YINW Vacczine

In homage to a good friend's "Thankful Thursdays," I see no better time to share this musing of small victories.

May 31st. That's the earliest date I was given regarding availability to repair my son's phone by one of the only locations open in our area.  I knew that this would break him. Having missed out on bar mitzvah parties and an anticipated school trip to Boston; and now his last social lifeline unavailable for that long? This couldn't be happening.

You know how Jerry Maguire said he was always good in the living room? How that was his specialty?  Being a long time work at homer, I am good on the phone - that's MY specialty. I found the number of every repair location still open - between here and Connecticut - determined to find someone who would help me sooner than the last day in May, and guess what?  It worked.  I found someone that could handle it the same day.

Two hours later I was in Manhattan, got the repair done (with appropriate social distancing of course) and returned home to a relieved boy, feeling like I just won the lottery. 

This past Monday, my other son lamented that his favorite subject, science, had basically been cut out of the distance learning schedule.  By Monday afternoon, I had found and registered him for a two-part free online course on neuroscience.  Decorations ordered for his birthday are actually set to arrive before his actual birthday and all the gifts are already here. Making it look this easy is hard work!  

My youngest is obsessed with pesek zman candy bars.  His "regular" choice was unavailable so I found an alternative. He declared that the substitute was even better than the ones I usually get him! Missing his friend a whole lot, I coordinated a facetime playdate. Not just one night, but two nights in a row. My quarantine-mom-game is going full gear.

So many other little victories:  

Getting the kids' favorite school lunch delivered to our home by the caterer who makes it for the school.

Finally taking the time to attempt recipes with my kids that I kept pushing off.  

Witnessing my children spend time together for more than five minutes without fighting, and dare I say, even enjoying it!

The pleasure of listening to my boys laining, even the little one who makes up his own notes, from the comfort of my bed.

Having an amazing boss who supports me and keeps telling me that my family comes first - and he means it. He finds my quests for substitute chocolate bars and open phone repair centers "noble," and affords me the time off work to pursue them.

Last but not least, my husband.  He is a true Renaissance man.  From unclogging toilets to cleaning them, teaching our youngest to ride a bike to making sure that the endless boxes of deliveries are unpacked. Is there nothing he can't do?  Sure it's not all wine and roses, but I can truly say I done good in picking my partner in crime/fellow prisoner.  My future advice to my boys when choosing a spouse will include: "Is this someone you can see yourself spending a pandemic with, trapped in a home for an indefinite amount of time?" Thankfully, for me, my answer is yes.

How do I conclude all these thoughts that are running through my head? Well, as Jordan indicated, this edition is about the ascent, the climb. I can't believe these words are coming out of my mouth, but, Miley Cyrus best summarizes how I am feeling these days, so I leave you with her lyrics:

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that

I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, 'cause

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

By: Elana Torczyner