The First Shot

Today, Jan 21, 2021, I received my first Covid-19 vaccine shot. As I am writing this, my arm is a little sore but it is only about 12 hours since I got it. My older daughter warned me that she had a very sore arm for a couple of days (same type, the Modern) so I have been alerted. But I also decided to take some extra Vit. D and K since that is supposed to help moderate the effects.

I am grateful I was able to find a clinic that had enough supply and was willing to work with me; up until a few days ago I was considered too healthy even though I am well over the age limit. The only thing that changed was that this clinic in Mattawa (about an hour away) had some appointment openings. Many of the distributors in the larger cities are already filled up with appointments for the next two to three weeks and have several weeks of backlogs as well.

Although I know there are folks who are eligible who do not want the vaccine and who don't want to take the risk of what might happen with something not well-tested, there are plenty who do want it. The risk of getting Covid-19 is so much worse, as I have learned from friends and one in particular is a nurse who got it herself and now, almost two months post-recovery, she is still dealing with lung capacity, stamina and brain alertness. I do not want that.

The current theory of some doctors is that Vit. D, C and K along with Zinc are good as prophylactics for the disease. I have been diligent in taking all of them and also the social distancing, wearing a mask, washing hands and sanitizing when out since March when it first became apparent this was going to be more than a 'flu' strain. The U.S. leadership failed the population by minimizing and refusing to take aggressive actions and today, almost a year since the whole world became aware of the dangers, over 400,000 people in the U.S. (of all ages) have died from it.

Perhaps I should have written about the isolation, the weeks and months of staying at home, finding things to occupy my mind and hands, but I did not want to add to the frustration by putting it down on paper (blog). And there were other issues to focus on after Wayne developed a blot clot in his left leg in June and then had other health issues all through October, November and December - one we are still dealing with today.

The one bright spot in all the turmoil of the past four years is that Joe Biden was elected and inaugurated as our new President and yesterday offered up a plan for hope and recovery! It feels to me, at times, as if my relationship with Wayne has been just like the political situation with the discovery of things which should have been revealed before we ever decided to get married. There is not much I can do about it now except go on from here. But when I find I am with someone who has his own self-interest at the forefront all the time, it is discouraging.

So tonight I am hoping that the astrological and energetic shifts will bring me some personal hope and recovery as well. And this First Shot will be followed by another and while we may never return to what was called 'normal' perhaps we will find ways to nurture the needs for social interaction bordered by national respect for each other and that our hope is not misplaced.

Coming Around Again

 After ‘graduating’ from the program of learning The Zentangle Process, I was entitled to use the initials CZT after my name. And I was also entitled to teach this process to others. But I didn’t feel ready and I set myself the goal to learn the 100-plus patterns that are part of the Zentangle experience. 

Here I am now, 14 months later, and I can call myself a teacher. I have a small group of women, friends of mine, who were eager to have me show them how to learn various patterns and so, on most Thursday afternoons at tea-time (4 p.m.) we gather on ZOOM for “Tea n’ Tangles” for about an hour of friendly tangling where I teach new patterns, new techniques and tips that I’ve been learning.

The restrictions of the COVID-19 that started back in March 2020 were actually helpful to me as I could easily grasp on-line teaching. I found an inexpensive camera and in a few weeks figured out the basics. Now my three friends are each moving forward with their art skills and I couldn’t be more proud that they are advancing and building their confidence.

My watercolor skills have been utilized as well, but I don’t do as much scenic watercolor work these days. Instead I use both tube colors and watercolor pencils to bring color into my Zentangle art pieces.

I find that with the stress of the various “rules” or “restrictions” (changing daily in some cases) that having the relief of drawing something that requires ALL my focus helps me to relax. Watercolor doesn’t do that for me as much and thus I do more tangling these days.

The uncertainty of this time needs a little more structure and interestingly enough being challenged to put particular patterns in small spaces is just such a structure (as shown above). The idea for this design was created by Deb Bowyer, CZT, a teacher at the CZT: AE2020, an on-line creative learning platform for CZTs - a kind of training for the teacher event. I will do this one again because it is so challenging.

Finally I managed to be at the sunset-watching place in time tonight, capturing the brisk departure of El Sol. We are now in the phase where there will not be any long and late sunsets. The last 8 p.m. set was over yesterday. But this was a clear and lovely event and I got my panorama to work on the camera!

So I conclude my return to blogging with this great view of Moses Lake in Washington State on this August evening. Wishing all my readers near and far good health!