It is absolutely mind-blowing to me that I find myself editing visitation policy for my hospital today, TWENTY-FIVE months after this pandemic slammed into us. Once the vaccines arrived, I told everyone who would listen that we were in the fourth quarter of this thing. The end felt so near, we all collectively taste it. But then, Delta. And then, Omicron. And now, my team talks of Operationalizing COVID while we see record numbers of staff absent due to illness or exposure. I am officially out of witty words and pep talks for myself and my staff and my friends who are strangers on the internet. I simply put one foot in front of the other each day, and I expect everyone else is doing the same.
And then, our baby turned nine.
I have the hardest time remembering my youngest child’s birthday. Perhaps because the date and year were so close? 7/14/13. Even just now, I typed it wrong and had to erase and fix. Anyway, I spent a solid portion of this morning convinced I’d screwed it up and missed it this year. Sorry, baby. Momma loves you on all of the days.
I hope to spend the rest of my life learning what servant leadership looks like. For now, though, I’m also in a position to model it for a new generation of leaders; that part is really, really fun.
We may be eating in front of the TV too much these days, but everyone agrees on Gilmore Girls. Besides, they ate my pizza with avocado and arugula on it tonight and even asked for seconds.
I could do this for a living, my daughter says as she gives her best attempt at a back massage for a total of 27 seconds before becoming bored. There is weird pinching and chopping and inconsistent coverage, but man… she means it. She’s hired.
Today: market, softball game, sandwiches in front of the TV, a boat ride, and fishing late into the night. I cried before bed because I love it here.
