sip week x

When I write a first draft of these posts, I use an x in place of something I need to look up, like a date or amount or statistic.  This post’s title started as sip week x because I’d lost track of which week I’m in since restrictions started here in Nova Scotia.  I had to look at the calendar.  Last week was week 10.  Double-digits.  Or Roman numeral X.

The COVID-19 numbers for Nova Scotia, as of 05/24, are 19 active known cases and 58 deaths.  52 of those 58 deaths were residents in the same large long-term care facility.  The provincial government gives press conferences three days a week but I have stopped watching the local authorities speak.  The shine is off the pan.  I’ve also gradually stopped reading much in the news on the pandemic other than the local updates.  There is just too much.  It always feels like week x now.

Since late March, I’ve had a weekly online meeting with the teacher and sangha I met at the meditation retreat in upstate NY in October (was it really only seven months ago?).  Practicing and connecting with this group across the US and Canada has been a weekly boost for me.

My big happy news is that I have a roommate—a young gray tabby cat who was looking for a new home.  She made herself comfortable immediately, is very affectionate, and is welcome company for me.  I’m smiling and laughing more (and no longer just talking to myself).  I named her Enid.  The only thing we’re not on the same page about is my sleep.  I’m used to sleeping eight hours straight.  Enid thinks being awake at 3 and 4AM is fun.  It’s been a while since I’ve lived with a young cat but, after doing some cat behavioUr research, I’m getting more sleep again.

The weather was sunny all last week but I still had on a light toque for my morning walks.  Spring has finally arrived in Nova Scotia.  Work has started in the nearby vineyards.  The leaves on the row of trees outside my apartment windows have started to fill in.  One day, I looked out and counted seven different birds—chickadee, goldfinch, pheasant, red-winged blackbird, robin, starling, woodpecker—all at the same time.  The wide window ledges provide great Bird TV for Enid. 

I hear the hair salons might open in some form soon but I’m not waiting—Week 10 was time for a corona buzz cut.  Since masks are recommended now, I bought locally-sewn masks last week through the farmers market from a woman who was donating all $ to the food bank.  Early on I was motivated to sew my own masks—I found a friend who would lend me her sewing machine but then just couldn’t get around to ordering sewing supplies online from the world’s richest man. 

References:

• SIP: Shelter In Place.
• Sangha: a Buddhist community.