The C Word

I am painting up a storm here in seclusion. Covid-19 has grabbed the world by the throat and everyone I know and love is reeling with anxiety and distress (except for a few ridiculous deniers - you know who you are - go do some careful research). Of course, when all this started early in the year we all naively believed it would soon run its course and life would continue on as we knew it. We were mistaken. Now we are facing the Christmas season under severe restrictions, watching this virus destroy our health care system, our families, our way of life, and our economy.

Coping has become our only course of action. We try to keep our lives on track, while we walk the tightrope. We have had to become comfortable with masks and teach our little ones that it is normal to hang a piece of cloth over your smile. We have had to leave loved ones alone in order to keep them safe. Human touch has become something that can kill you. Hugs, kisses, and hand holding is subject to intense scrutiny.

It is unbelievable as I type this. We seem to have landed in the middle of a horrible B movie and we can’t claw our way out.

And so, I have thrown my energy into painting. It is one thing I can control. The colours give my heart a lift. Combing through my photos to find appropriate reference pics make me appreciate all the things we have done in the past that I have taken for granted. Then, I push and pull the medium, smearing and stroking and pulling the paint. When I am done, I hold something in my hand that wasn’t there before. It makes me proud and grateful that I am able to create beauty in the world at this moment in time when we are aching for love.

Our holiday season will be a quiet, small, relaxed celebration of life. We will welcome the end of 2020 and will hope for better days that we don’t take for granted. We will hope to see and hold loved ones that have been needing our arms around them. We will pray no one we know or love is take from us before this virus is under control. Getting through to the other side unscathed is our destination.

Be careful. Be watchful. Take no chances. Do what you love. Be grateful.