Five! A lovely round number. I can't even believe it.
I always think on birthdays and big events about life "before," or "when this all started," that type of thing. 5 years ago? Totally different jobs for both of us, different house, different pets, different selves.
Of course Beck has changed a ton in the last 5 years, but we've changed right along with her.
...When do we stop calling him Baby Will, you ask?
I don't know, but Little Baby Billy in The Righteous Gemstones makes it work into middle-agedhood, so I'm in no hurry to cut it out.
This baby is two. Two!
...Well, we are still here. Is it normal yet?
Honestly, it feels a little bit normal. I keep reading that humans are not made to withstand crisis for extended periods of time, that ambiguous fear and loss will wear on us.
I think it is wearing on us, and I think we are adapting to that by getting used to the way things are. Which, when it comes to getting used to staggering loss of life, is fairly depressing.
...Hi and HOW ARE YOU? Are you OK? Is everything terrible? Fine? Normal-ish?
I, like most of the adult American (world?) population, waver between totally fine, empowered, even, to I can't do this I hate everything make them go away sad weird little person who wants to hide in a corner.
Official scientific memes tell me that this is normal.
...Oh, hello!
I'm checking in to see how you are. We are GREAT, honestly loving life and cherishing this precious time together in which we are front and center to all of our children's developmental picadillos and developments. They are both at SUCH a fun age.
Although, honestly, what ISN'T a fun age to be quarantined with?
...
