Thursday, August 20, 2020

Doldrums

The sadness of the last couple of weeks is settling in to a sort of dull depression in which I have morbid thoughts (3am mortality fears, anyone?), occasional bouts of mild anxiety, and a kind of plodding listlessness the rest of the time. Added to my awful grief over Ginger's death, my parents and our relationship has reached a low point these days (at least on my end). That's a story for another day, though. Compared to my sadness over losing Ginger, their selfishness and thoughtlessness is barely a pinprick most of the time. Just more background shades of gray in my life at the moment.

And I swore to myself I was going to be more upbeat the next time I posted. Sorry! 

I need to go back to work.

One good thing that happened is that I finally bit the bullet and went shopping on Tuesday. I found a great sale at the local JC Penny's because they're going out of business next month. I hate that they'll be gone, but was glad of the break to my wallet. Ginger's vet bills this month are over $1500 and we haven't paid the cremation fee yet. (Not that I'm complaining about spending so much on her. She was worth every penny and more.) I was able to buy myself 5 whole work outfits, with a couple of those pieces versatile enough to pair with other stuff I already own. I also bought some new underwear items and hose. And all in one store, and at a reasonable price! The new clothes were/are sorely needed and I can go back to work feeling okay about how I look, at least. 

I'm sure I'm "preaching to the choir" here, but I'm also so, so tired of Covid-19. I want my old life back. That feels like another kind of grieving. I miss my friends, my book club, going out in public without fear, and so many other things. I don't think anything is going to change anytime soon in that regard, either. In fact, I hate to say it, but I imagine we're going to have a second wave in the fall that's even worse than the first one. I really hope I'm wrong about that.

And I wish the upcoming election was over and done with already. I dread it, no matter the outcome, although if 45 is reelected I don't know how I'm going to be able to move forward. I'm sick of the ugliness and nastiness, the racism and upheaval of these last four years. Can we even survive four more years of this horror as an intact country? Hell, we might be on the road to ruin no matter what. We're all so hopelessly divided, and the ugliness that has shown itself won't be easily forgotten. I'll never forget (or forgive) how so many people I know enthusiastically joined the Trump train. They saw his utter lack of morals, kindness, and decency, his unfitness for the job, the criminality of every person who works in his administration, the racism, the nepotism, the vile abuse that he unleashes on Twitter every single day, and still they love and support him. I can't understand it. I'll never understand it. More stress, just thinking about it, so I try not to. At least not much.

So anyway, how are you all doing these days? I've tried to keep up with blog reading and leaving a comment here and there, but I feel like I'm very behind. I hope to do better this weekend and catch up with all of you before my job starts back on Monday. I have a feeling the first week or so back is going to be exhausting, with little energy left over for the blog. Getting back to a normal routine is going to feel so good, though. 

From The Magician King by Lev Grossman. Notice the Doldrums are very close to the Underworld, way out at sea.

50 comments:

  1. good for you to catch a sale at penneys! we are all in a funk (election, covid, assholes, etc.). and add in mourning for ginger for you and gregg. hopefully monday will start to revive your spirits. {{{{{hugs}}}}}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I could have spent more money at Penney's. Since they're going completely out of business there are some really great deals there. I may have to check back in a couple of weeks to see if some of the discounts have deepened.

      Delete
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  2. I just read that people with too much positivity are the really sick ones because they are hiding things from themselves. I did not read the whole article, just the headline and first paragraph. It is good to know that my rage at what’s going on and my mood changes are healthy. Who knew? I hoped your shopping therapy did some good.

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    Replies
    1. Who knew?! :) I guess it's better to get it out rather than letting it build up inside.

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  3. How I hope the new school year (and the beautiful fish tank) lifts your spirits!

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    1. We've started adding fish to the new tank! I took two videos (one of the new tank, one of the tank in the library) and added them to Youtube recently. I'll link to them in the next post or two.

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  4. These are rough times for pretty much everyone, worldwide, and then for you to have the grief of losing Ginger is a big added burden. I am glad you found so many good deals and will look fabulous when you return to work. All the fires burning in California are making the air quality very poor at my house. Nearby friends are evacuated. Be well my friend.

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    1. I'm so sorry about the air quality! That must make wearing a mask very difficult. I hope your friends stay safe and their homes remain untouched by the fires. By the way, your sweet card came. Thank you!

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  5. I hear your pain sister!!! Your quote of "sort of dull depression in which I have morbid thoughts, occasional bouts of mild anxiety, and a kind of plodding listlessness the rest of the time" sums my mood to a point thank you for coining that for me. Although me having morbid thoughts of humans in general in nothing new, lol!!!!!! That get-away I took saved me probably for a few weeks. You could use a get away too. It can be done, but is much work on how and where to go safely. I hope work will do it for you, but I sense you may get anxiety from that was well, with the whole school issue and guidelines. Many from my store tell me be glad I was laid off, because the public is being a pain in the ass with mask wearing....still, and feel they are exposed at every turn. I don't know how I'd deal with that on a daily basis.

    Hang in there dear and let it all out!

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    Replies
    1. I would dearly love a getaway. Even if we could afford it right now (we can't) there's no particular place we'd feel safe traveling to at this point, and I wouldn't leave George at home alone right now in any case. Your trip looked fantastic, though! I'm sure it did you a world of good!

      Maybe next year we'll all be able to travel again. I'm hoping by then the rest of Gregg's lost income will be back and money won't be so tight, too.

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  6. It is no surprise you feel the way you do after the past several weeks. Going through the stress, fear and then grief of it all had to push both you and Gregg to your limits and totally wear you out.

    I'm glad you had a day out shopping as that can sometimes raise your spirits. I know it will be challenging to go back to work after being off for such a long time but I do think it will help you to feel better. Seeing the students and friends will help and I know you will be busy.

    I've had to reduce the amount of news I watch as it becomes so stressful. I watch just enough to stay on top of what is happening as we still have quite a bit of Covid around us. There is just so much negative everywhere today. Try and enjoy the weekend since you go back to work on Monday! I'm keeping you in my thoughts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I've been disengaging a bit from the news, too. It's just all too much with everything else going on! Shopping for me is kind of "meh". I'm not much of a shopper, but sometimes it's necessary and I'm always happy to have new clothes.

      Thank you for the good thoughts.

      Delete
  7. Why don't you bury Ginger at home in the garden. It's free and you'll have him with you. I have all my boys buried in their own plot in my veg' garden (Haddock's).

    I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but over the past four years the USA has lost a lot of respect throughout the world. I'm not sure what it'll take to get that back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ginger was a large dog (60 pounds) and our yard is very, very small. There just isn't extra room for a grave, and the thought of having to dig a hole to bury her just feels like....too much. The service that does the pet cremation comes highly recommended locally. We should have her ashes back home soon, and we may end up burying those and planting a rose bush or something else nice as a memorial to her.

      Delete
  8. Dear Jennifer, your blog reflects much of what is going on in your life and your mind; there is no point in trying to "force" yourself to write positive things if that is not how you feel and what you see.
    Like Cro says, sadly, the USA have lost a lot of respect. In my country, we used to look up to yours; they did so much for us in the past, and we saw them as a big, strong partner we could rely on. Many young people dreamed of living in the US for a while, and many went over for good. Now that has all changed, and people are glad NOT to be there these days. The friend I go running with once a week is American, and much as she misses seeing her parents this year, she says she would not want to go back and feels much safer over here.
    Good to know you found those new work outfits! Yes, work will be exhausting to return to, but it will also be good, I am sure.

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    1. I know how far America has fallen in the eyes of the world. It's a shame and an embarrassment, and I hope we can regain some of our stature after Trump is gone. I hope our allies won't totally give up on us! Most of America did NOT vote for him.

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  9. You should not make an effort to write positive things. Your sincerity and real life as they are is the beautiful thing about your blog.

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    1. What a wonderful comment. Thank you so much, Yael. I hope you're doing well and staying safe.

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  10. Oh how I wish I could make it all better. Some days I manage to come out of my own doldrums, but then I'm suddenly right back in them. And I didn't just have to say to good-bye to Ginger. And, don't get me started on extended family. My heart is with you!

    Looking forward to better days for us all (except trump and the politicians and his family members who have empowered him). May ignorance not rule for long. Wishing you well, Jennifer!

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    Replies
    1. Sending you good wishes right back, Mitchell. I know you understand these feelings better than most. :)

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  11. In the midst of all you have gone through, there is absolutely no need for you to bolster anyone's mood right now (slightly impossible task, eh?). Guessing the returning to work will help keep your mind occupied, even if it will likely wear you out for the first few weeks. Just take care and try not place any more demands on yourself than are necessary.

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    1. Very good advice. Thank you for it, and for stopping by and leaving a comment.

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  12. I could write my usual rambling essay, but I'm not gonna. Yay! As California burns (our version of hurricane season) I'm gonna hold my chins up and send you massive, warm hugs. You can't get too many of those.

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    Replies
    1. I really can't get too many! Big, tight, warm hugs back to you!

      Delete
  13. Oh, honey! There is no doubt that this has got to be one of the hardest times for you. As we go through this pandemic and the horror and uncertainty of what's going on in our country, you have lost one of the truly best things in your life. I mean- please don't ever apologize for saying what's in your heart, your life.
    We're all going through much the same but most of us have not lost one of our beloveds.
    I sure do wish I could hug you hard.

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    Replies
    1. This comment made me cry, Mary. Thank you.

      I would love a hug from you.

      Delete
  14. I love that illustration of The Doldrums. I think you will feel better and more energised once you get back to work.

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  15. I hope you are gentle with yourself and allow the time you need to grieve.

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  16. I think you need to slow down a little and stop pushing yourself so much. We're all living in a viral upheaval and you've just suffered a tremendous loss on top of that. Going back to work may be good for you. It may give you some normalcy that you crave, but please be careful. You wrote about a second wave...yes, the experts say it's coming and that it'll be fierce. I hope they are wrong. I know everyone hopes they are wrong. All sane people want a change with this election and we all feel as you do about the people who follow Trump and who remain loyal to him. That Kool-aid they drink is strong stuff. It's scary stuff and it makes no sense at all. How can any responsible human being not see him for what he is? All we can do is get out there and do our job and vote and hope that's enough to get him out of the White House and away from politics forever. He's a dangerous man and all those who tag along after him are just as dangerous. They all need to be weeded out and either jailed or sent packing. Anyway, please take care of yourself. Do things you enjoy. I know that's difficult now, but there's still some things we all still can do. Maybe take up a new hobby and I agree with Linda...allow the time you need to grieve. Until you do that, you're going to feel keep experiencing all those feelings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're probably right, in that I'm trying to push myself to get past all this sadness. The only way out is through, though, and I recognize it's going to take time to ease the hurt. Thank you. I appreciate you being here. :)

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  17. There are sticky parts in life, and then time moves things on. I, too, and tire of the virus. I can remember seeing the Chinese wearing masks and thinking 'that's so odd,' and here we are doing the same thing. And you're right, after Biden wins in November, we're going to hear from the Idiot Jerk until he either leaves the country or gets taken into custody. Actually, I think he'll leave before the custody thing happens.

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    1. I wish he'd just resign to save himself the possible humiliation of losing. Then he can go live in Moscow or wherever they'll have him. Russia seems like the best place for him.

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  18. Work may be tiring but at least you will have more sense of purpose and interacting with others will help you to stop mulling over the forthcoming election, COVID, Ginger's death and money issues.

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  19. Jennifer, I always love reading your blog because it is real. It's your blog to write, and you don't always have to be positive. I know I am not always that way on my blog. Losing a dog is a major thing, and living in the world of Trump is another major thing. I actually think that writing what you feel down can be cathartic and helpful. Don't be afraid to do it. We are all right here with you. I am afraid I'll fall behind on my blog reading myself once school starts as there is just not enough time in the day. I just don't get why people support Trump. He is vile. And I can't believe that it isn't a shoo-in that Biden will win. It's scary how many supporters he has..and depressing. Take care of yourself. ~Michael

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    Replies
    1. I really appreciate you (and others) who have encouraged me to write about what I'm really feeling. I know that others are struggling, too. I'm afraid to hope that Biden will win because I'm not sure how I'll be able to stand the disappointment if he doesn't. We all have to get out and vote and make sure all of our like minded friends and family do the same!

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  20. I'm very behind too, so don't feel bad! I'm sorry you're losing your Penney's. That's where my whole family shopped when I was growing up. I stuck with them for certain things until we moved to London, but there are no Penneys' here.

    I think there's going to be unrest no matter who wins. As you say, we're so divided and people seem so combustible. The difference is, if the Dems win, it's the people IN the White House who are going to combust, as well as their supporters!

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    1. I'm almost more afraid (of the immediate aftermath) if Trump loses. And good lord, what mischief will he do between November and January if he has nothing left to lose?

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  21. Losing a pet is pretty tough. In the last year we have lost both out bordie collies( age 13) and both of our cats ( age 17). I still miss them as I'm sure you will miss Ginger. It gets better with time but I still miss them. The Trump stuff just scares me that it might be a repeat of 2016. I don't think I could face it. It's so demoralizing. it just has to get better with Biden.

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    Replies
    1. Oh my gosh. I am so, so sorry. That is TOO MUCH LOSS in one year. I know that time will help (me and you both) but a little piece of my heart went with Ginger and life will never be exactly the same. I hear you on the political situation--demoralizing is a good word for it. Hang in there, and thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.

      Delete
  22. I'm so sorry to hear of you loss of Ginger, so much Death lately has me feeling quite numb and with that range of emotion you spoke of, you really nailed the description actually. I lost another Dear Friend from Work the other day, unexpectedly, I'm still rather in shock about it since I saw her only hours beforehand and she appeared fine. When her Husband told me what happened it sounded like COVID symptoms and yet she appeared healthy, you just never know with this dreadful Disease! I too am baffled at the Trump Crazy Train Devotees, who knew so many Americans could align with such abhorrent traits and attempt to justify and make excuses for it!? It is very demoralizing, since I thought we as a Nation were better than that. Virtual Hugs... I think so many of us are starved for the Real kind!

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  23. all day long I hear patients saying the same thing: they are worn out from attrition of the covid19
    You are not alone.
    I know I've said this before there is no sorrow like that as the loss of a dog. I am glad to read you are surround by Love here.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just joined a Zoom based book club. I was surprised how enjoyable it is. It requires a certain order and turn taking, but it is nice to have contact with old friends.

    ReplyDelete
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