One year ago today, I was visiting my friend April in Atlanta. We knew we were already in an unprecedented pandemic, and we were determined to enjoy our time together nonetheless. Around us, the world was collapsing and people were panic-buying toilet paper, and more importantly, many were sick and dying.

But then I got the call. We were sitting on the porch, and I hadn’t answered my phone because it was an unknown call. But I checked the message, assuming it would be something about my car warranty and I heard a woman say something about my cat Miles. MILES.

They had him! and the next day we picked him up and brought him back home, and then we all just stayed there. We stayed home, for weeks and weeks.

We didn’t stay at home as much as everybody, and yet we stayed at home so much. I can’t remember the last time I did something social, not just hanging out with Louie. Yet we did do a few things over the summer.

And now things are looking up. We have both gotten a shot, thankfully, and I fully recognize how lucky we are to have managed when so many haven’t been able to yet.  It’s so much less stressful when we go into teach, now that we are somewhat immune, and soon will be totally immune, or as good as can be. I don’t know what the next steps will be, but I hope that soon I can start teaching in person again (summer?) for those that are ready, maybe still with masks and not allowing extra people in? I just don’t know, but I am feeling more positive and also choosing to feel more positive.

My parents are fully vaccinated and will likely be visiting in April sometime. And Louie and I are planning a week long trip in early June, just to Arkansas and with flexibility…who knows what will happen, and we are fine wearing masks everywhere. I know people have been traveling this whole time, but we haven’t been. I think once we are both vaccinated maybe we will think about doing patio dining somewhere…that sounds crazy to think of, honestly. I know we aren’t there yet, but it also seems crazy to be trying to claim vaccination is the answer and yet telling people once they are vaccinated to continue acting the same way.

Sometimes I just get struck by the awfulness of everything. How many have died…how many who have been sick, how many who have and are suffering. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I think. We can’t let our guard down, and I know so many have not been as lucky as we have with getting vaccinated, but I am hopeful that in the few next months we will all really be recovering from this time, and starting to really turn a corner, and hopefully being in a position to help other countries too. I’m not so naive to think that the problems here and the people who refuse the vaccine won’t continue to be problems, but I’m choosing to focus on the positive. We will get there.

If Miles could come back home after being missing for 11 months, it seems like anything is possible. Having him here has been a little bit of a miracle every day, and I am so thankful. He has gone from being a little bitey creature to a very sweet bitey creature. He loves baskets, hammocks, beds, and cuddling. He also loves attacking Muriel and running all around after her.

I’ve got to get back to do more teaching in a few minutes, so I’ll leave you there. Life is hard still, but it’s getting a little less hard.