Hello followers, we are now into three weeks of life in a new normal of social distancing. We feel we are lucky to be living in a country where there is a common sense approach to the current world crisis. But, it is not all rainbows and unicorns here either.
Our back garden this week, mid day.
Yes, we have food, public transport is running (even though the busses that run past the house towards Amsterdam every eight minutes are now mostly empty), most people are either working from home or are laid off, watching or teaching children while we all wait.
The wait… that is what makes people crazy!
Waiting in lines at the stores, waiting for other people to enter and shop ahead of them maybe getting the last needed product off the shelf. That bar of soap that is needed to wash the kids hands is not something to be taken for granted in this environment. When it is gone from the local stores it causes stress and stress turns people crazy.
Trying on the “new look” for going to the Veterinary clinic
I have seen and witnessed this crazy first hand several times in the last three weeks. Been attacked verbally, fought back verbally because I don’t take crap from anyone and when people start acting like jackasses to me for whatever reason, I will defend myself. Lucky for me neither case has ended in physical violence. But, it could have and for me that is scary!
Maybe this?… No.. this looks crazy!
So we will just focus on the positive.
Flowers at the pharmacy brighten the counter as I wait for medication to be filled.
The flowers, the windows, the chickens in my back garden, the things that make me happy, keep us (the Hubby and I) safe and healthy.
Blooming shrubs in the public spaces in the neighborhood
I will focus on my many blog friends. Many have reached out from all over the world to ask how things are going for us here. I will focus on the friends and strangers here in our area who have offered support in this difficult time. They see the news, they understand what is going on and know that I am away from my home country and away from my children and that it must be hard. So many more people have been kind than those who have felt the need to take out their issues on me.
So I ask all the kind people out there, continue to pass it along, care for the those who are maybe having a hard time dealing with this situation, hugs are needed, but not allowed! But, kindness is something given from the heart and it is heart felt.
Kipass is Sickass and was in isolation on the back porch.
Never thought I would see the day where I would transport a chicken to a vet on a bike! But, then the universe has a strange way of showing us “anything is possible”.
Flowers are blooming everywhere here.
Another flowering shrub in our neighborhood.
The weather has been unusually warm (hot even) in the last week. My garden is growing like crazy. The chickens are settled and one was sick with some sort of respiratory issue. A trip to the veterinary doctor on the bike with the chicken was a heartbeat increasing event. But, it was accomplished and the chicken is now better and Chickass was Sickass and is now a pain in my ass! She is now recovered and back in the coop with the other hens. I have re-named her Kipass as the Dutch word for chicken is kip. I think it rolls off the tongue better.
A beautiful Japanese Cherry Tree blooming in a neighborhood garden
Around the neighborhood there are signs of support everywhere. Hearts, Teddy bears, messages to clients or loved ones, or signs of solidarity in this crisis.
A Springtime window display in the neighborhood
I found hearts in this window on my afternoon walk
Bears in another window looking at me
Hearts, flags, and bears in our window.
This house is showing the love to the healthcare workers.
The childcare center across the street from us showing that they miss the children.
The teenager next door showing her love.
The local community center with a message of strength in this difficult time.
A pair of twin boys in our neighborhood made these tulips for their window display.
They all inspire in this difficult time.
Thank you for all the blog friends who have reached out to me.
I had a virtual coffee with two of my friends this week. What a wonderful experience! I wonder why we haven’t done this before (time differences- duh!). But sharing what is happening in other locations helps me deal with and wrap my head around how we are all connected in this world.
One world. Not one country or one culture but many and each of us are suffering in this together.
Viruses know no borders, walls, social or economic status , age, or race, or if you believe in God, or not, or some other thing.
We all have different believes systems and ways to help us “get” through difficult times. Please don’t judge the ways of others even if they look strange or a bit odd.
The viruses are here and they survive by multiplying when we interact in a very personal way with others. They are terrorizing us in ways that nations and leaders are having a hard time finding solutions to contain or eradicate. It takes each of us doing our part, each of us to be respectful of others around us and yes, not backing down when you see someone attacking another unfairly.
Flowers from my garden, now in my office.
Be careful out there, stay safe, and enjoy what small things come your way each and everyday.
© The Cedar Journal, 2020, all rights reserved.
The Cedar Journal 
Love your vase!
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Thanks! I got it on vacation one year to the UK.
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Me, too – perfect for the flowers!
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😊
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These are trying times for all of us. We are in it together. Let us focus on the positive things in life. One positive thing that the pandemic has brought us is to make us aware of what is important in life. Happy Easter! Stay safe!
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Peter, you are so right. My generation can compare it to how things were right after 911 in the US. But, this is affects so many more and the impact will last a very long time. Enjoy your Easter there in Canada.
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Stay safe and YES enjoy the flowers, samen sterk
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Thanks. Samen sterk toch!
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Was going to immediately comment on the vase and noticed someone beat me to it – which brought a laugh – so instead I will simply highly recommend the colander PPE for the next time you have to go out – if nothing else, it will keep other people away from your .. way far away from you or give someone a laugh in their day. Glad tp hear the chick is better although it sounds like she’s a handful. Stay vigilant (day 2 of no news .. feels great)
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What a great laugh! Thanks Brian for the advise at least the pasta strainer is less threatening than my stick I have been carrying everywhere.
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Yes, now is the time to be kind to each other, and I love you photos of the positive messages in the windows! Here people are writing them in chalk on their driveways as well, which is nice. I love how many musicians are giving free concerts from their homes, and how many churches are streaming their Easter services so people can enjoy them at home. People are being inventive in finding ways to stay connected when physical closeness can’t happen. I hope that you continue to run into more kind people than selfish idiots! (Which is my wish you us all in normal times too!)
Take care and hang in there…
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Thanks Ann!!! You can’t imagine how timely your comment was today. I needed some words of true encouragement. These times are so difficult for so many. My issues are small compared to so many I know. But years and years of baggage piled so high from bad marriages and combat zones builds up. Now living in one of the richest countries and most diverse countries in the world I am very blessed. But, there are people that exist everywhere who find those who talk differently, look differently, dress differently a threat in these stressful times. It has been shocking to see it from Dutch people who I never would have guessed harbored such mistrust and bigotry. I try to focus on all the kindness but one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch and recently two bad apples have made me on edge!!! Explaining that to a Dutch Hubby who never gets treated like I was recently, or to my son in St Louis who has no idea how much crap his old Army Mom has suffered through and then gave me a lecture in tolerance. Was more than I could handle without crying today. Yes, Tough Old Army Chicks do cry! So thank you from the bottom of my heart my dear blog friend. Please be safe. I heard they expect the worst in St Louis in 2 weeks from now.
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You’re more than welcome! And it’s okay to cry, we all do that from time to time, especially in these stressful times. Thanks for being such a good blogging friend….
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Hi Paula! This is a wonderful post to remind us of all the ways we are indeed connected and how much kindness matters in every situation. Hope by now your little Kipass is better. No flowers blooming around here today – we had an Easter snowstorm and acquired several inches here in the Minneapolis area. But it’ll all melt soon. In fact, the sun is shining today and the light makes me feel optimistic even though things here are not so great. I love the photos and the one of you with the strainer on your head reminded me of when my daughter was around 5 and she put on a cape and plopped a colander on her head to become a super hero. Go be a super hero!
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Yup… Senior Super Hero here to rescue the world! 😂😂
Thanks for asking about Kipass. Yup, better. In fact bossy as heck. Named very appropriate!
I have been trying to get a blog out for days but I am having those Strange issues again!! So I am not playing those games with whoever. Just turn it off and walk away. Always love it when my arrow goes wild under someone else’s control in my computer screen. If you are concerned please send personal email as they haven’t hacked that. I am steps ahead of them.
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Loved this post, Paula, from your words to your photos. Send flowers to Minnesota. Pretty please.
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Give me your address and it is Done!!! Really! Shoot me a private message. The bulb industry is hurting here and I have been sending flowers out to friends and family through a Dutch bulb company that gets their bulbs from our local fields.
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Paula, I didn’t see this reply. I’m sorry. So what a sweet surprise to have your gift of tulip bulbs arrive today. Oh, what joy to receive this sweet gift from you. This was incredibly kind and thoughtful of you. Hopefully I do everything right and I’ll have a pot full of blooming tulips in a few weeks. Thank you, friend, for being such a kind and caring soul!
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You are most welcome and my hope is that it brings Light into whatever Darkness that lingers with this ongoing crisis.
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Keep calm and carry on. Many people are stressed out at the moment and are not able to do their usual routine. They have to adjust to a new normal and are scared, trow in the children who are at home (and you are beginning to notice that you don’t like them at all) and there you have an ideal mix for some anger issues. I see that everyone is trying but there is the odd klootzak who thinks the rules don’t apply to them. And we address that with some good old Dutch directness and we talk back in the same way. Just remember that the reaction says everything about the person uttering those offensive words and nothing about you as a person. It is the pain and fear talking. Don’t let them or the Corona virus get you down!!! Enjoy the weather and the chickens and the flowers. Take good care of yourself and hubby.
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Thanks!! My good sea kayaking Dutchman/Dutchwomen 😂😊 You are so right about it says more about where it is coming from than about me as a person. I think I shocked the heck out of the one gal when she got into my shit last week as I don’t think she thought I knew that much Dutch! It was clear I was not going to let her push me around and make me compromise my 1.5meter afstand inside the slager winkel. She isn’t even the owner (as he would have never acted in such a way. I have seen this sort of behavior in the military and in the US (mostly from redneck men who can’t deal with my strong female personality) but here? It has been an eye opening experience!!! Although I have experienced many more people who have I have known for years (by sight mostly) who have stopped talked to me. My bloemist was so kind to me this last week I broke down into tears. They have known me for years, knew I worked for PostNL and the Keukenhof and know that my kids live in the US. They have always been a cool lifeline and they showed such compassion to my situation I was overcome with emotion.
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[…] Holland with her husband, gifted me with these springing-to-life tulip bulbs after I commented on her post, “Spring Time in the Netherlands 2020,” and asked her to pretty please, send flowers to Minnesota. However, I missed her reply to send my […]
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