It's been almost a year since the beginning of quarantine. At this time last year, Covid was something that had the potential to become very dangerous. Little did we know at the time, my mother-in-law who had just passed away was most likely the first case in a nursing facility that was soon overrun. 

Two weeks after her funeral, I lost me sense of taste and smell for about 2 weeks. Strangest thing. I had been achy and tired. But couldn't eat at all. I lost weight quickly. Then suddenly, I could smell, taste and eat again. We didn't learn that was a symptom for several more weeks. 

On March 4th, I told my daughter it was time to pull my granddaughter out of her play group. By the next time the play group would have met, everything was closed and play group no longer existed. What started off as a "couple weeks" was never going to be just a couple weeks. Nor with the "science is false"crew, would a couple of months be enough to curb the Covid. We now know, a few years, and with any luck, we may have a hold on it. That is if we get enough vaccines out to enough people that the virus can't continue to mutate out of vaccine range. It's every bad movie come true. 

And here I sit. Day 341 since I gave up the life I used to have. I have been in a few different stores (none grocery and always masked), doctor's offices, an overnight at the hospital, and a few pick ups at the local theater and coffee shop. That's it. Otherwise, I am home. 

Over the summer, it wasn't that bad. I have a great backyard and spent plenty of time outside in it. But now that it winter and right now ZERO, going outside doesn't happen much. It's hard enough fighting the cold inside the house when it's this bad out. My old bones and joints simply can hack it anymore, and so inside I stay. 

I have learned a lot over these 341 days, a lot of it - sadly depressing. 

I have learned that about 30% of the American population have literally no empathy for their fellow humans. Covid has left literally no room for doubt when all people were asked to do was wear a mask and not go out if not necessary. The way I have seen these people act - it's downright evil. A lack of empathy, people simply wouldn't care, but for many of these people they literally do want to do harm to others. 

I learned that people will believe what they want to believe no matter what science, facts, common sense, or anything else has to say. Denial runs rampart in our society. There is a true belief that denial changes facts. 

I've learned that people who are incredibly unsure of themselves will look to others to tell them what to do. When they find someone willing to fulfill that role, they are happy and content. When they don't find that role where they expect to, they will recreate it elsewhere. 

I've learned (once again) that I still can be fooled by narcissists. Personally, this one hurts and I thought I had learned my lesson on this one several times over by now. But nope, still not there. 

I've also learned I am ready to move on with other parts of my life. The things I was waiting for are here. I've accomplished so much in this past year, and 2021 isn't going to be much different. More forward movement as The Gathering Grove goes through stages of paperwork to become a legal entity of its own. This also involves the adding in of far more events and  weekly classes. I just finished writing one book that will be released in 2022, and tomorrow I start writing a second one to come out in 2022. I still have a few other possibilities on the horizon.

Other projects I had wanted to work on before with collaborations have proved not so fruitful. Unfortunately, collaborations are only as good as those you collaborate with and I proved to make some poor choices in those departments. The CBD book I just finished writing was the only collaboration to work out. The children's book I was writing that was going to be submitted with illustrations, went out on its own after the illustrator flaked and never did anything. It's out in the ether now so hoping and waiting for a bite. 

The oracle deck I wanted to do, same thing, flaked illustrator. I definitely still want to do this and have other possibilities for this to happen so that will be up for discussion this year. 

At some point this year, I plan to get back into my fiction work and see if I can't get that piece moving along a bit. 

There is a lot to do, but of plenty of time to do it in. I'm learning how to adjust to this completely different life and settling in, but I can't way until the snow is gone and I can work outside again!