Why were strawberries and blueberries so delicious when I was a kid? Why was corn on the cob such an incredible treat? Wasn't it amazing when grandma or a special aunt or friend made that recipe that they ONLY made for Christmas or Easter?
Why was my "dressy sweater" so special and why did I feel so pretty wearing it as a little girl?
What was it that felt SO good about peddling my bike all over the neighborhood (High Street!) until my legs were exhausted, and I couldn't wait to go outside and do it again tomorrow?
What made summer veggies and fruits so delicious? It was a special family outing to go to Petruzzi's on "the East Brookfield flats" and get fresh produce every summer, in season.
We bought local because most of what we needed WAS local. We KNEW the people who owned these stores. Gaudette's market in Spencer would deliver mom's groceries after we walked down to choose them while dad was at work with our 1 family car. She'd pay and then they'd drive them to us at home.
Who remembers your employer providing your Thanksgiving turkey, and lugging it gratefully home from work?
My parents were hardworking people. Shoe factories, steel mills, CNA work in a nursing home. My parents spoke with reverence and respect to and about everyone they knew who worked hard. I NEVER heard them disrespect any hard working person. I didn't grow up thinking manual labor was bad, lower, not necessary, or unimportant.
I find myself thinking of my upbringing so often in these odd days we are all living through. Perhaps there are some lessons for us here. Perhaps there are SO MANY lessons for us.
Simplicity is definitely one for me. We don't need everything we think we do. Oh no! I'm out of this item. I wanted that for lunch.....grab the keys....get in the car....WAIT. STOP. NO. There's probably something right here in the house that's perfectly fine for lunch.
It's definitely possible to have far too many choices. Often in the past few weeks, I realize that I would have rejected choices in my own home for things to eat, things to do, or wear because I could easily go get something else. 5 minutes to the mall or the grocery store, overnight for Amazon Prime! I've been embarrassed and a bit ashamed honestly as I stop and realize how often this was a habit. Now? I stop. I put on the comfortable item closest at hand. I eat the thing that's here, and I'm incredibly grateful to have it. And I DON'T order things just because I can.
Honestly, I think I've been fatigued to a point where I was in survival mode a lot of the time, and that keeps me skimming the surface only. Not where I like to be.
So many seasonal things, or expensive things were special when I was a child simply because we didn't HAVE them constantly the way we do now. There was an appreciation for things, and a recognition that the fact that they were limited and had a time and a season was part of the wonder, part of what was beautiful.
Looking at the earth now, just 6 weeks of us all stepping back and letting her breathe and she's bouncing back so wonderfully. I always remember, we need her but she actually doesn't need us. The skies over LA are clear, the coal fog over China had dissipated, dolphins and birds in Venice, stories pouring in from all over the globe.
Moving forward we need to make so very many changes. Work is honorable and all workers, all people need respect, rights, and the same access to health care and housing and prosperity. We NEED our service workers. Truckers, food service workers, grocery, restaurant, everyone! There is shame in how we have looked at these people and we need to snap out of it.
Lets have way less gurus writing books about how to get rich and overcome the life you're in and have more people sharing information on the beauty of a simple life and how the day to day is truly magical and crafting that can be the joy of your heart.
Manufacturing needs to return to America. Made here, by us, and sold to our friends and neighbors.
Shopping and buying local whenever possible.
Lets grow some veggies at home!
Health care cannot be for profit. Pandemic preparation is a matter of national security.
Daily life must change. Paper plates and paper towels? What else can we make these from? Hemp is a good option. Or reusable, washable handiwipes for cleaning. In our homes we can use the damned glass dishes and WASH THEM. We can combine wash loads to conserve water, both for dishes and clothes. We can plan trips so that we make less trips to the stores.
We can stop when we are going to order or buy something. Do I need this? If so, do I need it now? Do I have something I can re-purpose or fix? Can someone I know help me? Can I offer my services to them for something they need?
How can I walk softly and respectfully on the earth, our home?
How can I treat people differently, and work for the greater good even when we disagree? Can I stop insisting on being right and having 100% of my own way?
These are the things on my heart and the things I want to challenge myself with moving forward.
Going back to normal? No. There was a lot about "normal" that was infinitely harmful. How can we do better? How can I do better?
