Covid fatigue is real. I feel it almost every single day. A mention of Covid can be found in almost everything that I am exposed to; how I dress, the things I carry with me whenever I am away from my home, how I shop for what my family needs, the work I do, the news I am exposed to and the plans that I am wanting to make. I am tired of Covid and all that it requires of me, all it has taken from me. That may sound selfish given the tragic loss that so many others have experienced, but it is a real feeling I have.

This week was about continuing to live. Simple enough. Continuing to gather what is needed from the grocery and retail stores for my family. Continuing to heal my back from my earlier injury this month, pressing on through some pain. Continuing to work, to support my organization and community in the fight against Covid while also earning a living to provide for my family. Continuing to try to social, albeit remotely, with family and friends.

One of the things that I was actually looking forward to this week was snow. The weather prognosticators had shared that we might get snow one or two days early this week. We did not. The excitement of seeing those fluffy flakes fall from the sky was not realized. We did however get to see some color in a few sunrises. Often our skies remain clouded with little breaks for the colors of the sunrises and sunsets. But this week there was enough of a break to the East that I was able to enjoy a sunrise with its reds, oranges and yellows.

On National Plan for Vacation Day I lamented the fact that we have not been able to take a vacation for nearly a year now. I know, first world problems and all. However, I cherish the time that we get to travel together. It is our time, away from the requirements of work and our house. Time to see and experience places, some of which are new to us. Time to meet different people. Time to rest and recharge. I recalled our last pleasure trip away from home to San Diego and thought of all of the reasons I would like to return there, now! We need to decide when we are willing to take a vacation and then we need to plan it. That effort alone will be good for our souls.

As I came and went through the areas of Vancouver and Portland I saw the ill effects of poor civic leadership. somewhat exasperated by the Covid pandemic and decisions made around it. There is graffiti and garbage everywhere in Portland. The absence of the public and the failure of the local government leaders has led to a time and place where it feels like a free for all on the streets, the sidewalks in the parks and in the family neighborhoods. It is evident who is in control of many of these locations and it is not the civil society.

At least the week finished on a bit of an upbeat note. We were able to get a little bit of Seattle delivered to Vancouver in the form of piroshkies from Pike Place Market’s Piroshky Piroshky. We used to pick up one whenever we walked the Market during a visit. It has been well over a year and a half since we have been there so this was a bit exciting, a bit of an event for us. We looked forward to Saturday as the time approached to pick up your preorder. We made a lunch out of it, sharing different items and talking about what we enjoyed and remembering what we enjoy so much about visiting the Seattle Pike Place Market.