myself that are alone – having contact with family and friends is a necessity. With Alvin, I find that if we are able to walk and I can see people to say hello each day that I do not need to see people for long periods of time every day. So we shall see what 2022 brings to the planet. I guess it all depends on what we do individually and collectively. I shall continue to live my life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities. For that is all we can really do. One day at a time. We need to be good to each other and to ourselves. We need to be good to the environment, to the planet, to all other life. Lessen the greed.

Sounds like Cookie has given up trying to get Mr. Alvin’s attention. They played for awhile (I took some video) and now he has retreated to his position outside the office doorway.

The sun is shining brightly in through the office window. I sure hope that the temperature remains warm for a bit so that we can go out for a walk. I know that from about 10:00 p.m. last night the temperature was minus 6-7 degrees celsius which is a far cry from minus 30-40 degrees celsius. How can the temperature fluctuate that much in a matter of a few hours. Well it certainly did. I went outside last night to pick up poop with only a sweater. No coat. I did put on mitts as my hands are so desperately dry and cracked.

Well I should go. Time for a shower and get some laundry going. Coffee and see about going for a walk.

I wish you a great Sunday.

Continuing to live my life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol, Alvin and Cookie

P.S. Alvin is reaching out for my assistance from the Cookie “Monster.” She is cute but keeps us busy.

2021

Good Morning All! How are you? Can you believe that it is August 22nd, 2021? Where has the time gone? Who would have thought almost two years later we would still be living within a pandemic? There have certainly been ups and downs. The incredible range of highs and lows is unimaginable. Some families lost one or more members due to the virus and others lost jobs, homes, reduced hours of work and children not being to physically attend school and for the front lines workers living and working through these times, there are no words but thank you.

On the other end there have been some great things happen as well. People have started new businesses, some direct sales businesses started going online (lives), businesses mainly sales and office type moved their staff to work from home. For some people working from home presented issues as they were doing double duty home schooling their children and perhaps both parents working from home or one not working. So many variables.

For me, the pandemic has been made it possible for me to work remotely at home. I was home when my dog Alvin had a bout of diarrhea a year ago in May 3020. I was home when he had surgery in February 2021 for stones in his bladder and home when he tore the ligament in his right hind knee in July and three weeks later surgery to repair. I don’t know what I would have done had I been working at the office. I know that work from home has been great and the best thing to happen to me and for us. I hope that I can continue to work from home until I retire. Not only am I able to more than adequately perform and complete my job duties, I no longer have 2 1/2 hours or so, commuting to and from work, I’m not paying to get to and from work, and more. I know that utilities are more but overall I have more money which has helped me with the expenses of surgeries and media for Alvin. I think for a lot of us older workers this has been great. I am grateful to be able to work from home.

Remember in the 70’s and 80’s when it was first thought about working from home and in some cases reduced work week.

Maybe the pandemic has taught us some valuable lessons and made us think about what is important.

I am glad that Alvin and I had a walk earlier as it is raining now.

We had a productive Saturday as I decided last minute to clean the garage and make piles of things to go to the garbage/recycle and to be sold. I cleaned out some flower pots and made room in my back floor bed for the sunflower plant that my friend Pauline gave us. Watered flowers. We had fun being outside. Of course some laundry snd walks.

Okay, time to go snd drink my coffee while it is still warm and have some toast. I have a few things on my to do list for today along with some relaxing.

Be safe and kind to yourself and others. Have a wonderful Sunday.

I hope that the fires everywhere are extinguished.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, understanding, love and gratitude.

Always, from a grateful Carol&Alvin.

Happy to report that Alvin is recovering well. Tomorrow is his third laser therapy session appointment.

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this bright and sunny Saturday morning? I hope that you are doing well. Alvin and I are doing great and looking forward to a walk today as we missed our walk yesterday. I had to go to the office yesterday and then pick up groceries on the way home. My daughter was working yesterday so she gave me a ride as I do not wish to take public transit. NO offence public transportation. On the way home we went to COSTCO which had the longest line that my daughter had ever been in since the pandemic hit. It would seem that everyone decided to go to COSTCO last night at 4:40 p.m. Don’t worry about Mr. Alvin – he was well looked over by my neighbour who was over to let him out for a “pee,” for snacks and snuggles and then later for supper. I am over the moon grateful to have such kind and wonderful neighbours. Alvin did make sure that he was stuck to me like glue for the rest of the evening which actually is much the same as most days but even moreso. If you can imagine that. What a guy? Yesterday morning I finally was able to drop off the last Christmas present that I had …. yes, it was really late but isn’t it nice to have something to open when there are no other gifts around and always makes you feel better. This was the case with my friend Karen. She was tickled and I was as well. I always feel so good when I give. It was nice to see a handful of folks at work. Also was able to have a chat with our new retiree as yesterday was her very last day. How exciting? I remember when I retired once. I did have almost three years off which was incredible. Just like a long vacation. Everyday was the weekend.

Last night we had a quiet evening after my daughter left for home and I put the groceries away. She had picked up some sushi at COSTCO and I had some for the second time in my life. It was really good although my daughter did say it was not the best but still very good.

I had the oddest dreams all mixed mashed up with people, places and things. I won’t even begin to explain or describe. If it had meaning – I have no idea what they meant.

I guess there be laundry to do, an Alvin to go for a walk or perhaps two with, some rearranging and to put away the last bits of Christmas as I have given the last gift.

Wishing you a great Saturday. Time to reflect, to relax, to laugh and to enjoy along with some work of course. It wouldn’t be a weekend if we didn’t have some work to do.

Happy Saturday as I continue to live my life with kindness, respect and compassion for all others.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. – I am at a loss as what to give Mr. Alvin for a birthday gift? Any ideas?

December 31, 2020 – last day

Good Morning ALL. Can you believe it? The very last day and down to last hours of 2020. 2020 came in with all of the promise and hope that a New Year could bring and is leaving us with thoughts of promise and hope that 2021 will bring. So we will start and end with the same dreams for the New Year although the in between could never have been predicted. This year has been the same and different for so many of us. I cannot compare my year to that of my friend who lives down the street and works in the healthcare field. We both have had much different experiences this past year. She has faced all of the stresses and anxieties that came with COVID19 and the Pandemic as she continued to work. Me on the other hand, when our employer announced that we would be closing our doors to the public on March 16, 2020, and start the process of having staff work from home, I had mixed feelings but mostly I was overjoyed. On March 19, 2020 I was sent home with my coworkers with a laptop and whatever supplies we required to work from home. Later that afternoon I was set up and March 20, 2020 I was working from home. In the beginning there were definitely some stressful times but over the last nine months I have smoothed out the kinks and working from home has certainly been a godsend. Of course, there are moments of stress, but that is inevitable, as my job can most certainly be stressful at times. But I no longer have to spend a minimum of 1.5 hours travelling to and from work. There are no worries about leaving a senior dog, my Alvin home alone for such a long period of time. We have figured out a few things over time and one being that we will need to go to the office for one day per month as we have some large print jobs where the documents need to be prepared to be mailed. I can handle one day each month. Of course, this may change over time. My friend down the street lost her beloved pup Abi in February and in July brought baby Bailey home. Having a puppy at any time is a lot of work and with the stresses of working during a pandemic has been difficult for our friend. We have kept in touch with porch / sidewalk visits, texts and video chats. We live only a few doors apart and yet our lives that were so similar are so different this year. She was not able to spend Christmas with her sister and brother-in-law who are expecting early in the New YEAR nor her parents. Her parents are in her sister’s pod as she is expecting. I on the other hand was so blessed to be able to spend Christmas with my daughter and son-in-law and pups. In January my friend will be hosting a “virtual baby shower” for her sister. So many firsts this year. This is a reminder that I must check out the registry and chose a gift for the new baby. I always love to buy books for little ones, cannot go wrong with books.

I am grateful that we have the technology to see family and friends. This is the time to use this technology so that no one is alone. Take a few minutes and reach out to family and friends. We are blessed to have the technology to physically see each other.

So as we wrap up this YEAR, I have mixed feelings. I would say for the most part I have positive feelings. Working from home was always a dream, a thought that I had but never thought would come to fruition. I missed spending time with my sister and brothers in August. My daughter and I did not take our annual girls road trip in August. Since March, I have mainly seen my friends from the doorway although we did have a few visits. Our girls Annual Christmas party was done virtually. I never thought that I would not enter a store for several months. From March until August, all of my groceries were picked up by my friends and my daughter. I have since that time been to the store a grand total of 6 times, been to the vet numerous times, to Shoppers once to mail Christmas cards and parcels on November 20, and to the Optometrist twice since August. I will say that the handful of times that I have entered a grocery store have been anxiety ridden for me. For the past month or so I have not been to the grocery store although I was to the Bone & Biscuit on December 11th, to pick up gifts for the fur babies including Alvin. I have been to the office three times, twice in September and once in November. Most of my time has been spent at home or going for walks. Thankfully we are able to go outside. As the time passes, I think that the only way that we can stop this virus is to follow the protocols set out by the Health Care Professionals and Government Leaders. While it is not ideal as we are social creatures, it is imperative to follow the rules. Wear masks when in public, wash your hands, stay home when you can and social distance. I will say that trips to the Vet are different now. The last time Alvin went I was not allowed to be with him, I sat with my mask on in one of the exam rooms while they took him to the back exam room. The Optometrist was definitely different. Two visits one for the exam and the other to pick up frames. They as the Vet only book one appointment per hour. Better to be safe.

Perhaps if we would have taken more precautions sooner and taken this more seriously – we would be in a better place, I don’t know. Going forward we must do what is right for everyone. This is not the time to be selfish. We do want to see our family and friends in the New Year.

The sun is up although it appears to be cloudy. This is the last day of 2020. I hope that 2021 brings us hope and promise. I know that it will take months and likely most of this next year before the vast population can be vaccinated and at this point we do not know if that is the complete answer or not but I remain positive that the scientists will figure it out and we will end 2021 in a better place. To all of those folks who lost loved ones this year, I keep you in my heart and hope that your memories will help to bring you comfort. To all those families who lost beloved pets, I keep you in my heart and hope that memories of them will bring you comfort.

May the New Year be filled with hope and promise. May you find your way through this next year with faith, hope and grace. Continue to be kind and respectful and compassionate to all others. We need each other even more now than ever.

Thank you for taking your precious time to read my words, this post. I appreciate your time.

So from our home to yours, Alvin and I want to wish you and your family a Happy New Year.

Always, Carol & Alvin

Welcome to December, 2020

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing this Thursday morning? I am great. We are in serious countdown mode to Christmas. As one week today is CHRISTMAS EVE. Sometimes I forget that I am 63 and think that I am 8. Waiting for Santa to arrive. Believing that good will prevail is what always gets me through each day. Positive thinking – faith – believing that I can force change. We all can. So back to Christmas. Are you watching your favourite Christmas programs and movies? I am over the moon happy to have this 58 inch television hanging on my living room wall. So grateful to my kids for giving it to me as they have a new one. I thought that my other t.v. was great, the colour was great, picture was sharp or so I thought. But I have noticed things on the bigger screen that I never saw before …. it has been wonderful. Definitely going to be spending some time watching more movies over the Christmas break.

Our City has serious restriction protocols in place at this time until into January so we cannot have company other than the people in your “bubble” and my bubble is two extra people other than myself. So my kids are my “pod” for this time. There are so many new words or old words have new meaning in this pandemic. Like pod and bubble to name just a couple. But at the end of the day I am grateful that our government and leadership are listening to the scientists and medical professionals and clamping down. It is not ideal at this time of year for sure but it is for the best, so that we do not have spikes and lose even more dear souls. We also have to remember to reach out to those folks who are struggling. If you have a neighbour who is alone, seniors who live down the street or you know someone who needs help, please reach out. Even if you do not have the financial resources to help, perhaps you can give them information that can help or even just to listen. Now I know we cannot go into houses to help but you can talk from the sidewalk or facetime or phone. We still have phones you know. Please make this Christmas about more than you and your family. Make it about helping someone who is struggling …. you never know what a phone call can do to lift someone’s spirits, to give them hope. Besides I truly believe that we are all here to help one another. If we were meant to be alone …. there would not be 8 billion or so people on this planet. Reach out. Please. Let this be the part of 2020 that brings lightness to what has been a dark year for so many. We can do this.

With kindness, respect and compassion we will get through this pandemic.

Always, Carol & Alvin