2020…ing

Nine months into this Godawful year! Feels surreal, right out of a futuristic novel where Earth is bombarded with apocalyptic events like a viral pandemic, floods, earthquakes, bombings and rioting. Except it's not fiction, but 2020. A world gone mad.

But personally it’s also been a year of revelations, despite the constant worry and fear. Life has slowed down so much, and the mad hurrying without pause feels like an other life now. There are things I learned, and some things were unlearned.

So I thought I’ll sum up what this year has been like for me so far. 30 years down the line if my grandchild asks me “what was 2020 like for you, ajji?” Then I’ll have this post to look back at and remember! 😬

So I’ve been...

Working... from home for 6 months now and not going back to office any time soon. I've tried this whole work from home thing before and I haven't liked it at all. There were too many distractions at home and I lacked discipline. But this time it has surprisingly been different for me. I'm loving working from home, mainly because I don't need to rush in the mornings and evenings and I get time now to focus on other important things like health!

Crocheting… a pocket shawl currently, a lap blanket and a granny square blanket in progress, and finished crocheting a few baby clothing sets (sweaters, booties, caps, mittens, diaper covers) a baby cocoon, some baskets, some pot holders, some earphone holders, some mask extenders/ear savers. a pair of curtain ties, a pair of sock-slippers, some caps... and I'm sure I've missed listing a few. Phew!

Cooking... foods I've never tried to cook before. I've had so much time on my hands now that everyone is home and I don't need to rush around. We aren't even eating out or getting food from outside, but cravings hit as usual right! 😅 I've baked, roasted, blended, fried, steamed, boiled, sauteed and stir-fried to my heart's content and I still haven't tired! 

Eating… only home-cooked food. There are healthy days and there are not so healthy days, but I like to think I haven't rolled (geddit? 😁) too far down the hill!

Moving... much more than before, but still not enough. Yoga for an hour, walking for another hour, the intention is for me to do both everyday, but you know where these intentions go... 😝

Gardening... planting, pruning, watering, weeding, and giving a lot of love to my plants. They have been giving me love right back. One time I even caught myself talking to my plants and looked up to see someone from a balcony above staring at me bemused (maybe wondering if they need to call someone to take me away). 

Missing… trees and plants and flowers and the open sky; wind in my hair, sun on my face; the sea, the waves, the salty spray; sinking my toes into the wet sand; the very frequent trips to obscure ruined forts and temples steeped in history, the absolutely best feeling of being lost in bygone eras; window shopping with my sister, walking aimlessly forever and then eating at our usual Chinese joint; watching cartoon movies in the theatre with my kids and watching them sit on the edge of their seats, popcorn forgotten, fully immersed in the movie; visiting with my darling little nephews - I’m missing so much of their growing up 😒...

Seeing... Bataany grow up so much in the last 6 months. She’s becoming so independent, so responsible, she’s developing strong opinions, and is not afraid to express them. For someone who’s just turned a teenager, she’s so sweet and caring, and very aware of everyone else’s emotions and feelings. And not least of all, she’s watching, cooking, and baking a lot more and perfecting her techniques. 

Realizing... how much of a homebody I really am. I love being home, pottering around the house decorating, rearranging stuff, cooking, cleaning and doing all the odd chores around the home. (Except for folding clothes and mopping the floor!😛)

Reading... a LOT nowadays, much more than usual. Devouring them greedily, while cooking, while eating, before bed, first thing in the morning, and any little free time in between. A lot of historical fiction, some history, some fantasy, some historical fantasy, some magical realism, some Kannada books, many English ones... 

Looking forward to… two whole weeks of no work, pigging out on food cooked by amma, sitting out on the porch and watching the incessant rain, maybe a few trips to the beach, Ratha beedi for a peek at my Krishna and my favourite temple elephant, and most of all, winding down a bit.