Buona Pasquetta! I’ve just learned that this is Italian for wishing you a Good/Happy Easter Monday (little Easter, to be more literal in my translation). . .
There has been some languishing here (a word which does NOT have the positive meaning it so often seems to be used for in places where “lounging” or perhaps “lingering” would better do the job; sorry, did I just reveal a pet peeve?!). . . .
There will probably be some ongoing languishing through these strange days, but you all know that, overall, I am very fortunate and safe and comfortably housed with a good companion, armed with the knowledge that my near and dear are similarly fortunate and safe and housed.
That (last sentence) is an abridged version of a sharp talking-to I gave myself at least once over the weekend, and yesterday morning, it sent me out the door for my first run in five or six months. Not sure if this attempt will be sustained or even sustainable, but I’m following a 10Km training program, and I’m going to follow it conservatively. Any twinges and I’m dialling back immediately.
But yesterday morning (Warm-up 5 minute walk, then 8X (Run 1 Minute, Walk 2 Minutes) then Cool-Down 5 minute walk), it worked well, felt good, although my Inner Long-Distance Runner wanted to protest that it wasn’t so very long since I ran a marathon (um, 6 years, yes, that’s a while, dear!) and weren’t these baby steps ridiculous?
The Wiser Me prevailed, managing to distract the Impatient Eye-Roller by pointing to splendid weather (that first freshness of just-past-dawn), to beautiful marine scenes, and to lively street art that seemed especially appropriate to the occasion (Easter! Spring! Bunnies! — Art by Bunnie Reiss whose cheering work you could see more of on Instagram
I was even tempted to play with metaphors about the glassy calmness of those reflections on the water, everything still and ordered but upside down and just a bit blurry, the boats not going anywhere. . . . something like . . .
But then I told myself that these times are too big and strange and uncannily like normal for me to try to pin them down with words. Especially from my comfortable spot. In a week of delightful sunshine…
So I just finished my run and I kept my thoughts to myself.
Some of them might have leaked out here, but feel free to ignore or step around. . .
Happy Easter Monday! Buona Pasquetta
xo,
f
The murals in Mount Pleasant add so much to the neighbourhood. It's hard sometimes not to give in to the blues. Yesterday, I felt exasperated, disappointed and just fed up. "For how long am I going to spend my life without making plans..looking forward to something?" Like you, I'm comfortable in the apartment. It's sunny almost every day. We're eating better than we usually do with a weekly Door Dash or Skip the Dishes. Yet,
the uncertainty. When will I travel again? When can I have a lunch with a friend? Wander about with my daughter?Starting the Learn to Run programme will give you a "renewed" goal. My husband taught the Running Room programme for years. I hope that you are able to progress without physical discomfort.
Happy Easter Monday!
I agree to the ‘eerily like normal’ comment. Other than the not socialising normally with friends and family, everything else goes on in the same way. Walking, running…maybe not shopping unless you pick your time when there isn’t a queue. Good to hear that you are gently running again. It does feel good doesn’t it? Mine are fairly gentle runs these days although 5K the other morning was another achievement. Your beautiful harbour scenes look so tranquil, definitely worth running round. Enjoy. B x
I just love that mural! Students from our local state college painted some wonderful murals near the old train depot last spring (two towns south of us) and I smile whenever I see them.
I admire you for your return to running. The weather is still too nasty for more than a few walks where I live. And I live on a hill which, going south, is about a 45 degree angle. Talk about huff and puff after a winter of slothfulness. I have resumed the exercises I used when recovering from knee surgery. I though I'd start small, add yoga next week, and hope that the weather improves after that so I can tackle that hill!
Had my first "down" day Saturday since the state wide shutdown which the governor reminded us at this morning's press conference was just a month ago. So I decided to use my planner for more that recording state-wide Covid cases and actually listed chores to be accomplished in the next 3 days. So far, I've ticked off 4 of them.
Thanks for your patience with my ramblings. Carol in VT
Things feel normal when I'm at home, but once I'm out of the house, normality seems to disappear. I count my garden as part of my home and I spent a good portion of the weekend there, interacting with dirt and weeds and planting seeds. I'm ready to face another week.
Those clear skies and water are a wonderful backdrop to the city. Good on you for starting to run again.
Buona Pasquetta is not an Italian Easter greeting I was familiar with, so thank you for that! Even tho we were in Turin over Easter back in 2006 at the Suzuki Method World Convention – it was such a multi-lingual affair that I didn't hear those wishes exchanged. I do remember the artistic Easter eggs and chocolatiers' window decorations. Puts the mass throughput supermarket stuff to shame. Norwegian has a slightly similar evolution of Christmas greetings, with første juledag (first Christmas day) being Christmas Day itself, andre juledag (other/second) being Boxing Day, and tredje juledag (third) the 27th.
Good for you with your running and especially good for you starting slow. That's the way to be able to continue, frustrating though it is.
I continue to surprise myself by feeling basically okay, as long as my family are okay. We have no elderly relatives left, so that relieves a huge worry, no grandchildren yet, I have no siblings and my husband just one sister. Worry runs under the surface about our son, self-isolating in a large city, but daughter and husband are here with me, and if family physical and mental health is as good as can be expected (not saying perfect), that is enough. Wider worries about the economy keep popping up, and I pop them back down again for the moment. Thank you for the stunning glimpses of your city – so lovely to see as a contrast to my hill-girded little river valley, which I haven't left for 3 weeks now.
Even though as Lorrie says, things do not seem normal once you step out of the house, it is the very best thing I have found for mood! I'm walking for an hour each morning, before the "essential shoppers" come out around 10:30 a.m. Lately, accompanied by some solidly escapist podcasts like "Disorganized Crime: The Smugglers Daughter".
I am able lo leave my worries and sorrow behind, turn off the deluge of news, opinion and offers to buy new loungewear in which to "languish".
Whether running or walking, getting out is essential despite what an inaccurate sign on my building's entrance maintains. (It says those 70 and over have to stay in, but in Quebec this is not so unless a person has symptoms or is caring for someone who has them or has tested positive.)
I love how each of your harbour photos has a rainbow in the water. Maybe they are trying to offer some hope. We could use it.
Going back to pre-husband days, I've done an "Orphan's Easter" that morphed from 10 or so of us post-college-poor, to 35 or so in our backyard, feasting on barbequed leg of lamb and all sorts of Mediterranean-inspired sides. And champagne. And wine. It's our biggest party of the year, and over the years we've introduced guests to other guests who became their loves, welcomed babies, and said goodbye to longtime friends who've move on to their next adventures. This year was to be our 38th (and last stateside before the Portugal move), so needless to say it wasn't our best Easter ever. I've been of generally good heart for the most part – we are fortunate to have our health, a comfy place to self-isolate, and the resources with which to do so, but I decided to let myself have a self-pity day. And then friends Facetimed us at right about the time we'd be cracking the first bottle, and insisted we raise a glass together. It was an excellent reminder of the connection we share, even when we can't be physically close.
I'm impressed you CAN speak strictly to yourself. If I yell at me then me cries and I feel ashamed. I just have to start every day anew and do my best and see where that takes me and remind myself that, as Scarlett said, tomorrow is another day.
Mme: Yes, all those ups and downs, yet overall we are so fortunate. I'm crossing my fingers the running might work, but there are so many others way to stay fit if not. . . .
B: Brava on the 5K!
For me, the trickiest part of the "not quite normal" is when we meet up (outside, at a safe distance) with the grandkids but can't hug them. . . . Otherwise, I can be quite content with the quiet time. . . We are lucky who like to read and to make, right?
Carol in VT. No patience needed — Your ramblings mirror mine — sharing them, I think, helps nudge them into perspective. And then we get to the lists, as you have. . . You're wise to go slowly in adding physical training, though — that hill's not going anywhere 😉 It will wait for you to be ready
Lorrie: I must admit this is a time I wish I still had my big garden — you make so much of yours, growing fruit and vegetables so effectively, and flowers so beautifully.
Linda B: The photos and videos you've been sharing on Instagram depict such a beautiful location, hills and river and so much space with so few people. Enviable, although I know not without challenges.
Duchesse: I can easily stay in for entire days, especially if I do an online workout, but it's true that getting outside is balm for the spirit (right now, especially, while the weather is absolutely splendid here). And like you, I use that time for Podcasts — Radio-Canada's Ça s'explique and Slate's Transfert are especially good for trying to improve my aural comprehension. Two birds, one stone 😉
And thank you for the chuckle. I knew you — wordsmith! — would understand my irritation with words so misused. Dictionaries, people, dictionaries!
Mary: You have sharper eyes than I — we will take all the rainbows/hope we can get, yes!
Carolpres: So much in your comment with its sweep of decades and its range of emotions and images. This time must be so very strange and destabilizing or disorienting, caught in the middle of your plans.
Anonymous: Your comment made me laugh, thank you! Sometimes Me cries and feels ashamed as well. . . but sometimes Me bucks up and gets on with it, and sometimes, if Me's not up to that she tells Sharper Voice to be gentle, that Me is trying my best . . . 😉 And thank goodness, there is always tomorrow, as Scarlett knew. . .