It's been a minute!

Wow.  It's been a while since I have updated this blog.  The first two months of the year were crazy for me for a variety of reasons, mainly illness and family stuff.  Then March Madness took on a whole new meaning with the Coronavirus.  My library closed at 5:30 on March 13, one month ago today.  From the moment I got home from work that day I have been thrust into a completely new world.  It's been straight survival mode.  If that meant my kids wanted to stay in pajamas all day and eat popcorn for dinner, I was all for it as long as we were all happy and healthy.  Their worlds have been completely altered, and it has been challenging to say the least to try and explain things to 6 and 8 year olds who thrive on seeing their friends everyday, going to Grandma and Papa's house all the time, staying super active in their dance classes, and being able to go to places outside of our house.  My 8 year old's first communion that she has been looking forward to for years is indefinitely postponed.  The dance recital we have spent the last seven months preparing for is in question, although most likely postponed.  I threw the annual Father Daughter Dance at home because it was cancelled.  For the most part, they have been doing okay, but I have thrown myself into keeping things as "normal" as possible and it has come at a cost.  My mental well being has been suffering.  I haven't had my usual energy, and creativity has gone right out the window.  I perpetually feel like I am in a fog of uncertainty and my lack of routine just doesn't work well for this Type A gal.  I need to be busy, I need to be active, and I am an extrovert who needs to see people besides the ones I live with.  But I think I am starting to turn a corner.  Slowly but surely, I am figuring out how to navigate my new reality.  I am trying to find any outlet I can to connect with others and be creative.  I started a Facebook group, Staying Sane in Quarantine that is up to 3.3 thousand members!  I am also working as part of my library's social media team to produce video content in a variety of areas.  All of this is helping me find myself again.  As a result, I am also resurrecting my long ignored blog.  If anything, documenting everything that is happening will allow me to reflect back on this time in the future and be very grateful and appreciative of what I have, especially the career that I love so much.

So stay tuned.  I'm back!