Cordelia's Mom, Still

Christmas 2020

Posted on December 25, 2020 by cordeliasmom2012

“Line of Communication”

We may be far apart and unable to get together this year, but we can still stay in touch with one another.

My family will be having a Zoom Christmas this year, rather than risk COVID-19 exposure by having a large in-person gathering. I think it will be fun because it’s a different kind of Christmas.

Although, I must admit I miss having Christmas morning with small children. While that has been the case ever since my own kids grew up and moved out, it somehow just seems different this year. Puppy Cody will just have to take up the slack.

Mother Nature is cooperating with the COVID-19 guidelines for social distancing. The ice/snow storm that hit overnight, and the additional snow that’s predicted to come in later today, may help to keep people in, at least I hope so. It’s only one Christmas; next year things will be better.

Merry Christmas, Everyone! Stay safe and healthy.

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Image by Cordelia’s Mom/TeddyRosalieStudio

Posted in Covid-19, Health, Holidays, Photography, Relationships | Tagged 2020, Christmas, communication, ice, telephone line, winter | 23 Comments

‘Tis the Season

Posted on December 17, 2020 by cordeliasmom2012

(yes, that’s a really bad photo – blame the delivery driver)

December 15 – one of the busiest mailing days of the year.

My co-worker was on vacation, and we had certified mails that had to be taken to the post office, so guess who got elected?

The waiting line at the local postal branch was out the door into the parking lot, and due to COVID-19 requirements, only one person at a time was allowed to enter. The line inside the store was about 10 people long, spaced the required 6 feet apart.

Ahead of me, outside, was a lady with a huge, and apparently rather heavy, box. As the line snaked along, we exchanged minor comments, and she said she needed to get that package to her granddaughter by Christmas. As each new customer entered the store and the line advanced, she pushed the box along. Finally, it was her turn to enter (after about 20 minutes outside, in 26 degree (F) weather!).

About 5 minutes later, I was able to ease into the store behind her. At least it was warmer in there.

There was a young, foreign couple just ahead of us, who were trying frantically to finish assembling the two packages they intended to mail. They had run out of tape, and the store didn’t have any left. The Big Box Lady (as she shall henceforth be called) reached into her pocket and pulled out a roll of packing tape. She then not only offered the tape to the foreign couple, but she also did the taping for them – and believe me, the lady knew what she was doing. I got the distinct impression that she’s done a lot of package mailing in her lifetime.

After another 20 minutes, we were about halfway through the inside waiting line – when Big Box Lady turned to me with a chagrined expression on her face and exclaimed that she couldn’t mail that package after all because she had left her wallet at home.

Oh, no. I briefly debated offering to pay the mailing charges for her (she could always just send me a check), but realized I only had enough cash to pay for the postage on the certified mails for work. I felt a little sad as I watched Big Box Lady drag that huge parcel back out to the parking lot.

Eventually, my turn at the mailing window came. I completed my business and proceeded to leave the store, only to discover that it was after 5 pm and the doors had been locked – both to people trying to get in and to those trying to get out. I waited a few minutes, fruitlessly pushing on the door, until another departing customer came up behind me. I asked that customer to please go back to the desk and find someone to let us out, which she did.

As we waited for a postal employee to come with the door keys (and believe me, no one in that post office was moving any faster than absolutely necessary at the end of a very long work day), I glanced out the door into the parking lot. What to my wondering eyes should appear, but the Big Box Lady returning with her parcel, and her wallet. The look in her face when she discovered the locked doors was heartbreaking.

I waved to her and tried to convey that if I could get the door open, I would allow her to sneak in. After all, the line in the store was long enough that no one would really know who was supposed to be last in line.

But then the postal employee arrived with the keys – and it was the branch supervisor. It was after 5 pm, the store was closed, and this was a federal facility. How likely was it any rules would be waived for a somewhat desperate customer?

I tried anyway. I told the supervisor that Big Box Lady had been in line ahead of me but had to return to her car, only to then find herself locked out. Could he please let her in?

And he did. There were smiles all around. The huge gift was, I assumed, sent off to the Big Box Lady’s granddaughter.

That little dose of Christmas spirit made me feel warm and cozy all evening. Kudos to that postal supervisor and his kind heart.

Don’t know if I’ll post between now and Christmas, so just in case – may you all have a Very Merry Christmas, and a safe and healthy holiday season.

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Image by an unknown Amazon/Fedex/UPS delivery driver

Posted in Holidays, Relationships, That's Life | Tagged 2020, Christmas, Christmas spirit, Covid-19, holiday, kindness, post office | 11 Comments

Falling

Posted on December 3, 2020 by cordeliasmom2012

December 2, Buffalo, New York. Of course, there would be snow and ice.

As Maureen prepared for work, she realized it had snowed overnight. Only a few inches, but when she looked out the kitchen window, she could see that the newly painted porch was covered. God, how she hated to wear boots! But sneakers would be a death-wish (or at least a broken-bone wish).

Puppy ran out the door first, and slid right down the steps. Thankfully, puppies bounce, and the dog shook herself off and scampered into the back yard to do her business. Not as brave, or foolish, as the canine, Maureen very carefully stepped onto the porch, felt her foot slip, and grabbed onto the railing to stabilize herself.

This was not looking good, but then again, this was Buffalo and it was winter. Buck up, Maureen!

Fortunately, the chain-link fence had been built right up to the porch. Maureen gripped the top of the fence and eased her way sideways down the steps. One step, two steps, three steps. Safe!

But Maureen was not taking chances. Still holding tight onto the fence railing, she eased her right foot onto the two-foot-wide wooden strip at the very bottom of the steps. Why the prior owners had not simply extended the asphalt to the steps instead of installing that wooden landing was unknown; Maureen could only assume they felt it was more decorative than black pavement.

Newly painted smooth wood holds black ice so much better than bumpy asphalt. Maureen’s foot slipped out from under her and she began to fall. Clinging onto the fence, she was able to avoid a full-out crash landing, but still wound up on her knees on the icy ground. Unable now to reach the top of the fence nor the porch railing, and unable to gain traction on the black ice, Maureen contemplated her predicament.

How embarrassing was this? Were the neighbors looking? Was everyone now laughing at the silly old fat lady lying next to her own side porch?

Thank God, no one seemed to be around. No bones were broken, and the pain was not severe enough for a sprain. Pride only had been hurt.

But there was still the issue of getting back onto those feet.

Slowly, Maureen scooted backwards on her knees from the black ice on the wooden strip to the somewhat less slippery asphalt. Sticking her fingers through the chain-link at the bottom of the fence, she ever so slowly pulled herself, inch by inch, up the fence and into a standing position. Afraid to let go of the fence even then, she inched along the pavement to the snow-covered grass of the backyard. Only then did she feel confident in her ability to walk without assistance.

Meanwhile, Puppy was having a great time running through the snowy grass. Couldn’t that dog have helped out at some point? Or did she think Maureen was merely playing as she crawled away from the porch? Or were the squirrels in the trees at the back of the yard simply more interesting than the dog’s owner?

Having accomplished what needed to be accomplished outside, it was time for owner and dog to return to the house – back across that icy landscape. A second fall would definitely not be amusing, But thankfully, going upstairs was a little easier than coming downstairs, and re-entering the house was uneventful.

No work today, after all. Maureen’s car was in front of the house. No way was she going cross that ice-covered driveway to her car. The fence did not extend that far; there was absolutely nothing to hold onto if she slipped. She would be in full view of anyone looking out their front windows or driving down the street. And she was sore from her fall. Time for a pain pill and a return to bed.

Tomorrow would be another day.

[Hope you enjoyed this excursion into flash fiction. May you all stay safe and healthy. (And yes, the pulled muscles did heal after a day or so …)]

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom/TeddyRosalieStudio

Posted in Humor, Photography, That's Life | Tagged Buffalo NY, December, embarrassment, fall on ice, fallen and can't get up, flash fiction, ice, snow, winter | 27 Comments

Zone Orange

Posted on November 22, 2020 by cordeliasmom2012

“Marshmallow Sunset”

Sure, most of us understood we weren’t out of the woods yet.

After the New York State COVID-19 lockdown back in March, April and May, the pandemic curve flattened and everything eventually reopened. Those of us not working from home went back to the office, stores and restaurants reopened fully, and even gyms and movie theaters were allowed to accept customers. Come autumn, most of the schools also opened for in-person classes, or at least for a hybrid version (half remote/half in-person).

Many people became complacent and began ignoring the COVID guidelines. Some blamed it on COVID fatigue; others simply felt that if they hadn’t already gotten the disease, they weren’t likely to. There was no longer that fear of partying – after all, these were all friends and family, right?

The weather stayed warm and summery well into early autumn. People took the opportunity to have outdoor barbecues and street parties. After all, you can’t get sick if you’re outside, right?

Halloween was a big party time for many people. I saw on Facebook that there were members of my own extended family who hosted parties for pretty much everyone they knew, including friends, families, neighbors, colleagues. I don’t doubt that the pizza delivery guy was invited in as well. But those parties were held in backyards and garages – that makes it safe, right?

Apparently, COVID-19 is smarter than the party people – and apparently COVID is very patient.

In the last few weeks, the numbers of positive cases and hospitalization have surged. My county has the highest percentage rate of COVID cases in all of New York State.

Gov. Cuomo instituted new COVID guidelines for “hot zones.” My county was declared a Yellow Zone, meaning somewhat tighter restrictions. Restaurants and retailers had to limit the amount of customers at any given time, and of course everyone was required to wear masks (as they should have been doing all along), but otherwise it wasn’t much different than it had been since May. Even schools were still allowed to have in-person classes, with the caveat that they had to start COVID testing both staff and students on a regular basis.

Yellow Zone status lasted only about two weeks. The infection rate continued to surge. Now we are in Orange Zone status.

11-22-20: Wouldn’t you love to dine outside today?

Orange Zone restrictions mean no indoor dining of any kind – only outdoor dining and take-out is allowed. (It’s now November, temperatures have dipped, and even those restaurants with outdoor patios are unlikely to get customers willing to sit outside when it’s 35 degrees Fahrenheit.) Schools are remote-learning only. Gyms and movie theaters are closed, as are beauty salons.

At the moment, those of us who still go to offices at “non-essential” business can continue to do so.

But according to some reports I’ve heard in the last couple of days, that may change as early as next week. We may go to Red Zone status – which means total lockdown for all except essential businesses.

Right back where we were in March, April and May.

Mostly because people just can’t be bothered with following some simple guidelines, like wearing masks in public and staying six feet away from others. Or simply because some people simply can’t forego their socializing.

This time will be worse. There will be no federal funds to supplement those meager state unemployment benefits, and there will be no federal funds to help smaller businesses weather another lockdown.

The holiday season is upon us. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve overheard discussing their upcoming Thanksgiving plans with family and friends – just like every other year, they will host huge dinner parties, with absolutely no consideration given to COVID guidelines. Come Christmas, a lot of those dinner guests may be too ill to care about food or gifts.

On the other hand, there are many of us who realize this is not going to be a normal holiday season. I worried that my own kids would be upset when hubby and I bowed out of both Thanksgiving dinner and the annual Christmas get-together. Imagine my relief when I received word from every one of my daughters that they also are spending the holidays in their own homes, with just their significant others. It’s been decided that this year’s get-together will be virtual, and I’m all for that. I even scored the very last basic webcam which our local Best Buy had in stock, and I’ve already set up my Zoom account.

The holidays will be somewhat different this year, but they’ll be enjoyable nonetheless. And as a mother, I am very, very happy that my kids all have the sense to take the pandemic seriously. There’s enough to worry about right now without having to deal with potential super-spreader events.

Of course, the annual cookie-baking party is also cancelled, but who really needs shared cookies anyway? This year, I guess we’ll each bake our own.

Everyone just needs to hunker down and get through the next few months, until the much-touted vaccine is available. Hopefully, by this time next year the entire COVID-19 pandemic will merely be a bad memory. With luck, and a lot of common sense this year, next year’s holiday season will be a normal one – and probably a better one because of this year’s sacrifices.