Monday, February 22, 2021

A year in the time of covid

For the past year, this is where my husband has sat for church on Sunday mornings, except on those Sundays when he masks up and goes into the sanctuary to be that week's tech operator. The church is otherwise empty but for the minister, whom everyone calls Mother Mary, and the altar acolytes, and no more than five in-person congregants, all masked and socially distanced. I enjoy when my man attends services at the dining table though. I sit across from him, usually working (no such thing as weekends for a freelancer), or maybe doing a jigsaw puzzle as I listen to him say the prayers and homilies along with his Zoom congregation. It always feels peaceful, as if I'm attending services, too, albeit by proxy. 

He sits in that spot by the window on weekdays as well, as he updates and modernizes the database for his department's ichthyology collection, except on his one day each week in the office. Only one staff person goes in each day, so the department always has coverage, but no one is exposed to anyone else. When he's working from home the other days, I have an exceptionally pleasant view. Speaking of exceptional, his T-shirt says "FATHOR/ Noun/ Like a dad, just way mightier / See also: handsome, exceptional." Our kids gave him that shirt one Father's Day. Also, it's still winter in the city, y'all. Outside our big window, the snow is falling again, fine flakes this time, dancing and swirling, almost hypnotic.



11 comments:

  1. Yes, I feel the peace of it all. It's wonderful that you have that sort of church experience. I grew up Southern Baptist - left it at 11, never to return. Can you believe it's been a year? It's hard to fathom.

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  2. Such, such sweetness.
    Our men have similar beards now.

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  3. A sweet and loving moment. I can feel the peace and the quiet and the spirit.

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  4. Even though you are not visible in this exquisitely lit photo, I think of your presence as part of the tranquility of this scene and of your beloved's peaceful contemplation. What Love has given to both of you, no one can take away.

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  5. How I miss church. I haven't been for a year.

    I wish our house was this peaceful.

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  6. I didn't get the shirt until I saw it. Love it.


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  7. Your photo and words give such a beautiful example of love.

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  8. I love the t-shirt! and I'm glad he can attend the services on line that give him comfort.

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  9. I have a feeling that he is just as comforted when he looks across the table and sees you sitting there. Happy that you have each other.

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  10. Great t-shirt. I do zoom church too. Quite like it actually because I don't have to make small talk. Probably not what church community is meant to be about ...

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  11. That does look like a Peaceful spot to Have Church!

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