Checking In

There's a part of the classic kid's book Going On a Bear Hunt that I think is such a great metaphor for all the tough times in life. Most especially now.

"You can't go over it, you can't go under it. Oh no, you've got to go through it."

The author is talking about all the obstacles that get in the way on the path to the bear - long tall grass, thick oozy mud, etc. But can't you see how perfect that is? 
A global pandemic? We've got to go through it.
Grief? You've got to go through it.

One month of a series of health issues (not related to the pandemic) that get in the way. Yep, you've got to go through that too.

Sometimes, when things get rough for me, I repeat that mantra in my head. "You've got to go through it, Meg." And I do. We all do. Life is exactly what happens when you go through it.

Ever wonder what a great lake looks like in winter?
Took the boys on a winter beach walk -
something I used to do here when I was little.

Frozen waves. 

So let's check in! We are one month into 2021 and things are looking...well, mostly similar. Here's where I stand on the mega-list of resolutions.

The One - Stop biting my nails.
Whelp, I'll tell you. I made it through January. THIS January, without biting my nails. We're talking the last week of a disaster of a presidency, an attack on the Capitol, the Buffalo Bills coming thisclose to making it to a super bowl, almost 3 full weeks of a migraine while Oscar dealt with his own health issues, AND we moved Oscar into a regular bed. I feel like just making it through January is enough to call it a success. Yay me.

I spy...
one little hand.
Suddenly the freedom to
get out of bed.

Keeping it cozy in the new digs.
This pillow from my Aunt Julie
fits in perfectly. 

The other ones.
1. Read a novel written in Spanish. Not yet.

2. Learn how to roller skate...again. Nope.

3. Stop dying my hair. YEP! And I am proud to say that not biting my nails during a stressful month may have contributed to even more gray hairs! 

4. Learn how to use power tools. Nope, but I have a plan!

5. Join a writing group. Yes, ish. Working on this. I did just complete the StoryStorm
- 30 picture book ideas in the month of January. And I earned this badge for doing so. Am I a girl scout now? Ha!

6. Learn to play "Blackbird" on the guitar. No.

7. Bookstore! I made some great progress on this! I have already spoken to so many wonderful helpers. I hit a bit of a standstill when the migraine of all migraines took over. I seem to be in the clear with all that now (knock on wood) so I'm hoping to get the ball rolling again.

I finished my first Reese Witherspoon book club book. Outlaw by Anna North. Whew, this book is so amazing. It's such a creative, new idea that I really enjoyed seeing where it went. Imagine if Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the Hole in the Wall Gang were a bunch of outcast women. Outcast for a variety of reasons but mostly because people were afraid of anyone who was different. The protagonist, Ada, can't have kids. So her town deems her a witch and she eventually makes her way to the Hole in the Wall Gang. A bunch of women with guns and a mission? Sounds like my kind of western! 

I also picked up a stack of award winners from the last ALA Youth Media Awards. I was pretty disappointed in myself for not having read most of them. I hope to fix that quickly and then make sure I stay on top of it this year.

I hope things are going well for you! Happy February! One month closer to the end of quarantine. (I mean, I have no idea when that will happen but we are closer to whenever that is. :)) You can do this! You've just got to go through it first.