I put on jeans yesterday, just to make sure they still fit, and got really fancy today with blue sneakers (not orthopedics!) a dress, and…..even earrings. It’s funny the things I used to do every day that make me feel like it’s a special occasion now. But that’s the thing for good headspace–I think we have to start back into our normal routines with some adaptations–you can’t go to the gym? Do a video at home. You can’t get your hair done? Wash it and style it yourself. Your house keeper isn’t coming to scrub? Break out some gloves and DIY cleaner and get your house smelling fresh…light a candle, take a bath, put on earrings, and as Rachel Hollis would say, “Girl! Wash your face!”

I know there’s enough doomsday out there already, and I can’t change that, so let’s continue some levity conversation instead. Like Sister Wives (SW). For real: what an awesome time to be a polygamist. I’d have women to hang out with, help with house chores, and just keep up good energy. (Because of course I would screen them first for high vibes and a proper work ethic.)  One of my favorite people, who shall remain nameless, I’ve been referring to as my SW for a minute now jumped on a FaceTime call with me the other day….I HATE FaceTime….I’m all awkward and double chins and can’t get the angle right, and am too consumed with vanity to actually have a conversation. But this time, I didn’t care–we had our “quarantinis” and covered the spectrum of petty to heavy life stuff. This is the connectivity the world needs, and we’re always “too busy” to stop and really take the time to connect on a level that matters. At least that’s how I often operate…not putting this on anyone else, so I’ll be honest to say that even in a life without kids, I often prioritize incorrectly and claim I’m too busy (or the time change is too hard) to connect with some of the people that I love most in life, and are most to be credited for who I’ve become.

PSA– no disrespect or offense intended with my SW commentary–another reason that I regularly sport my “I’m Not For Everyone” sweatshirt as a fair warning to the public.

In spite of my great dislike for FaceTime, I got on a Zoom call with my family last night for my niece’s baby-gender reveal (not sure how to word that one?) and it was big fun to see my siblings and parents on camera, and find out that, “It’s a boy!” in live time. If we weren’t under this pandemic, I imagine there would have been a local gender reveal with close relatives, but in this case, we all got to be a part of it. How cool is that? And afterwards, I got to FaceTime my youngest brother to see the disgusting amount of game he’s shot and mounted in his office, the 50+ pounds of catfish in his freezer, and well, you get the idea….we got to catch up on life stuff, though that life is pretty different from what I deem normal. (Not even a “new normal”…just normal). He marches to his own fantastic drum, full of guns, bows, dead animals, and plenty of protein in the freezer. If I could still fly right now, I’d probably hunker down at his house and give up on being “mostly plant based.”

I’ve been texting with my aunts, cousins, and friends more often than I normally do, and while I feel so far away from my family, it’s the part of technology that is SO awesome to help me feel connected, relevant, loved, and needed.  I think if we really take a moment to either be thankful for the connections we have, and/or try harder to connect with folks we have on our mind, we could heal our souls in this process of “quarantine” and “new normal.”

So let’s get back to the “you can’t get your hair done?” situation. I know that most women are about 2 weeks from the whole world knowing their real hair color and/or the amount of gray…so I did a little coupon clipping on home hair dye and highlight pens, and then got to thinking…when my face was skinnier, it wasn’t terrible, and make up can transform some stuff. I still have plenty of makeup… and the time to try new tricks.  So if I just drop some weight, I should totally shave my head. Hence, I’ve only eaten edamame today and think I’m on my way to a buzz cut.

With a bald head, I’d have more time to focus on make up solutions and could totally contour and work some magic there. I think it’s a really viable option for consideration. Plus, my cleaning would reduce because I wouldn’t be shedding all over the house and vacuuming up my own mess. That feels like really winning to me.

In other news, Nicholas woke up on Monday craving his aunt’s 2 best recipes–teriyaki kabobs and cinnamon breakfast cake. While the kabobs where pretty easy and we rocked a little rooftop party with the grill Tuesday night, the breakfast cake was another situation. Who knew I needed to have some egg-laying chickens on my rooftop right now? Coming from a kid that grew up next to my cousin’s egg farm and smelled like chicken poop most days, I can’t even believe I can’t get eggs. I’ve called every grocery store on the grid for the last 8 days asking about eggs and delivery times….nothing. I finally sent a desperate text to my neighbors to barter TP, sanitizer, homemade lotions, and paper towels. I got a dozen (no contact!) delivery to my door with no request in return. That’s pretty rad. And even radder (is that a word?) that our day started with the aroma of cinnamon breakfast cake; anything hard after that is softened by a warm, gooey, piece of goodness. Thank you, Aunt Loni.

Stay home if you can. Hug the peeps you’re already exposed to, friends. FaceTime your family from a distance, make a new recipe, and play a no-screen game with your kids. We’re going to be okay. And maybe on the other end of this we will have better perspective about our priorities, and be better than okay. I know I will.

And if you have a Sister Wife??? Be SO grateful. And if you want to join my bald-head campaign, let me know, and I’ll start sewing T-shirts.

XOXO