It's not yet spring - not even August - and yet the daffodils and other bulbs have started blooming. Started over a month ago despite the cold weather which has made us more than thankful that we are finally able to have our fire going this year.
But daffodils in winter is just another example of how topsy turvy our world is at present.
Earlier this week as I was preparing for a talk that I had to give, I looked over some notes from when I gave a similar talk at the beginning of this year, and realised how much has changed in such a short time. In January I could not imagine lockdown, a global pandemic, limits to the number of mourners at a funeral or guests at a wedding, not being able to buy toilet paper or flour, borders closed, or using technology to work from home in a job that is particularly hands-on.
COVID-19 turned our world as we knew it upside down. Not just in New Zealand but everywhere. Now here we are over half way through 2020 and life continually gets turned upside down. Unlike our nearest neighbour, Australia, we have not returned to lockdown and life is supposedly back to normal … and at times appears to be that way.
Here in New Zealand, we probably don't wash our hands as much as we did when COVID-19 first became a household word; we don't think twice about going shopping or out for a meal or coming into contact with strangers; and our symptoms of runny noses and coughs are likely nothing more or less than the common cold.
I'm still waiting for a "normal" weekend where I can garden and bake and putter about the house but we still seem to be busy visiting family (yes, still) or cleaning the house from ceiling to floor after the recent sanding of out timber floors.
But we do not have to wear masks or carry hand sanitiser or think about social distancing. To all intents and purposes, it seems that life is back to normal. Or should be.
Except it isn't.
In just over two weeks my youngest son is getting married ... and we cannot be there in the flesh. When he stands beside his sweetheart and pledges himself to her for life we will hear the vows and see the smiles, but we won't be there.
When they sign the register - or whatever they do in her country - we won't be there. When they have their first kiss as man and wife - we won't be there.
I won't be there to fasten the boutonniere in his lapel or to give him once last hug before he becomes joined to another. Or to hurry him up so that we make it to the church on time.
As the bride walks down the aisle, looking beautiful and happy, I won't be able to turn my head and enjoy the look on my son's face when he catches sight of her.
We won't be able to throw flower petals or follow them out of the church once they are married or hug them both for the first time as Mr and Mrs or find an excuse not to dance (since neither DH nor I can dance).
We won't be able to do any of that.
But we will still celebrate with them, pray for them, and stand with them as they become man and wife, welcome a new daughter-in-law, and support the marriage through all the days ahead.
Comments