Day 1 after lockdown - what does that even mean? Last night, President Ramaphosa announced the end of our national state of disaster, which apparently brought an end to Lockdown Alert Level 1. I've been writing the lockdown day number on my calendar every day - it's going to be strange not doing so anymore. Last night was the first (or maybe the second?) "family meeting" I'd missed, since our President started addressing us on matters Covid (in March 2020). Either way, it doesn't feel as urgent as it did before, especially before vaccinations were a thing.
Reading my last post, I realised how much time had passed since then. The seasons have definitely changed, and we're now taking out blankets and jerseys we last used months ago. And life goes on.
I had a very frustrating start to my day. Last night, in anticipation of my early rise (I'll write more about that), I ironed my clothes, put sliced fruit into a container, packed my bags and had a relatively early night. This morning, I awoke without my alarm and, instead of checking the time and the alarm, I smiled, rolled over and went back to sleep. Imagine my shock when I next woke up and saw daylight through my curtains - my alarm is usually set for 05h30, at which time it's still dark! I looked at my phone and it was 07h36!!!!!!!!! TWO HOURS LATE!!! I jumped up and sprang into action, sending a message to a WhatsApp group and getting through my morning routine at breakneck speed, all the time aware that I should be careful not to trip or fall, in my haste, lest I actually break something.
Eventually got to my morning appointment at 09h20, instead of 08h30. Super embarrassing!
Ok, so this is new, since the last time I wrote: I started teaching English to adult matric students on 8 February. Two mornings a week. And that's where I was supposed to be at 08h30 - in class, teaching! Normally, I leave home before 07h00 - to miss the INSANE traffic - and sit in my classroom from about 07h40, calmly reading through my lessons. That's how a day should start.
And life goes on.
My four-Friday gig in Muizenberg turned into a longer-term arrangement, which makes me super-happy. I love it there! We started on 21 January and I've had to miss two nights because I wasn't well. I've now done 9 gigs there. For three of them, we were joined by brass maestro, Willy Haubrich, which was a real treat. I loved hearing the different brass instruments played over our duo sound. Pure bliss! For the past three weeks, we've had the incredible Gary Deacon join us, on bass guitar and - this past week - on guitar, as well. Wow!!! A superb musician and a really nice guy. I am incredibly lucky to be singing with these musical giants!
My son and his wife had their wedding reception, a.k.a. Love Celebration, a few weeks ago, because, when they got married in December, there was Covid in their close circle, so a gathering was inadvisable. It was one of the most beautiful events I have ever been part of, and I am immensely proud of them for who they are, how they treat and bring out the best in each other, and how they seem to be getting it right to live as authentic people, within a world that can be prescriptive, banal, intolerant and even cruel. All I can do is wish them well. Life is full of twists and turns; I hope they navigate all those by each other's side. I am so happy that my son, a beautiful, sensitive, creative and unique being, allowed life to send him someone so well suited to him, so much like him in so many ways.
The research job I started in October is still a happy part of my life - I am now drawing up an introductory course for young people from marginalised areas, on jobs within the music industry. It's fascinating. Half of the time I feel like I'm not the right person for the job and the other half I feel like I was born for it. It changes all the time, I meet new people all the time, and I'm learning all the time. It also feels like my role is changing as the process develops, which is really cool. I get bored very easily, when something's not stimulating. I like to be learning from whatever I'm doing.
I've been thinking about the fact that I left my last job seven months ago. I took a retrenchment package and I did not have another job lined up - I basically took a leap of faith, believing something cool would turn up. And it did. And then another, and then a gig. And now that this gig has reminded me how much I love performing, I'm looking out for a second weekly gig. I also plan to put on another concert of my originals, sometime. You know when last I did that? December 2018. At the end of 2019, I decided against having my annual concert, and a few months later, Covid struck.
It's bizarre that I blog so seldom, I know I often write that. I think about blogging all the time. Of course, I still journal daily, processing my thoughts and penning my observations of the world and everyone around me. In my previous post, I wrote about wanting to write more than I did in 2021 - this is not a good start. :-) We'll see how the year pans out with me and my blogging.
My exercise life has hit a slump, for a few reasons. Last night, after a month of no exercise, I did a dance workout in the lounge, and loved it. I'll try to do three workouts a week - that worked well before. I miss exercising outdoors, but, until further notice, and until I sort out some other things, this is it.
In the past few weeks, I've found myself in the company of couples who look happy to be together. I've enjoyed being around them and especially enjoyed observing the dynamics between them. I have no idea what it means, but it's really interesting. I've been happily single for a long time, because the alternative brought me so much misery. Maybe the universe is trying to show me that not all relationships are petty, competitive, exploitative and riddled with deceit. I do believe that it takes two people who are whole within themselves to make a happy relationship.
Time to go. I don't teach tomorrow morning, but I get up with an alarm every week day, because I have the research job as well. Weekends I don't set an alarm.
My daughter's been very busy, which is great. It's her first year out of college and she needs to be working in the industry for which she trained. We're sharing my car, which is a necessity. I've been around long enough to know that everything changes - everything. Nothing stays the same forever. At some stage, she'll get her own car and this phase will have passed. Life has taught me to go with the flow when it's necessary.
Till next time.
Peace
