Hello! I'm Still Here.

Hello! Yes, I'm still here.

I really don't know where to start, but today feels like a good day to start writing. Perhaps because I've calmed my fears and started to feel some semblance of normalcy around me. 2020 and 2021 were absolutely challenging and even as this year comes to a close more than a month, the pandemic is still here. My hope, and I remain hopeful that we will at some point overcome.

• Spent most of 2020 and 2021 working from home and mainly at home.
• In September 2020, we lost our dog, Daisy. She had stomach cancer that spread to her lungs. I was and am still heart broken. I miss her every day.
• In November 2020, I opened my Etsy shop - kaynipost.etsy.com - to sell my excess collection of vintage stamps and my illustration postcards and greeting cards. Every day, I set aside an hour or two to draw. I find it extremely relaxing.
• Our 2020 Christmas holidays went quietly. I did miss the big family gatherings and I couldn't fly out to Hawaii to visit my family due to COVID.
• In April and May 2021, I got my first and second COVID vaccine.
• June 2021, I went back to the office with a hybrid schedule. Slowly, things are opening up in Maryland and DC. I am hoping these are good signs.
• July 2021, our cat, Dizzy, passed away. We miss her so much. In the some month, we moved to a new house, and we're still trying to get organized and settled until today.
• In September 2021, after more than a year of being apart, I finally got to give my Mom, Dad and big brother a hug. My family came to Maryland for a two week visit. I was elated. Family really is EVERYTHING.
• October 2021, we adopted a year old, Beagle mix. We named her Lulu. I am crazy about her.
• November 2021, I got my booster shot of Moderna. It's been a week and I still feel a bit off. Must be my body adjusting.

I hope you've all been doing well.

New Normal

At long last, the elusive Sun finally showed up. With this work at home situation, days feel blurry and on most days I don't even know what day it is.

It's deja vu that I'm titling this post "New Normal" because it's not the first time I've encountered these words. "You'll adjust to your new normal soon," Dr. D said on one of my appointments. This was in mid-2014. I was complaining about my hives, a skin graft-vs-host condition, and bone pain. I was then adjusting to my new life as a post bone-marrow transplant patient. I was on quarantine for at least two months at the hospital and an additional two months at home. It's eerie because these home quarantine and wearing a mask orders bring back a lot of scary and sad memories for me. I wonder how long our new normal will last. This is our sixth week of working at home, and we're starting to get used to our "new normal".

It was so windy on Monday and a lot of the flowers from our Kanzan cherry tree fell to the ground. I gathered some of them and placed them in a basin of water. Their blooms lasted for a few days.

Second Week of Staying at Home

It's our second week of working at home. We live in the worse of times. I am hopeful that we may survive this and live to tell stories of hope, resilience, strength and love.

There are times I'd be sitting on the couch and the urge to drive to CVS would cross my mind. Then reality sets in and I'd ask myself if it is necessary to be out there. I'd think not. I'd go back to flipping channels on TV and go about watching whatever is on. Kepi and I have been at home for a whole week. We went out last Friday evening for a grocery run and purchased what we needed for the week. We've seen empty shelves of hand sanitizers, toilet papers, milk, eggs and even the meat section. Some people have been panic buying, but no panic buying or hoarding for us. We have to think of other people and that there's enough for everybody. In my opinion, panic buying is a selfish act.

I've been watching the news less. I try to focus on what's in front of me, of what I can control, and of what I can do to get through the day. As my boss would say every morning, another day closer to the other side.

For this work at home situation, I have to create a schedule I try to follow:

•  6:30 am wake up, go for a 30 minute walk, shower afterwards
•  7ish am breakfast, watch a little TV
•  9 am work, conference calls
•  11:30 am go for a lunch walk while calling Mom/Dad in Hawaii
•  12 pm eat lunch
•  12:30 pm back to work
•  3 pm take a 15 minute break, have tea
•  3:15 pm work some more
•  5 pm sign off
•  5:30 pm prepare dinner, eat, rest
•  7 pm go for an evening walk if weather/time permits

The best part of my day are my walks. No matter how you're day is going, it's a beautiful world out there.

If it's not raining, I walk further in the morning and what a delight to pass through this blooming street.