Because this week is an anniversary–albeit a mostly miserable one–for most people around the world, I’d like to suggest something different for this week’s SoCS. You don’t have to do it. You can just choose one of the prompt words and run with it as you always do. I might do that myself. But I thought it would be interesting to see not just how everyone has coped, or not, over the last year, but to share our common experiences as a way to connect, to feel a little less alone, perhaps. Basically, talk about your last year is what I’m saying, whether stream-of-consciousness style or not. Or, if you’d rather not, talk about any time period your heart desires. Without further ado, here’s your prompt for this week:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “day/week/month/year.” Use one, use them all, use them any way you’d like. Enjoy!
A year ago, we were all sitting, confused. So much was happening, somewhere in the world, the appeared to not really concern us too much… or was it?
A virus threatening to attack huge numbers of people.
Never did we think that it would end up like this, with us in the midst of a worldwide pandemic.
Lockdowns, PPE, hospitalisations, deaths, not being able to see anyone, other than our household…
For me, as a teacher, it was the weirdest, surreal time during those first few months of lockdown. Never having ‘taught’ remotely, online, before, we were all struggling, not sure what real expectations were.
Initially, I thrived. I enjoyed the time at home, working, but also carving out time to write, and I managed quite a bit. I baked, spent time with the kids, and went into school once a fortnight, but otherwise, worked from home.
The weeks slowly turned into months.
My creativity dried up.
Our house became a building site with renovations and decorators.
But, infection rates began to fall. Restrictions started to be loosened.
School started up, again. But not as we knew it.
Life was normal, but not, if you know what I mean.
Then, unsurprisingly, the infection rates began to rise again.
Lockdown #2.
(Yet still, school was open, because we were ‘safe’, apparently.)
Easing, again, just in time for Christmas, even though the easing was quite possibly going to cause havoc…
And it did. Along with the discovery of a new variant.
I found myself in isolation the day before we were due to break up for the Christmas holidays, as a colleague I worked with tested positive. this also meant I was isolating on Christmas Day, too.
Joy.
Still not much writing done, though. I simply couldn’t.
A quiet, but happy New Years celebration, followed by the news that we would be hitting another lockdown, (number three, now) and going into remote learning, again, for at least six weeks.
My class, who I had barely known for three months, ended up away from school for another nearly three months…
They came back, on Monday.
Mostly happy. Some, affected more than others.
And today, I sit here, after my first week back in school with them, grateful to have them back with me, but so sad that they have missed so much time with us in class.
And in our personal life?
I released my debut novel shortly before everything kicked off. Over the year, I have been featured on several blogs, interviewed for two podcasts, and was even on a live radio show, as an invited guest!
My own kids have missed months of schooling, within school, but have been online for neraly 6 months of the last year.
Hubby Dearest is suffering Cabin Fever, being at home, working, for the last year.
We lost one of our parrotletts.
Sonu Singh has been spoilt, thinking thata he’s always going to have someone at home with him.
I’ve not seen my parents for six months. Thank goodness for video calls.
My daugher turned teenager, and she finally got her braces.
My son is preparing for the GCSEs that never were… but he also got into Sixth Form College, so yay!
And me? I’m still not writing regularly, but creative bursts hit, sporadically…
Sue Vincent’s #WritePhoto prompt, now transferred to the lovely KL Caley’s blog.
Portal
Doorway to another dimenson
Those going in find their escape
Those coming out, finding theirs
You see,
The grass isn't always greener...
Ritu 2021
March 11, 2021, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about deep wishes. Where is the deep — in the sky, the ground, or outer space? What kind of wishes reside there for whom and why? Go where the prompt leads!
Deep Wishes
I’m tired.
Tired of pleasing everyone else, all the time, and never doing anything for myself.
She noticed my mood.
She notices everything.
Approaching me with a cup of my favourite tea, she settled me on a chair, told me to calm down, before handing me the cup.
“Breathe, Nina. Let it out. You know you’re doing a fantastic job, but you can’t forget your dreams. I remember what you were like when you started here, filled with ambition and amazing ideas. Come on, dig deep. What were your wishes, then? It’s time for you to think about yourself.”
But I Smile Anyway... 