Mama Mia!

Here we go again! Two years ago this week we left for what became truly a year of highlights in our lives that we continue to refer to quite often. As many of you followed our year long blog, thank you for following us. As you followed, you knew Covid-19 ended our trip with four different booked flights to come home, impossible to cancel, and we left on the last flight out of Curacao to the United States.

First item on the agenda at home was making masks.

This time last year who knew Dr Suess was going to be controversial.

Unlike past years filled with trials, celebrations, and adventures, 2020 looked different to say the least. For most of us the words “back to normal” have crossed our lips once or twice. As I’ve said or heard those words, my thoughts have been what is normal? What does normal really mean? And, do we really want “old normal” back?

One of my favorite verses I refer to quite often is in Isaiah 43, “This is what the Lord says – who makes a way in the sea, and a path through raging waters….Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

One version says it like this, “Forget about what’s happened, don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert and rivers in the badlands.”

Since I’m a 7 in the enneagram, I love new. I love adventure. I love to plan and play. You can see why this verse can be exciting and one to cling to especially during this past year where travel has been out of the question. Since quitting my job that nearly killed me four years ago, I’ve been able to live as a true 7 instead of my 8 wing, the realist and control freak.

Jay and I have been blessed this past year to live in a community surrounded by beauty.

Our serene backyard, the gorgeous paths around swan-coupled enhanced lakes, eagles nesting, and other birds have made our daily walk/runs enjoyable to say the least.

We’ve actually enjoyed one year of not having any remodel projects in our house. That is a record in the Harris household.

Our 25th wedding anniversary was celebrated right here in our home dancing the night away around the kitchen island while cooking a 5-course meal for ourselves. (The dress still fits.)

We had the honor of hosting a very small group of five in our home for our niece’s big 5-0.

Our church reopened with a newly remodeled building and the change of guard by loving our previous pastoral family all the way to the east coast and transitioning in of a new pastor.

Learning keeps our brains active – new recipes such as sour dough bread baking, testing our golf game, or teaching ourselves to play the flute. (That would be me – a surprise to me, Jay already knew how to play and needed to show me proper finger position .)

We’ve seen what a new normal would look like when traveling is not available. I can say, we have enjoyed our new and our normal.

I’m painting a picture that appears we live a life of zero chaos or struggles, trust me, they are there. Again, being a 7 and continually trying to live out my favorite verse, John 1:16, “…and from him we all received one blessing after another” I choose to place the blessings instead of the chaos in the forefront of my mind. We have thought and prayed for those younger families who have found their new normal trying to work from home and home schooling children at the same time; and those in a sandwich generation trying to also care for their elderly loved ones. For many those loved ones are in facilities and you weren’t able to even visit. Our hearts have truly gone out to you all. Most of us have lost loved ones and not been able to say our good-byes in the way we were accustom to which makes our mourning and grieving different. And, those who are fighting to keep their businesses going, we have not forgotten you.

We have missed seeing grandchildren more often since we’ve been home along with so many other loved ones.

However, we did manage to keep a couple Christmas traditions.

We’ve seen more innovation during this past year than many of us have seen in our lifetime. Technology has been our friend. Zoom meetings are the new normal. As one who telecommuted beginning in 2000, it has come a long way, thankfully so. Restaurants popped up tents in their parking lots and barcoded their menus for review on our telephones. Church went to Youtube and live streaming. Even half-marathons became virtual. And so many other innovative ideas have come this year that I don’t even know.

We learned how to not be in other’s space – six feet apart. For huggers, this has been quite difficult. But I feel like we are learning some manners as well as great appreciation of others. We are not assuming everyone wants to be hugged. We get the choice if we shake a hand or not; and an elbow or fist bump has become appropriate. We don’t know if a person has autoimmune issues and can be compromised these days. I wish I could say everyone is being respectful, however I think I can say most are. Probably best of all, we stay home when we are not feeling well!

Sports, there’s a subject. We love sports. That’s part of the adventuresome piece to the Harris’. One day a year it’s a house divided – Oklahoma Bedlam.

How do we bring that back? Do we bring it back to “old normal”? Today I read about neutrality, remaining neutral about certain things is not an option. Here’s one I’m choosing a side on, “No children’s sports on Sundays!” Again, we love sports, but I have and always will hate that families are having to make a choice of sports or church on Sundays in order for their children to be on certain teams.

Speaking of families, we have loved hearing the stories of so many families coming together better during this year. Families doing things together. Families sitting down to dinner with each other more. Families – brothers and sisters becoming each other’s buddies again. Families playing games together. That brings us joy.

Something new, do you not see it? It’s bursting out! Or, bring back old normal, please! Which one are you?

With our vaccines in our arms, covid tests taken and hopefully results back soon, tickets booked and bags packed, here we go again! Back to the island.

Which one will it be normal or new? The lionfish have had a year to multiply while Jay and I have been gone. Will there be more spearing? Our church is open and as one of our friends said, with new faces. What will be going on in Punda? Cruise ships? Will there be Punda Vibes on Thursday? Is the ice cream store open? (Please be open!) What new people will come into our lives? We can’t wait to see what the “New Normal” will be.

Maybe that’s what I really should have titled this blog, “New or Normal?” But, instead, Mama Mia, Here we go again! Curacao, we’ve missed you and can’t wait to see what’s new and normal.

Dios bendishona boso tur (God bless you)

Blessings, Jay and Kelly