What’s in the past cannot be rehashed

It is almost the middle of January. Time for my mom to ask if my tulips are blooming yet. They are not. That’s just one of the little things that used to bother me when we talked on the phone. She knew that tulips rarely if ever bloom in January. I suppose there’s a first time for everything.

To those who still have a mother, or any relative who is older than you, resist the urge to tune them out when they tell the same story each and every time it is remotely relevant. Instead, ask them to flesh out the story. I always knew my grandmother worked at the Atlas Underwear Company. I have no idea how old she was then, how long she worked there, what she did, or any of a thousand questions I have now that she is gone. 

Then there was the “baby in a shoebox.” I was told that my grandfather’s hair turned white when he saw his little sister in the shoebox. Except none of his sisters would have been in a shoebox and his hair was brown. The cousins I have been in touch with remember the same thing. We all have heard of the “baby in a shoebox” but still don’t know any details. If your family has tales of a baby in a shoebox please let me know. Maybe we are related.

The cold weather is good for staying inside unless you are our niece, Jane. Recently she wrote that she “Enjoyed a peaceful, quiet, humbling 15 mile run this morning and the sun is coming out!! What a great start to the weekend!” Is she nuts? This is the art teacher who also runs marathons. Never in my life have I had any inclination to run for one mile, let alone 15. Perhaps that is why she is in such great shape and I’m not.

My idea of  winter fun is to check on the paper-white bulbs I received for Christmas. They are waking up and beginning to grow leaves. I have two heavy cut-glass vases filled with them. The vases help keep the plants from flopping over as much once they do bloom. I also have a bunch of hyacinths, each with its own jar, that need to be put in the refrigerator. They need a cold period before they will bloom.

Many of us also need a cold period before we bloom. Watching the political unrest play itself out on the television is stressful enough to fulfill that requirement. If politics isn’t your cup of tea, then try to go grocery shopping. Empty shelves still appear on a regular basis.

Then there is the ultimate bogeyman. It goes by several names but I refer to it as the virus. We are presented with dire figures every day. We are cautioned to stay home as much as possible, wash our hands every few minutes, and wear the hated masks. 

As of today I have known several people who have contracted the virus. Thankfully, most of them have had mild cases. Only one has ended up in the hospital and she is staying at her sister’s house for the time being.

I am waiting for the world to go back to the same old routine, realizing that will never happen. Until someone proves otherwise, time is linear. Going back is not an option. We can only go forward. Let’s hope the worst is behind us.