Five Minute Friday: HOW

Today I'm linking up with the Five Minute Friday community, writing for five minutes on a given prompt. This week's word is HOW.

Thirteen weeks ago we were told that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, schools would be closing for March Break and two weeks beyond. The university was suspending classes for a week with plans to reopen for remote instruction for the rest of the semester. Extend-a-Family cancelled its March Break camp and all its other programs. The library shut down. In-person church was suspended.

I remember Richard and I looking wide-eyed at one another.

How would we manage not having any structured activities other than his work shifts?

How would we keep Jonathan happy and healthy for all that time?

How would the rest of Allison's semester at Queen's, with one online course and one on-campus course, unfold?

So many unknowns. We really didn't know how we would do it ... but there really was only one way, and there still is.

One day at a time.

One hour at a time.

One thing that's been a mainstay of our days is taking walks. When some of our favourite walking places were closed, we found other ones. We've walked many different sections of the K&P Trail and encountered other walkers and cyclists, all making the most of the situation.

Otherwise Jonathan fills his days doing jigsaw puzzles, watching DVDs and garbage-truck videos, participating in Zoom meetings with his teacher and EAs and camp friends. He goes on the trampoline with Dad and Allison and fills the back yard with laughter. He helps Dad with the recycling and rushes outside when I'm taking in the laundry so he can help remove the pins and put them in their container.

 It's going to be a long time till things get back to any semblance of normal. A long summer, likely without camp or a trip to see Grandpa, stretches ahead of us. How will we manage it?

One day at a time.

One hour at a time.