Is there a word for the constant voice in my mind, narrating my thoughts? Usually it’s not so prominent but as I’ve spent the past few days in isolation, that voice is pretty loud so maybe typing things out will help soothe and hush it down. It’s not anything important anyway, just maybe things I’d like to read a couple decades from now?
So after a worldwide pandemic in 2020, I finally got COVID for the first time in 2024 last week, the last week of June. I had kinda forgotten all about COVID, had it stored away as a memory in my mental archives as a thing that had happened before and nothing to take into consideration anymore. Apparently, a lot of people have been getting it again and the surge it up- although the FLiRT strain isn’t as deadly I hear. It’s not deadly but very unpleasant, easily the most severe illness I’ve had in the past few years. It reminded me of when I got hospitalized in Taiwan after skinny dipping in a body of water with DANGER signs (in Chinese) flagged all around it — I felt so sick I wouldn’t have minded some IVs and professional monitoring. It seems like I’m the only one in the family to have it and I’m doing everything I can to keep it that way.
But it’s day Six now and I’m alive-slowly trying to get out of the house without spreading germs. I feel so lucky to live a life where I can pick up dinner from New Seasons down the street: gimbap and local Rainer cherries, walk into my backyard with perfect grass surrounded by roses and have a picnic by myself on a summer evening. I cannot taste my dinner but I feel fortunate anyway. Andrew and Owen are at a picnic at a park with other friends, every Monday this group of dads get together with their kiddos and it’s so adorable. I feel grateful to have married such a kind and social guy, even if he is a bit messy and absent-minded, he is always doing his best to make me happy.
Speaking of happy, I have a few things I’d like to add to my (now, not) secret list of favorite things. I’m not sure what is already on there since I’ve never thought to write things out-I started thinking about it when us parents got a list of Owen’s teacher’s favorite things to guide us through Teacher Appreciation Week and I feel like everyone should have a list somewhere. So here are some of my favorite things:
- Fruit picking, especially blueberry, cherry and peach picking. I love fresh fruit when it is in season and grown close to home- it tastes so much better. This is why I also love
- Farmer’s Markets, so I can pick up the freshest produce and maybe a yummy snack and a bunch of flowers while I’m at it because
- Fresh cut flowers: peonies, ranunculus, anemones. I’m also in love with poppies and other little wildflowers when I see them.
- Figs, super ripe and sweet ones. Rainer cherries, the best cherries. I also adore juicy Cara Cara oranges. When visiting tropical places, I’m obsessed with pineapples and mangoes but I don’t care for them much here in Oregon, they just don’t travel well.
- A big, soft, comfortable bed with linen bedding and natural lighting through big windows around it. Must have at least four pillows and at least one south facing window.
- A really good soak and sauna session.
- Candles, I love all candles but especially ones with warm, amber or citrus scents. I am a Taurus, through and through.
- Patio drinks with friends, I don’t think this will ever change.
- Being loved by Andrew, I don’t think I will ever be tired of him.
- Spending time with Owen, holding Owen, everything to do with Owen.
- I also really enjoy bread and butter, when the butter is room temperature and I can spread it easily on toasted, hearty bread and a side of fruit.
- Growing green onions, mint and basil from my herb garden- I love running out mid-cooking to cut some stuff I need for whatever I’m cooking.
- Being so comfortable in my own body and in my own skin- I’m grateful for all that my body has done for me and continues to do for me every day.
- Now I feel like I’m starting to ramble. I wonder if this is COVID fog brain?
Maybe I’ll publish this maybe I won’t. After all, I have HUNDREDS of drafts just in Medium alone of stuff like this cause I have no where to put it all, I just have to put it all somewhere to make space. If I could pay for more Cloud storage, I would. Oh, how I wish I could.
