2019 bled into 2020. The drought, the fires, the extreme temperatures. It seeped into the new year like the bushfire smoke seeped into our homes and lungs. There were no fireworks in the new year, since there was enough fire in the landscape already. Celebrations were subdued. And so began the year that was 2020.
2020 has bled into 2021. We’re all still working from home. Virus restrictions are still in place. The virus has seeped into the new year like it seeps into nasal cavities. There were no fireworks in the new year, except in Sydney, since authorities didn’t want people to crowd together to watch. Celebrations were subdued. And so begins the year that is 2021.
From late 2020, it was quite apparent that 2021 was going to look a lot like 2020. And so we wait. For our turn to get the vaccine. To travel. To visit family. To take a long holiday without fear of border closures or exposure on a plane flight.
And so that is the title of the journal for this year. It looks like another year of thumb-twiddling and just waiting for better times. For me, this is not devastating news. I’ve been twiddling my thumbs for a few years now. My body is not yet ready for long bike tours, so I’m hoping to use the time this year to give my body everything it needs to recover and then letting it do just that. Then, in 2022, after I finish up my job, we can do a long tour.
Now, of course, the journal has a theme and there is a really appropriate song to go with it. The lyrics: the waiting is the hardest part seems particularly appropriate this year.
What also makes this song appropriate for me is that I’ve always thought of some of the lyrics in relation to my bike and going for a ride/tour:
Oh baby don’t it feel like heaven right now
Don’t it feel like somethin’ from a dream
Yeah I’ve never known nothing quite like this
Don’t it feel like tonight might never be again….
Well yeah I might have chased a couple of women around
All it ever got me was down
Yeah, then there were those that made me feel good
But never as good as I feel right now
Baby you’re the only one that’s ever known how
To make me want to live like I want to live now….
And so we wait. Let’s see what cycling we can manage and what new roads we can explore, while waiting on bigger and better rides and for the world to open up again. May your 2021 be a good one and may your endurance be lasting.
The waiting . . . you nailed it with your words, the Petty song and especially the GIFS.
While waiting we can share a song and a smile. We will get through this! Thanks for sharing with humor.
Thank you, Trudy. I hope the waiting for the vaccine is almost over for you! My mom got her first shot last week and my dad gets his first one this week. I hope you are right up the front of the line, too!