Yesterday the US reported more than 83,000 new Covid-19 cases – its highest one-day number since the pandemic began. Epidemiologists say we will easily see six-digit numbers in the upcoming weeks. With the weather getting colder by the day, this can only mean one thing for all prudent people.
Time to hunker down.
I have an especially good motivation for hunkering down. The test results that I mentioned a few posts ago were actually not strictly routine. My white blood cell counts have never really bounced back since my cancer treatment ended, and my blood work in early September had shown the number go even lower than that “new normal.” Suddenly my doctors were talking about retakes and consultations with hematologists and all sorts of scary things like that. Hence the re-take in early October and my anxiety about the impending results.
The good news is that my numbers are back up. Not all the way up to normal, but much better than September and even a tenth of a point better than this time last year. It is suspected that the Diphtheria/Tetanus booster I had after my bike accident (which was about 6 days before the initial blood tests) affected my counts. I’m still concerned about my immune system and have been given the name of an immunologist by a fellow breast cancer survivor whose immune system was also damaged by her treatment. I never really thought too much about my immune system before Covid. I guess I’ll take as a silver lining the fact that the pandemic has motivated me to see what can be done to fix the damage done by chemo and radiation.
So, hunkering down. Of course I’ve been staying home and away from other humans far more than many people have. I haven’t been to my hair stylist since March 10. Chris and I haven’t gone to a restaurant since the pandemic began. I know I should go to the dentist, but the thought of all that spit flying around from people getting their teeth cleaned freaks me out a bit. I’ve been working from home 100% of the time, but when our busy season rolls around in December I’ll have to go back in some of the time. Luckily I have an employer that cares about my situation and I’m being given a private office with a door when I go back.
The photos today are of things that are making me happy as I prepare for the colder months. I think it will be really important this winter, more than any other winter in the past, to create a cozy nest – a place of comfort and joy in a time that is always cold and dark, and now has the added twist of pandemic.
Fresh flowers will be a priority. I love fresh cut flowers always, but especially in winter. And as inexpensive as grocery store blooms are, I can’t think of a better investment in contentment. My Trader Joe’s dahlias from last week faded more quickly than I would have liked, but there were several buds in the bunch and I am now looking forward to their bloom.
I bought myself two warm, cozy, bright sweaters that I love. The colors themselves are so cheerful and warming. I always remember the saying, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing,” and I’m determined this winter to dress warmly, expecially since my only “outings” will be into nature.
I’m reveling in the foods of the season: apples, acorn squash, brussels sprouts. I’ve discovered something called bircher muesli, which is a combination of grated apple, oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and yogurt. I have it nearly every morning for breakfast and I find it both delicious and sustaining.
I’m looking around at my physical environment here at home and finding ways to make it work better for me. For years my beloved secretary desk has sat in the cramped space behind Chris’ piano, and since I couldn’t flip the desktop down easily, it became a dumping ground for old papers, receipts, random cards and gift bags – basically it became a very large “junk drawer.” Because I couldn’t use it as a desk, I took to putting my stationery, journals, nice pens, and washi tape collection in a basket that sat in a corner of the kitchen, attracting its own collection of clutter. Last weekend I had a lightbulb moment – switch the secretary desk out for a small bookshelf that sat in the dining room. Many hours and many garbage and shred bags later, my desk is ready for action and Chris has much more room at the piano.
How are you preparing for this long winter?
Love,
Michelle xoxo