About a week ago I was in an incredibly moribund state of mind not in the strict sense of the primary definition but more secondary. My lovely wife was concerned I might be clinically depressed. It was snowing (again), we were not in the sunshine as we usually are at this time of year due to Covid, it seemed like there was no end to the “dreary”.

A funny thing happened on the highway to hell, the sun came out, we are on a mini break (though I am still looking at snow on the roof instead of the waves in the ocean), and yesterday I was lucky enough to not only get my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, but following that have had absolutely none of the side effects. No headache, no nausea, no loss of energy, no fever, zip, nada, nuttin…ok, my arm was a bit sore to the touch at the site of the injection but even that was not long lasting.

That seemed to have a reverse effect on my mood. I have been using the treadmill daily, I promised myself three weeks ago that I’d do at least 10 minutes per day. I’ve not done less than 30 yet, and today it was over 50 minutes and in excess of 3.5 miles. I get lost in the music I let it power me on and it also gives me time to think about how grateful I am for everything I have. My wife, my kids, a job I still love doing (well it’s really not a “job” it’s kinda like going to play every day). Most of all my health. Surgically repaired joints, and the blessing of weight loss surgery thanks to the incredible support from the medical teams involved. Now add to that, the fact that Sue and I have avoided the plague to this point and we are now just two short weeks away from being in the 95% protected group. That is not to say we will abandon all precautions, far from it, as we are still in the very small lucky minority, but it does take some of the weight of the worry off for our well being.

We are still apart from those we love, physical contact with them is still a long way off, but there is light shining where there was none for quite a while.

Tonight, in the still of the night, I plan to breathe deeply and take in all that I have been so fortunate to have been given. I’ll be drinking in the forgiveness this life provides….