Barefoot Bellringing

The past couple of months have been absolutely frantic. There has been good and there has been bad and there has been me, rushing from one event to another, hoping I’ve remembered everything I need. I don’t like to live this way, I don’t like to work this way and for some strange reason, I was beginning to believe that this was how it was supposed to be.

Time seems to be getting shorter, the world seems to be moving faster, and I’m getting less and less accomplished. Last weekend two of my loveliest friends got married in a ceremony that was simple, beautiful, and absolutely them. I had the joy of being in the choir and in the congregation, and it was a blessing to watch these two beautiful people, who have been through so much in their lives, make a lifelong commitment to each other before G-d, their families, their families-of-choice, and their friends.

A few days before they got married I started with a very sore throat. So I took things slower and drank more fluids. By the day of the wedding I was in full-blown chest cold and not feeling so great at all. Attended the service, being careful not to touch anybody, went to the reception dinner and again, careful not to touch anybody and feeling absolutely lousy. So on Sunday I made a decision not to share the peace. I prepared communion and asked my server to distribute it.

I came home and sent out emails cancelling appointments and meetings, so I could concentrate on getting better. Monday I drove my Mam back to her retirement village which is 3 hours away by car. A six-hour drive wiped me out and I was fit for nothing Monday night. Thankfully Tuesday was cancelled as far as business and work went. And yet, there’s still my phone which pings, chirps and hiccups when there’s activity.

The rest of this week I’ll be going slowly. I had debated about rescheduling on my day off, but decided I need to honour my day off. So I am. And I’m not feeling guilty about it.

My eating patterns are way off right now. I’m consuming too much caffeine and not enough water right now. But eventually I’ll get back to where I should be. Right now it’s about survival and getting better. The rest can wait.