Aching for Sun

Finally. The sun appeared early Sunday morning. After seemingly weeks of dreary, rainy weather, light fills the sky. In recent days our lamps were lit through the day. It was dark for over a week. This cool damp spell followed dry weather. Lawns were brown, soil cracked. But now? Green has returned. I have not inspected the soil cracks but assume they are closing.

There is a hint of yellow in treetops. The dark green of summer leaves are lightening ever so little. Fall is on its way. Cooler weather with gentle rains creating color pathways toward winter.

COVID robbed us of a living spring. Summer was taken from us, too. Fall will be different this year, one observed from the safety of indoors. Still, fall is a season when we don heavier clothing and prepare for winter's cold. A winter with COVID in Illinois is be like most winters, only without the joy of restaurants.

I’m in this lifestyle until spring 2021. I’m assuming COVID vaccines will be available then and with broad distribution. Slowly we will emerge from the cocoon of quarantine and resume a modest sense of normal.

Normal, however, is a term of relativity. Normal what? Work? Commuting? Socializing? Attending church? What about meetings and client face to face sessions? And family gatherings?

I think we have learned the productivity of less driving around, fewer in-person meet-ups and the joy of Zoom. I think sales calls and consulting will be permanently virtual. I think working from home will expand exponentially. Paperless routines will be a reality finally. Just think, no or fewer filing cabinets!

Commuting patterns will be fewer and less. Office buildings will be converted to apartments and other functions. Commercial real estate will drastically redesign itself. So will mass transit.

The entire reality of socialization will be rethought. We want to be with others. We ache for togetherness. But will we actually do this? I think not. I think we will continue to be more private but more thoughtful and communicative digitally. Thinking and creating will become a feature of our days. 

That’s a good thing. Take the time to think things out. Focus on desired outcomes. Think how those can come about. Create answers to the many questions. Share at will and become a more considered participant in the human community.

Like the sun that reappeared Sunday, possibility comes from pauses. And reflecting. Thinking.

From the horrors of COVID may come blessings. Like aching for sun. We can hope.

September 14, 2020