Routine

Typically, I get out of bed before the alarm goes off...somewhere around 5:20am.


I let the dogs out, let the cats in, pee, hit the button on the coffee maker, feed the cats, get the dog food ready, let the dogs back in, start the dryer or take out of the dryer and reload it, no doubt put leftover dishes in the dishwasher(they get very heavy late at night and they must be very heavy for my kids to get them) let the dogs back out and make a cup of coffee. 
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I sit when I can on the back porch, drink a cup of coffee, check the news, email, Words with Friends and social media.  After the first cup, I change my clothes and take the dogs on a walk.


I get back home and Addie is in my bathroom.  I wait for her to get out, and I get in.  When I get out of the shower, I listen for Walker, cause he's next...by the time I am ready, Walker is coming downstairs, I turn on the burner, crack some eggs and hand out dollar bills, finish his eggs, slide them on a plate and one in the bowl for Ranger, wipe down and wipe up, grab my bag and head to the car.


Addie is coming downstairs as I walk out, we say goodbye and our day begins.


Mondays are Scouts, One Wednesday once a month I have Pub Theology and one Thursday a month, a Scout committee meeting sandwiched in by nights at the gym, manicures on Monday afternoon (plain Bubble Bath polish, one coat, own nails), Tuesday morning sales meetings and numerous school activities. 


Sunday morning is 8:30am Church and please do not sit in my pew with Sunday dinner and dessert later in the day.


Any roommate I ever had will tell you once I wash my face at night and apply that anti-aging cream, it is over.  I am asleep.


Christmas decorations go up Thanksgiving weekend, the tree the following weekend, down the day after Christmas, up go the Snowmen until February 1 when the Valentine's appear.  The Valentine's day stuff goes down on 2/14 in the evening.  Easter goes up 20 days prior.  Sand buckets and pails go up May 1.  July 4th decorations make their grand enternace on June 25.


I am a creature of habit.  Period.  Sheets get washed on Saturdays.  Always have. Doubt I ever change.  Love a good gym workout on Saturday's too.  Followed by a trip to the grocery store and/or farm stand.


I am 59 years old and at any phase of my life, I had a routine. 


Until Covid -19.


I don't know what happened.  I don't have virus but I came undone


I miss my routine.  I am stunned by the speed that my old routine left me. Seriously, one a Thursday I was making plans for Saturday night and bam...a whole new world.


I am grieving for my previous routine.


I still work, remotely. 
I get up at the usual time but I started falling apart.  Maybe it is because I haven't had a manicure in a month.  I am not sure.


It feels different.  My life feels different.  People are different.  Kinder, and even a little gentler. 


One the few times I have been out and about, very few cars are joining me.  Nobody talks about anything else but Covid-19.


Typically, the only time masks are discussed is sometime in October.  Now, that is a common discussion.


My high school senior is finished as of 3/12.  Don't feel sorry for him, he has a plan, a new adventure and he has closed the door on this chapter.  He is ready to move forward.  Of course I am happy for him.  There is a tiny part of me that wants to see him throw that hat in the air...but it is ok if he doesn't.


The other high school student, looks at Tik Tok videos and complains while she does her online schooling.


My refrigerator door opens about 119 times per day.  My kids are getting a tan from standing in front of the fridge with the door open.  They eat constantly.  All day long.  And sleep.  Like infants, get up, eat, potty, got back to bed, and on and on.


I had visions of puzzle building, game playing, movie watching and instead I got, "Mom, watch Tik Tok", or "Make Walker empty the dishwasher, I did it yesterday," and "Mom, it doesn't matter if we put our clothes away or not, if we just let them in the basket, we can take from their."


I want my routine back. 
The thought of not getting a routine back till August makes me puke in my mouth.


I don't care about going out to eat, or going to the movies, I just want my normal back.


And, I will even settle for half my normal.  Just half. 


Then, I feel like a spoiled brat when I see the hospital workers or tired looking Dr. Fauci speaking to the press. 


Bet they want their routine back as well. 


I guess we all want our routines back and the carbs to go away. 
And for people to get well, get in their cars and back out of driveways.  Soon.