Sue Wighton

Keeping a Sense OF

By: Sue Wighton

Who would have thought that in 2020, the world would have been brought to its knees – not by terrorists, not by global warming, but by a virus? Life as we know it has certainly changed. Like most of us, I’m busily disinfecting everything in sight – my kitchen benches, the doorknobs, the steering wheel of my car, the cat. So far, the only one to complain has been the cat. With continuous media coverage around the clock, it’s hard to believe this crisis will ever end. We are now hearing about a situation called ‘the new normal’ (‘You call this normal?’ I silently scream). New words and phrases are HEALTH WELLBEING AND COMMUNITY expanding our lexicon every stopped shaving my legs and day (self-isolation, social some days I don’t even make distancing, pandemic, it to the shower. Those bristles ‘flattening the curve’). sprouting from my chin are It’s almost impossible to being given free rein. keep a sense of perspective, I’ve decided that if I keep even though there’s a lot of resolutely on this path of Covid 19 humour about on completely uncivilized social media. behaviour, it won’t be long Like, everyone, I’m trying to keep a sense of proportion while keeping busy. But it’s all getting a bit competitive. before I’m so smelly, hairy and generally loathsome, no one will want to come near me. That’s self-isolation – done. There seems to be this idea And somehow now we’re all that we need to do something expected to cook. Not just worthwhile while we’re rissoles or spag bol, but fancy confined to quarters. Like Israeli chef Ottolenghi – style teaching yourself to play concoctions like stilton and the Lithuanian nose flute or butternut squash quiche with creating miniature authentic roast sprouts or baked celeriac medieval costumes for your with smoked trout and caper garden gnomes. Or writing that salsa. blockbuster novel everyone Once again people, where is the believes they have within them. perspective? My local Italian Just a tip. They don’t. take away is still operating I’ve decided not to buy into and I can happily exist on these competitive pursuits. Italian supreme pizza every Instead, I’m using this time other night. If I buy a huge in self-isolation to un-teach one, they’ll bring it to my door. myself those things that make And because I’m now smelly for a civil society. For example, and hairy, the delivery person I’ve stopped wearing a bra, has no issues with leaving the

giant wondrous pizza on my doormat. But in this ‘new normal’ there are some things that haven’t changed. Riding my bike along Kedron Brook, I note the creek is still burbling away, and squadrons of pretty butterflies’ weave in and around the dappled trees. Friendships remain rock solid with phone calls and ‘zoom’ catch-ups keeping us connected. And Bribie’s beautiful beaches remain quiet and pristine, waves continuing to break on the shore as they’ve done for millennia. Let’s keep our sense of perspective and help each other through this awful time. See you on the other side.