Just Another Sunday...

With all the rain we've had in Florida, the hibiscus are in bloom and I love the detail.

by Skip Cohen
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It's a typical Sunday morning in what's become the new norm. Sheila and I get up together and get the pups out; then, on either Saturday or Sunday, I hit the market with the shopping list. They open at seven, and I like to be there ahead of the idiots who think wearing a mask restricts their freedom. A mask isn't a political statement, it's an IQ Test, and fortunately, these fools like to sleep in! LOL

I've noticed through five+ months of the pandemic that I've become more aware of my own mortality. Not in a morbid way, just concerning not wanting to waste time. 

We're down to watching the news one day a week, but we still read a lot. The stories that seem to jump out the most often are about people who have lost the battle to Covid-19. My frustration with all of these stories is that's what the media wants us to hear most. That's the panic they want to keep creating. I'm not minimizing any deaths due to the virus or the growing number of new cases, just the way they're presented.

Sheila and I take turns helping each other stay focused. But that doesn't change the fact I'm aware time is flying by. I don't want to miss a second of any day and hate it when I let everything get to me. But I have noticed a huge change in the values of things I appreciate.

For example, we discovered that as an Amazon Prime Member, we can go back to our favorite shows and watch old episodes without a single commercial. So, we're on season 2 of Chicago PD - each episode without a single interruption. Come on, admit it, this is BIG!

See what I mean about appreciation levels? Here are a few more...

• I've got less respiratory issues than Sheila, so I like doing the grocery shopping. I've gotten to know the names of most of the staff at the market. And honestly, they're part of the team of heroes through this pandemic.
• I'm excited over finding an alcohol-based Mandarin/Basil hand-sanitizer! It's something different, and it sure smells better than Clorox-made wipes.
• I've always loved to cook and watching every episode of Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay and Iron Chef is helping me raise the bar. I recently sliced up Brussels sprouts, sauteed them in butter and olive oil with garlic and pancetta. I served them with a large scallops on the top. Then I waited to watch Sheila's face on the first bite. Since she smiled, I knew I wasn't CHOPPED.

And there you have it - a life of simplicity demonstrating exactly what I'm talking about - continually changing priorities and appreciating the simplest of things. 

But there's one more I've noticed - my friendships, both new and old, have never been more important. Catching up to somebody on an IM can be magical, even when I'm busy. And phone calls are astounding. I'm more in touch with people than before the pandemic. Now and then, my mother hen gene makes me worry when I don't hear from somebody I've been chasing down, but that doesn't change my appreciation when I find them. I also use the words "love ya" more often with great friends - because more than ever I realize how plain my life would be without them. 

Wishing everybody a safe, healthy, and uncomplicated Sunday. Appreciate all the little things and just like the button in Luminar to "enhance the details," pay attention to how your love for so many things you barely used to notice has changed.

Sending everybody a long therapeutic virtual hug and hoping you can stay focused on the big picture - getting through the pandemic and being together at the next LIVE convention. What a celebration that's going to be!

Happy Sunday...and Monday to all my friends on the other side of the world.