How has this Pandemic Impacted You and Your Family?

Wow! How life has changed!

Here in Oregon, we are living with a ‘Stay Home’ Executive Order made by our governor, Kate Brown. This means, the only time I am to go out is to get groceries, see a doctor, pick up medicine at a pharmacy, check on an elder or vulnerable person, or go to work IF my job is considered ‘essential’ for society.

Right now, I do not have a job.

By nature, I am more of an introvert, so my life doesn’t feel like it’s changed that much. But, now that I’ve been TOLD I can’t go have coffee with a friend, or attend my yoga class or meet with my spiritual director face to face…well that extrovert part of me is feeling a little deprived.

Thankfully, we have our computers. Everything seems to have moved to Zoom chat, Instagram Live and Facebook streaming in order for us to connect. We are NOT social distancing, we are physical distancing.

Words are important.

Our social connections are life giving. We are connected with one another, with God, with every living thing, with our planet, whom I endearingly call, Momma Earth.

For my family, the pandemic brought chaos at first, as I’m sure it has for many of you.

It started with my third daughter being abruptly called home after only serving 7 months in the Peace Corps. All volunteers across the planet were called home. Within a week she had to pack up her entire life, attend a pinning ceremony and wait to be flown home on chartered planes with other volunteers from the African continent. They waited in Ghana on a hot stuffy plane for various embassy personnel and their families to join them. Feeling like a refugee, she’s currently quarantining and processing with another PCV in Portland. I’ll be able to hug her on April 6th, two days before her birthday when she moves back home for the time being.

My son lost his job, but is still able to keep up with his college classes online. He’s concerned about Covid 19, because he has a tracheotomy, which means he’s at higher risk of contracting it. As a childhood cancer survivor this is scary. His girlfriend lost both her jobs as did her roommate. They are relying on the ‘90 day non-eviction’ order the governor enacted as they wait and try to figure out how to survive financially.

My fourth daughter and her friend rent a room from me, but they moved into my Airbnb space, which is a separate large room attached to my house. Airbnb bookings dried up and so did my income. Her friend is a healthcare professional at OHSU and is exposed to Covid 19 everytime they go to work. She is also exposed at her job with Dutch Bros. No, they did not close her local store front, because it is considered ‘take out’. Separating them from us feels sad and difficult, but it was recommended since my husband and son are at a higher risk.

Another friend of my fourth daughter, rents a room from me, but decided to head north to her family for a couple of weeks. Her mother was relieved. Thankfully, she left before the ‘Stay Home’ order was enacted. She currently works her job remotely. We miss her presence.

My husband, an extravert, is working from home now too. Thankfully, his business is considered essential: heating and cooling. As a business and economic major in college, he is worried about the US economy as well as the global economy.

My oldest and her family are surviving at home with an 11 year old and 1 year old. My son-in-law, the ‘house daddy’, is immune compromised, so he has been careful and cautious about Covid 19 even before the rest of us were. My daughter shuts herself in their newly created office space to focus on grassroots efforts to bring together manufacturers from across the nation to make medical masks, respirators etc. She’s been in touch with the Whitehouse as they attempt to help with the crisis of making sure our frontline healthcare workers are properly protected.

My second daughter and her husband went into lockdown before we did. California always seems to be ahead of the curve. As a professor, he’s shifted into teaching online. My daughter, however; cannot teach welding and bronze casting online. She too has lost income, but has focused her time on sewing masks for locals or anyone who needs one. They were supposed to fly into Portland on the 26th for a family spring break at the glorious Oregon Coast. Our long awaited reunion gathering has been postponed.

My 81 year old father is taking all this in stride. Two days ago, he was out delivering Meals on Wheels and working at his part time job. My brother and I asked him to stay home more and I think he’s beginning to listen. I hear that teens and elders seem to exhibit the most rebellion around this Covid 19 world of sheltering at home!

At the beginning of this pandemic, I felt extremely stressed for my family and the world. Of course, this is normal. I’ve spent extra time, practicing centering prayer, meditating, practicing yoga and taking long walks to help reduce the stress impact. I embrace my pain, my anxiety, my fear welcoming it and letting it pass through me. I do not grab onto it or push it away. I just let it be.

I remember what Christian Mystic, Julian of Norwich said: “All shall be well. All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.” As I experience God, through prayer, meditation, yoga, in my body and just by simply living my ‘stay home’ life, I know her words are TRUTH.

I feel it in my bones.

I recognize, I am privileged. My husband and I have one paycheck coming in. My adult children and grandchildren are all safe, healthy and no one is roofless.

I recognize I am grateful too. Friends of mine have created FREE online yoga classes and meditation practices to help us navigate this surreal experience of physical distancing.

These women are healers and are giving their work FREE for all of us!

Go to the Zoom link below for Arvindwinter’s offering of a 6 am (PST) 10 minute Metta (Loving Kindness) Meditation every morning!

Their Sambaddha Yoga offerings are:

Tuesday 6pm (PST) Yin Yoga with Stacie Arvind Rama

Thursday 6pm (PST) Restorative Yoga with Winter

Friday 8pm (PST) Yoga Nidra (sleep yoga) with Winter

Sambaddha Yoga Facebook under Arvindwinter

A second offering:

Please email Leslie Ellis of Heartsong Yoga at leslie@yogaheartsong.com, so she can keep you updated on times and dates of her free offerings.

Currently, her Zoom link is pasted below for Heartsong Yoga’s offering of 11 am (PST) meditation and a Thursday yoga class at 4pm (PST)

Heartsong Yoga offers

I would LOVE to hear from you! How has this pandemic impacted YOU and your FAMILY? You can comment on this blog or comment on my Instagram page.

Shanti—Shalom—Peace to You.