Update from Aunt CB Taylor Kinsella:
These years, for us all, are different! The world differs, as we fight the virus. For me, I find, here in the Hamlet, I need help! I cannot read my mail. I can, at this time, hardly see what is on my plate at a meal. It is astonishing to me, at times, to pick up a forkful of what I think is potatoes, to find it is something very different!
No use to complain and it can’t be changed — thus, I go, day by day, and find I appreciate such small things that I never noticed before! A nearby friend, Josephine, who shares my table with me at meals—we keep one another’s spirits up. She helps me read my mail, and I help her by telling her funny stories of our family, and others that I see! She can’t imagine having so many children! — and I can’t imagine a life without every one of you!!
I am lucky! All is fine here — we help one another, and try to accept what our life is now. I know I cannot see you kids as I’d like to, but phone calls from all and to know you are all zooming together, gives me pleasure. I know you will face what comes your way and help one another. And I’m sure Dad is helping in his own way, just as he always did.
Editor’s Note: Mom mentions Dad, who died two years ago. I know she also means that ALL of our ancestors and loved ones who have moved on are helping us in these most difficult times. I often feel them with me.
Pat Here:
What a difficult year this has been, in ohh so many ways! I miss so much about all of you. However, I am so grateful to you all, in this crazy, creative and colorful clan.
I so appreciate that Mom is hanging in and that she continues to help me solve the problems of the country, and the world.
As Grey’s Anatomy said in a recent show, as they delve into the thoughts of someone on the brink of life and death in a Covid hospital room: “So find your people, and keep them close. Because when you are at your lowest, those people get you through.” Make no mistake. You ARE my people. Thank you for getting me through.
May this year—2021-- find us together again in person. I look forward to ‘going a-cousining’ as our ancestors from 1840 Wolcott, Vermont called visiting with relatives. Here is to sharing many memories, stories, food (desserts!!) and laughter in these coming months.
Love you all!
3 comments:
Thank you, Pat, for keeping our people together and close. Having moved to a new area just before the pandemic started, I have been really solitary - living alone and pretty secluded and meeting no one except my upstairs neighbor. Even when I go for walks around my apartment complex, there are hardly any people out at all. I have plenty of work and plans and projects to do on my own, so I'm not bored. But my connections to the world consist mainly of phone calls and zoom meetups, many of them organized by you, and often including cousins as well. Just as you connect our family on this blog, you connect us on zoom calls and in email, as well. That makes all the difference! Much appreciated.
I know it's been hard for everyone during this pandemic, but I think all the time of the isolation that Aunt CB must endure. By now she's got her vaccine, and the other day when we spoke she talked about how nice to be able to go walk the halls of The Hamlet once again. Jen Kinsella had paid her an in-person visit, and she was looking forward to more of my cousins being able to visit as well. Let's hope and pray that with the vaccines now available the end of this is in sight.
I find myself reflecting on smaller memories. I remember visiting grandma and grandpa's house in Waterloo. If we stayed long enough on Sunday, supper was a bowl of popcorn and milk ....anyone know the history or that?
My mom, Maria, always made a big deal of putting our beach stuff and swim suits in the car....in case we were out somewhere and found an opportunity to go swimming.
In short I find the small memories a welcome respite from pandemic isolation.
Post a Comment