How much do we love our rural Victorian postcodes at present?
We aren't immune to the coronavirus, and we don't know what's around the curve, but at least our country kids can go back to school this week. Phew!
I've never been more conscious of the blessings of our beautiful pastoral lifestyle of wide-open spaces than I am right now.
Meanwhile, my excellent sister was sitting arm's distance away from me on my couch last week, as we watched the announcement that she and her family would be returning to the big smoke for metro-Melbourne's six weeks of lockdown.
There were totally justified tears.
With her husband still ensconced in their son's bedroom working from home, three primary school-aged children and limited backyard space, more time locked-in will be a challenge that must be faced with mental, emotional, physical and spiritual strength and stamina.
Many in our community are not well enough resourced in these important domains of health and wellbeing to survive this feat of endurance unscathed.
At this time, it does feel difficult to understand and forgive the behaviour of fellow Victorians who considered themselves and their causes to be important enough to disobey the safety guidelines - making the rest of us feel like fools for approaching the whole situation so seriously.
While many people were cancelling celebrations, missing opportunities, losing lifetimes of labour, unable to comfort and honour loved ones, working twice as hard or having work taken away from them completely - and doing it all for the greater good - those claiming to care more, were seen congregating in a public place about a topic which will undergo no change by them marching and shouting about it.
Am I a goose for staying home? It's all about the messaging.
Talk about temperature's rising.
Getting angry doesn't make our situation any easier though, so we do need to forgive to move forward.
Well then, what to do in response to the approaching confinement?
My sister and her family helped us burn another couple of raging bonfires and toast more marshmallows, they climbed mountains and we encouraged the kids to get even muddier and swing off a couple more big trees, yelling and running wild with the freedom of unlimited space and open air.
Stay well.
