How Are YOU Holding Up?

(It's been a week, hasn't it?
My kids are grown adults who are able to work at home. Never in my life have I been so grateful to have a Cape Cod style house with lots of individual rooms. (I knew there was as reason we didn't go open concept here!) Peter is working in the office. Bella has created an office in her bedroom. Marco is in the den and I am spending far too much time in the kitchen (honest to god, I haven't cooked this much in YEARS!) and the Magic Basement.
Our neighborhood is awash with people walking.
​Dogs are beside themselves with joy. If you are on Twitter, follow Thoughts of Dog. It will make you smile.

Our dogs have destroyed our backyard. What was once grass is now a mud bog race track. The upside is that it is fenced and they are safe and can run to their hearts content. You know it's time to come inside when THEY go to the back door. Last night Bella and Marco gave them a bath. It's always an adventure. Peter was still working and I was cooking...again...still.
The other night at dinner Peter was teasing me and I just started to cry. I went from zero to full tears in less than five seconds. Bella said, "It's only day one of all of us being home." And that was true. BUT, it was day seven of ME preparing. Making sure we had enough food. Making sure we had enough toilet paper and paper towels. Making sure we would all be A-OK. I had reached critical mass for a silly joking remark. IT'S OK TO CRY. These are unprecedented times for ALL of us. We can all be moved to tears from beauty, frustration and anger. In my case, I think it was mental exhaustion. Of course we're set here. I made sure of it. It's my role in this family for 24 years.
Marco gives us stability and endless jokes on Facebook. (It is a mystery where he finds his material but we are all grateful for it.) Peter makes us think and presents many sides to a situation and makes us laugh. Bella tells us tales from the office and gives us facts from the medical world and makes us laugh. I have an amazing family; I know that. I am grateful for the laughter.
BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO CRY.
So, when you cry (and you will) know you're in good company!

I have taken full advantage of the arts on social media. Concerts. Books being read aloud. Museum tours. Its extraordinary what is available for all of us at this time. And it's what makes the internet so unbelievably powerful. Our ability to BE connected while staying inside. Staying at least six feet apart from someone if you are out and about.
Some of the things intriguing me:

• BrenéBrown took everyone to church live on her IG account
• Glennon Doyle reading aloud on her FB pages (and IG)
• Disney released Frozen 2 two months earlier than originally scheduled
• My friend Jessica doing a FB live guided meditation on her page
• Jimmy Fallon's At Home Edition of the Tonight Show
• This drone footage over Boston
• New Yorker's singing out of their windows

I asked this question on FB the other day and got SO MANY fabulous responses. My friend Lisa shared it on her page as well and she got many fabulous responses. I created the NY to WI (she lives in Wisconsin) playlist on Spotify. It's 2020. It was time to finally get Spotify. WHAT A FUN APP! I invite YOU to get on up and dance. Feel free to suggest additional songs. It would be so much fun to get to 100 songs that make you want to dance.

So. How are YOU holding up? Feel free to share. It's not all sunshine and rainbows.
The service industry is in turmoil. And their bills will still need to be paid. SUPPORT who you can. Gift cards. Future appointments. Curb side take out. You know what your family can afford to do. EVERY. LITTLE. BIT. HELPS.
Sending peace and love and a little High School Musical interlude.
​xo

Everyone is special in their own way
We make each other strong (we make each other strong)
We're not the same
We're different in a good way
Together's where we belong

https://youtu.be/BlRvE9dKWQc