Missing Our Chats

Dear Brian,

There's so much going on lately, and I haven't written in a while because rehashing all the stress just makes things that much harder.  I don't know what the world is coming to -- there are protests and riots, looting and shooting.  We're still in the midst of the pandemic, but they're starting to open things up slowly.   But even at that, things are at a new normal.

Every day at work, I'm wearing a mask, and sometimes gloves, to keep me, my co-workers and the customers safe from the coronavirus.  I'm required to answer health questions and have my temperature taken each morning at the start of every shift.  Retail stores are forced to limit the number of shoppers in a store.  In some places, folks have to wait in line to get inside and make their purchases.  

Supplies of everyday goods, such as toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning chemicals are all slowly rising back up.  Some days, you can get what you want, other days if you need something, you settle for a different brand of some things.  Food supplies are leveling out as well.  In April, our store shelves were completely wiped out of canned goods, most meats, fresh vegetables weren't available every single day.   There are still some days where you have to settle for something you might not have normally bought in the past. 

Grandma finally took herself out shopping for groceries after not leaving her house for three months! Incredible, and quite hard to believe.  In addition, she hasn't had any of the family "hanging out' at her house, so she's alone many days.  I worried about her getting depressed, so I made sure that I would read or listen to some kind of news to have things to discuss on the phone.  We've been chatting almost an hour every day now.  

Our first monsoon was before June 1, so about two weeks earlier than normal.  Our high temps - extreme heat over 110 degrees - was also about two weeks early.  I'm afraid this will be one of the hottest summers on record, or the wettest.  Or both.

I had a major breakdown on the first day of our heatwave.  I opened the back door, and a waft of that hot air hit me in the face, and I was right back to that awful day last summer.  I sat down and cried.

But what hurts the most is not having you here to share all this with.  We used to have good convos about life events, and the weather.  I miss your jokes about whatever topic was around.  I miss sharing our same likes when it comes to people, and customers.  

Let's face it. 
I just miss you.  

Very much.

Love, Mom