Category: Coronavirus

Newsletter 12-31-20

Dear Readers,

I’ve been away for a while. I have thought about you often and miss you. I’ve wondered about your well-being in this year of so much illness, struggle, and upheaval. I have prayed for you. Truly, I have prayed for you, especially those of you whom I know have suffered greatly due to Covid-19, for both health (physical and emotional) and economic reasons. I think it’s fair to say that everyone has been impacted in some way.

And here you are … you’ve made it to 2021! 

Maybe you’ll have to drag yourself over the finish line at 11:59:59 on December 31, 2020. But, by God, you’ve made it through this most challenging of years. For me, that’s true, quite literally. It has only been by God’s constant provision of hope and strength that I’ve managed to keep it together and, in fact, flourish creatively. The increased stillness and quiet, imposed first by stay-at-home orders and then by continued restrictions and health guidelines, did wonders for my production. Nothing like having nowhere to go and no one to see to take away all of my excuses for not keeping my butt in the chair to write. And I learned something about myself in this year of Covid-19 — that I could commit myself to something and stick with it. 

Three years ago, in December 2017, I completed my first semester in the MFA program in nonfiction writing at Goucher College. Then I took a break, returned in July 2019, then left again. In January 2020, I rededicated myself to finishing the MFA program and getting my graduate degree, and went on complete semesters two and three in 2020. Next Monday, January 4, 2021, I’ll start my fourth and final semester and will graduate in May.

I’m far from alone in the “increased creativity” category for 2020. I’m blessed to know many creative people; many are writers. Two of those friends found agents in 2020; a handful of others are on the verge of finding theirs. One friend scored a book contract. Many have started their own newsletters and websites; another friend had an essay published in The New York Times. And these folks I know who write—they all have thoughtful, compassionate, important messages to share … messages which the world, during this time of so much anxiety and fear, needs to hear. I look forward to sharing some of their work with you in 2021.

I look forward, as well, to a more consistent presence in your inbox via my newsletter. I’m grateful for your readership. Throughout the upcoming semester, I plan to publish Tesstimonial at least monthly. I hope it can continue to hold some meaning for you throughout the coming year.

As I prepared to write this newsletter I opened up my copy of The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern Word, by Lewis Hyde, which I highly recommend. The final line of the Introduction provides, it seems to me, a worthy rationale and compelling reason for any of us to take the unsure step of putting our work out into the world. Hyde writes:

“I am not concerned with gifts given in spite or fear, nor those gifts we accept out of servility or obligation; my concern is the gift we long for, the gift that, when it comes, speaks commandingly to the soul and irresistibly moves us.”

Fellow writers – let this be our call, let this be our gift to the world, in 2021: stories that speak to the soul and move the reader.   

                           (Photo Credit: by Denise Jans on Unsplash)

May God bless you and yours abundantly with happiness & health in the new year!

Love,
Tess

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Another Invisible & Potent Force

Another Invisible & Potent Force

“Let’s be brave together this year in all of our pursuits–creative or otherwise. Being brave doesn’t mean we won’t feel fear, including the fear of failure. It simply means we’ll keep doing the work despite our fear.”

I didn’t have the novel Coronavirus in mind, of course, when I wrote those words near the end of my newsletter dated 1-20-20. Quarantine was still almost two months away here in Central Pennsylvania and in most other places. But the message certainly resonates in our current circumstances.

One thing that has made Coronavirus-related fear different from other fears is that we’ve all been experiencing it together. 

Think about it–every person on the planet is affected by the same exact fear. We are all, truly, in it together. 

Now, there’s no joy in that. I’m certainly not made happy knowing that you and someone half a world away are afraid of the same thing I am. But I think there’s some comfort to be found in this shared experience, even if it includes the shared experience of our susceptibility to the virus.  

It’s been written that, “You have a deeper connection with people who you have shared experiences with and shared pain.” I know that’s true. I’ve seen it play out most profoundly among bereaved parents who meet one another for the first time — a deep connection forms instantly from the shared experience of their deep pain.

On a different level and in a different way, people around the world are connected by the shared experience of the Coronavirus. 

One of the most touching experiences for me early on was watching a video of a teenage girl singing from the balcony of her family’s apartment in Northern Italy, at that time a Coronavirus hotspot, with very strict stay-at-home orders in place. 

As this lovely girl with long, dark hair and a nervous smile sang, she was carried along by the applause and encouragement coming from neighbors on balconies above, below, and across from her. You could hear the girl’s mother in the background, both filming and cheering on her daughter.

I didn’t understand but a few words of Italian (apologies to my Italian grandmothers, may they rest in peace), and, yet, I understood it all. For love and hope are universal languages, and this young woman sang as if she were a Berlitz instructor. I hope she has since learned that her heartfelt performance that day was uplifting, not only for her neighbors, but for a global community as well.

Ridding the world of Coronavirus may, however, prove easier than maintaining a sense of global, or  even national, goodwill.

In a recent article titled, “What Kind of Country Do We Want?” (New York Review of Books, Volume LXVII, Number 10, p. 43), celebrated author Marilynne Robinson writes: “The novel coronavirus has the potential for mitigation, treatment, and ultimately prevention. But a decline in hope and purpose is a crisis of civilization requiring reflection and generous care for the good of the whole society and its place in the world. We have been given the grounds and opportunity to do some very basic thinking.”

In the spirit of Ms. Robinson’s suggestion of “basic thinking,” I’d like to offer the following basic thought: If an invisible virus can affect the lives of everyone in the world, why can’t we all be struck by another invisible and potent force … that of love.

In remembrance of all those who have fallen victim to COVID-19, let’s make love the next contagion.   

(Photo credit: Manuel Peris Tirado on Unsplash)

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Quarantine Discoveries

Dear friends,

I’m grateful that you’ve opened this newsletter. I realize it may be coming into homes that span a wide range of emotions due to the Coronavirus and quarantine. 

For those of us who, to this point, have been blessed with good health and continued income, the worst we’ve dealt with is not being able to move about as we normally would. Compared with how devastating a time it’s been for many due to sickness, death of loved ones, job & income loss, and stress, not being able “go somewhere” doesn’t merit a complaint. And for all those still out there who are working to keep the rest of us healthy, safe, fed, still getting our mail & packages–there are no words to thank you enough … but we can begin with a few words of thanks whenever we see you. 

I’m sure we’ve all felt some emotional stress due to the uncertainty of not knowing how long this will last. But remember … better days are ahead; we will get to the other side of the Coronavirus. 

I’m not someone who counts patience as my best virtue, so the wait isn’t easy. But I’ve found that this experience is teaching me to be more patient, largely because anything I may feel impatient about pales in comparison to the hardships so many are facing. So I’ve discovered greater patience.


(Photo Credit: by Noble Mitchell on Unsplash)

Over the past four weeks I’ve made some other discoveries. Thought I’d share a few:

My 93-year-old mom loves to FaceTime! My mom lives in Scottsdale, AZ, near my sister. She turns on her iPad, taps on the videocamera icon, taps the name of one of us kids or grandkids, and there we are … face to face. A few things have been tapped by accident–like “flip” and “mute”–and sometimes we just see her forehead, but mostly we see one another and feel connected in one of the few ways we can right now. 

I’m not as fit as I thought I was. Most afternoons I set out on a walk around our neighborhood. I’ll call down to my husband, Rick (working at a table in our basement) and say, “I’m going for my walk around the block,” only half of which is relaxing. The other half is uphill and unforgiving on legs and lungs short on stamina. I consider myself fairly fit, but still get a somewhat winded on the uphill side. I’m working on it. 

My dog, Enzo, has a 1-gallon bladder. I like taking Enzo on my walks. It gives me an excuse to stop  along the uphill side for a few seconds–he does his business and I catch my breath. But, of course, by the time we’ve gotten to the uphill side, I’ve already had to stop at least a dozen times for him to “go.” Where does it all come from? It’s such a mystery to me.

And speaking of dogs: I think one of our other dogs, Toby, is fitter than I am. That dog, despite his short, stubby legs, would run after a tennis ball in our backyard from morning til night if we had the time and energy to toss it all day. And he’s quite athletic. Over-the-shoulder catch — no problem. Leaping grab — “Come on, mom, challenge me!” Yes, he’s a bit of a show-off, too.

I Love New York! Actually, that I love NY isn’t a discovery. What I’ve discovered is how much I miss it. Though I’ve lived in PA since age 6, I was born in Brooklyn. My daughter now lives and works in NYC, and I had gotten used to taking the train in for a few days every couple of months. I love the energy of the city, cultural diversity, bookstores (the Strand!), stationery shops, coffee shops. Can’t wait to get back! 

I can make a pretty respectable Americano with my moka pot. If you’re not familiar with the moka pot — you use it to brew espresso. 1/3 cup of espresso, 2/3 cup of boiling water, a little creamer, pack of stevia, and I’m set. But don’t you worry, Starbucks … I’ll be back when you reopen.  🙂

 I love washing my hands. Never thought such a simple act would make me feel like I’m contributing to society. But I’m finding myself so purposeful about it now — 20 seconds, sing the ABC’s. Who knew it could be so much fun?

I’m a bit of a cooking control freak. Early on in the quarantine I said to Rick: How about we take turns cooking dinner? Good guy that he is, he readily agreed. But every time he offers to make something — spaghetti, meat loaf, tacos — I feel something tighten inside. Then I’ll say, “Why don’t we get take-out,” or I’ll offer to cook instead. I’m not proud of any of this. I have to let go. I’m trying. Sorry honey! (PS–Rick’s making spaghetti tonight … really.)

Part of me is going to miss this slower & simpler life once things get back to normal … and all of me realizes how blessed I am to be able to say that. Parents with kids at home 24/7 (especially those who are homeschooling), all those on the front lines battling the Coronavirus, everyone still out there working to keep shelves stocked, check-out lines moving, and grocery & takeout orders filled … I know your lives are neither slower or simpler right now. You’re probably busier than you’ve ever been, or at least in a very long time. You all have my utmost respect and gratitude. 

If you’re financially able, let’s continue to support the independent professionals who provide us with services: hair stylists, dog groomers, cleaning services, various kinds of lesson instructors, etc. I’ll never be able to name them all. If we support them now, they’ll be able to reopen later.

Lots of love and prayers to each of you. Hang in there … we’re going to get through this!!! 

Tess


(Photo Credit: by Anton Unsplash)


Thoughts during quarantine

Dear friends,

I’m very sorry for failing to send out a newsletter for a couple of months. Considering everything that’s going on in the world right now due to COVID-19, I very much wanted to reach out with a few thoughts.

First, I hope and pray that each of you and your families are staying well, both physically and emotionally. It’s a very difficult time for a whole host of reasons. We will get through this. Doing it together will make it an experience we can all learn and grow from.

If you or a member of your family has fallen ill, please know that so many thoughts and prayers are with you. I’m praying for everyone on this email list. We can all use it — sick or not. 

I’d also like to share a few ideas to help get through the next few weeks or months or who-knows-how-long. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list, and, since my husband and I are empty-nesters, I won’t venture into “how to keep your kids busy” territory. These just fall into a general “try this” category:

* Be kind.

* Check in on your neighbors, especially elderly neighbors.

* Call someone who’s in their home and going through most of this on their own.

* Write letters.

* It’s a very difficult time financially for many people. Most of us have had to cancel various appointments: pet grooming, haircuts, instrumental, various types of classes, cleaning service, etc. Only if you are financially able to do so — consider still sending a check or Venmo payment to whoever provides the service you had to cancel. Perhaps you can’t do it each month you have to stay put, but any amount will be a help to a small business owner who still has to pay rent and buy groceries. 

* Keep structure in your day. My husband and I are both now working from home. We’re getting up at the same time as pre-Coronavirus, making the bed, getting showered & dressed, and heading off to our respective parts of the house to start working when we normally would (our dogs–a bit confused by dad’s being here all the time–traverse the house throughout the day). Equally important to stop working around the same time as before too. Working from home means there’s always the temptation to go back and do more after dinner. Avoid that if you can. It will still be there in the morning.

* Keep doing the things that keep you focused and grounded. Can’t tell you how thankful I am to have writing assignments and deadlines for my MFA classes right now. Staying accountable for our work is important. It also helps to give purpose to each day.

* By all means, stay informed about what’s going on locally, nationally, and globally regarding Coronavirus. But don’t make it the only topic for discussion, listening, or watching. It all gets to be too much after a while. And besides, there still are good things going on out there. Watch, listen, and enjoy!

* There are so many great books to read, new and old. What a great time to get through the nightstand pile. For my MFA classes, I’ve just finished reading: A Civil Action, by Jonathan Harr; Consider the Lobster, by David Foster Wallace; and Autobiography of a Face, by Lucy Grealy. All very different; all terrific!

* And for guaranteed laughs, try watching “Schitt’s Creek” on Netflix and/or “Curb Your Enthusiasm” on HBO Go. We can all use a good dose of laughing-out-loud these days!

* Almost forgot … keep washing those hands!      

Stay healthy, strong, and loving, everyone! We’ll get through this together. Keeping you close in thought and prayer!

Tess

(Photo credit: Joshua Coleman on Unsplash)