Pollyanna
My nickname was ...20 total reviews
Comment from mermaids
This has been a different time for all of us and what you describe here, has also taken place in the US. More people hiked, rode bicycles and learned how therapeutic nature is. I like how you described the children painting the rocks and then placing them in various places. Families did come together through zoom. I like how you used different colors for each paragraph, it added to your story.
reply by the author on 30-Oct-2021
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This has been a different time for all of us and what you describe here, has also taken place in the US. More people hiked, rode bicycles and learned how therapeutic nature is. I like how you described the children painting the rocks and then placing them in various places. Families did come together through zoom. I like how you used different colors for each paragraph, it added to your story.
Comment Written 30-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 30-Oct-2021
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Thank you so much for this lovely review. Much appreciated. Yes, if people try to be positive it can sometimes bring permanent attitude change in terms of appreciation of relationships and nature.
Wendy
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
CONGRATULATIONS on a year well spent, Wendy. I have enjoyed your writings very much, and this one is no exception. I like the colored fonts. Your ideas for surviving the lockdown were great. I remember reading many of your stories. Now that it has been eased, we still need to be careful. However, happier times are ahead. Enjoy and be safe.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2021
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CONGRATULATIONS on a year well spent, Wendy. I have enjoyed your writings very much, and this one is no exception. I like the colored fonts. Your ideas for surviving the lockdown were great. I remember reading many of your stories. Now that it has been eased, we still need to be careful. However, happier times are ahead. Enjoy and be safe.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 29-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2021
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Thank you Jan - a lovely review! Yes, I just felt the need for self-reflection, and to jot down what we had done and experienced, as it was such a different time. Would you believe that I have just had a cancer removed from my leg, and have to stay home with my leg up for two weeks! Not even any walking! Lol. Even more housebound than lock-down! Poor timing on my part!
Wendy
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Please take care of YOU! Allow others to help. 😊💗
Comment from Father Flaps
Hi Wendy,
You've written a terrific diary of this past Covid year, and through it all, how you managed to stay positive instead of getting depressed with it all.
Some things clicked with my own experience. I know there were lots of pictures from Facebook friends who hiked to waterfalls, lakes, and mountains in southern New Brunswick. It's actually much safer to walk through the woods than through the city where the virus might lurk in any passersby. And you stay healthy as well, sucking up all that Vitamin D. There's nothing better than a sandwich out in the forest, with a hot cup of tea... clean water from a nearby brook. Cameras click and paintbrushes flick.
You mentioned painted rocks. I love to find these on a trail, gifts from some talented painter. I usually leave them where I find them. Someone else might benefit from a special scene.
93% of New Brunswickers have had at least one shot of vaccine. But even that isn't enough to stop lockdown here in New Brunswick. We've been somewhat free for the better part of the summer. But come November 1st, we're back in lockdown. Many people think the pandemic is over, but I think it will be another couple of years. Though, you'd never know it to watch a Major League Baseball game. The World Series is on from Houston and Atlanta, and the stands are full. I see nobody with a mask on. It's like... the pandemic is over. But it isn't. These variants are proof. We're dealing with the Delta variant right now. Will there be another? This same thing happened in the world back around 1918. And masks were required then, too. But there wasn't the travel back in those days like there is today. The virus wasn't spread so quickly around the world.
In my opinion, this virus came from China. They are to blame. But nothing seems to be done about it. The world better wake up to that giant. We depend too much on them. Even much of our drugs come from that country. And I've seen videos of their meat markets. It's disgraceful.
Just this morning, we learned that someone in Island View Elementary School (where our granddaughter attends in Grade 3) has Covid. As far as I know, that's the first case there... too close for comfort. School was cancelled today, but not because of the Covid case. It was cancelled because custodians and school bus drivers went on strike. They haven't had a contract in 5 years, so I don't blame them.
Last Sunday night, there was a Covid exposure in the bar that's connected to AJ's Restaurant. My wife & I go there often for breakfast. We went Monday and Wednesday mornings, but we didn't find out about the exposure until Wednesday night. It can happen so easily. This virus is deadly, and it is always seeking its next victim.
I hope your country is in the clear now, and can get "back to normal". But I'm afraid, "normal" is a ways off for us. You can tell, I'm not as positive as you, am I?
Nicely penned!
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2021
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Hi Wendy,
You've written a terrific diary of this past Covid year, and through it all, how you managed to stay positive instead of getting depressed with it all.
Some things clicked with my own experience. I know there were lots of pictures from Facebook friends who hiked to waterfalls, lakes, and mountains in southern New Brunswick. It's actually much safer to walk through the woods than through the city where the virus might lurk in any passersby. And you stay healthy as well, sucking up all that Vitamin D. There's nothing better than a sandwich out in the forest, with a hot cup of tea... clean water from a nearby brook. Cameras click and paintbrushes flick.
You mentioned painted rocks. I love to find these on a trail, gifts from some talented painter. I usually leave them where I find them. Someone else might benefit from a special scene.
93% of New Brunswickers have had at least one shot of vaccine. But even that isn't enough to stop lockdown here in New Brunswick. We've been somewhat free for the better part of the summer. But come November 1st, we're back in lockdown. Many people think the pandemic is over, but I think it will be another couple of years. Though, you'd never know it to watch a Major League Baseball game. The World Series is on from Houston and Atlanta, and the stands are full. I see nobody with a mask on. It's like... the pandemic is over. But it isn't. These variants are proof. We're dealing with the Delta variant right now. Will there be another? This same thing happened in the world back around 1918. And masks were required then, too. But there wasn't the travel back in those days like there is today. The virus wasn't spread so quickly around the world.
In my opinion, this virus came from China. They are to blame. But nothing seems to be done about it. The world better wake up to that giant. We depend too much on them. Even much of our drugs come from that country. And I've seen videos of their meat markets. It's disgraceful.
Just this morning, we learned that someone in Island View Elementary School (where our granddaughter attends in Grade 3) has Covid. As far as I know, that's the first case there... too close for comfort. School was cancelled today, but not because of the Covid case. It was cancelled because custodians and school bus drivers went on strike. They haven't had a contract in 5 years, so I don't blame them.
Last Sunday night, there was a Covid exposure in the bar that's connected to AJ's Restaurant. My wife & I go there often for breakfast. We went Monday and Wednesday mornings, but we didn't find out about the exposure until Wednesday night. It can happen so easily. This virus is deadly, and it is always seeking its next victim.
I hope your country is in the clear now, and can get "back to normal". But I'm afraid, "normal" is a ways off for us. You can tell, I'm not as positive as you, am I?
Nicely penned!
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Kimbob
Comment Written 29-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2021
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Wow, thank you so much for your thoughtful reflections too! And also for the Exceptional rating and six stars. I wasn't too sure how this piece would be received. We are still having a couple of hundred cases a day here, but fewer hospitalisations (I think largely due to the vaccines the cases are milder) and strangely we are still having sporting events, but again hoping that the high vaccination rate will prove sufficient. We are getting more cases in younger children and schools have to temporarily close for cleaning, even though they only opened up a week ago! No, it's definitely not over, and like you, I think it will be a while. But we do need to find ways to stay positive and look for creative ways to support each other. Many thanks again.
Wendy
Comment from Susan Newell
Wendy, this is a great piece of self-reflection and observation of how societal norms are changed by events and how people choose to respond to them. Great job.
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2021
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Wendy, this is a great piece of self-reflection and observation of how societal norms are changed by events and how people choose to respond to them. Great job.
Comment Written 29-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 29-Oct-2021
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Thank you so much Susan for your thoughtful and encouraging review. Wendy
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You are welcome. It was a worthy read.
Comment from Judy Lawless
Wendy this is a wonderful essay about how Australia did much better than many other countries in coping with the pandemic. It seemed to bring people together to help each other, whereas in the big North American countries, there seems to be more people demanding their own "rights" than ever before, and I'm resigned to the fact that we might never be able to completely enjoy the freedom we had before. This isn't the first time I've thought maybe I'd like to live in Australia, after meeting so many great writers here who call it home. I wonder what your winter weather is like. lol
Very well written, Wendy. Your last sentence is wise.
reply by the author on 28-Oct-2021
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Wendy this is a wonderful essay about how Australia did much better than many other countries in coping with the pandemic. It seemed to bring people together to help each other, whereas in the big North American countries, there seems to be more people demanding their own "rights" than ever before, and I'm resigned to the fact that we might never be able to completely enjoy the freedom we had before. This isn't the first time I've thought maybe I'd like to live in Australia, after meeting so many great writers here who call it home. I wonder what your winter weather is like. lol
Very well written, Wendy. Your last sentence is wise.
Comment Written 28-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 28-Oct-2021
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Wow Judy, thank you so much for the Exceptional review and six stars, such an honour and very appreciated. Australia is so large that you can basically choose your own weather. If you like hot and humid, then the North is for you, any coastal region. Hot and dry for inland. If you like milder summer weather and cool to cold winters then Tasmania you would love. Where I live in New South Wales we have fairly hot summers, but the winters are mild, cool and sunny, no snow, occasional dips to frost overnight. You would love the freedom. Except for a proportion of farmers, most people have never seen a gun, although there are criminal elements who have them and use them. But we don't live in fear at all. You would love living here, I am sure.
Wendy
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You're welcome, Wendy. Thanks for telling me more about Australia. I think where you live would suit me fine. I'm pretty sure my husband would not go with me though. lol
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Ah, that makes a big problem then! Lol.
Wendy
Comment from lyenochka
A wonderful reflection on these pandemic times and how beautifully your family and neighborhood survived. And congratulations to Australia for such a high vaccination rate! We have maybe only 60% in our state and the neighboring state has so many antivaxxers who are coming into ours to fill up our hospitals. Sigh. But I'm glad you could record all the positives. And Happy 1st Year Anniversary, here!!
reply by the author on 28-Oct-2021
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A wonderful reflection on these pandemic times and how beautifully your family and neighborhood survived. And congratulations to Australia for such a high vaccination rate! We have maybe only 60% in our state and the neighboring state has so many antivaxxers who are coming into ours to fill up our hospitals. Sigh. But I'm glad you could record all the positives. And Happy 1st Year Anniversary, here!!
Comment Written 28-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 28-Oct-2021
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Thank you so much for your fabulous review. We have now I think well over 90% where we are but they still won't let us go to the country area as their rates are not as high yet, but improving rapidly.
We had the advantage in Australia that both major parties were similar in their views about the way to proceed, just differed in timing and length of lock-downs and how quickly to open up. Most people would rather be vaccinated and get back to as near normal as possible, so it is only a relatively small proportion of antivax people who have proved difficult. Thanks so much.
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Happy fanniversary! Brilliant piece--panoramic reflection on life in the reign of Corona--the unexpected bright spots of appreciating nature and engaging meaningfully with one another. A wonderfully fresh perspective!
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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Happy fanniversary! Brilliant piece--panoramic reflection on life in the reign of Corona--the unexpected bright spots of appreciating nature and engaging meaningfully with one another. A wonderfully fresh perspective!
Comment Written 27-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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Thank you for a great review. I expected people would be over "pandemic talk". Yet I just wanted to record and evaluate my thoughts and reactions, both during and after.
Wendy
Comment from Sherry Asbury
Wendy, this is fabulous ad soo informative. It shows us a country with a lot more sense and dedication than my own. One big problem that I will address in a poem soon - is the careless discarding of masks that are paper. My masks are cloth and patriotic - one always in place around the joystick of my wheelchair. You wrote a whole treatise on the pandemic, and very well at that.
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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Wendy, this is fabulous ad soo informative. It shows us a country with a lot more sense and dedication than my own. One big problem that I will address in a poem soon - is the careless discarding of masks that are paper. My masks are cloth and patriotic - one always in place around the joystick of my wheelchair. You wrote a whole treatise on the pandemic, and very well at that.
Comment Written 27-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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Thank you Mary! What a fine review. I thought people may well be over "pandemic talk". Totally agree about the disposable masks - and no-one wants to pick them up after other people either.
Wendy
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Honey - you are so sweet, so I hate to nitpick - My name is Sherry or Hey You or You, over there
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OOPS. I must have just replied to Mary before you, and the poor old brain doesn't always move too fast, must be slower than the fingers. I know you are Sherry just by looking at your photo. Many apologies. Sending you a hug too!
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I will take a hug for any - or no - reason and don't worry my brain is floating in jelly!
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
A walk through lockdown here Wendy and we now appreciate being able to see our families, go shopping and enjoy normal things. I never want to return to the lockdown situation as it was awful and so restrictive, I enjoyed your story Wendy, glad you can once again see your Grandchildren, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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A walk through lockdown here Wendy and we now appreciate being able to see our families, go shopping and enjoy normal things. I never want to return to the lockdown situation as it was awful and so restrictive, I enjoyed your story Wendy, glad you can once again see your Grandchildren, love Dolly x
Comment Written 27-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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Thank you Dolly! A thoughtful review. I thought people may well be over "pandemic talk". Yet I just wanted to evaluate my thoughts and reactions, both during and after.
Wendy
Comment from Begin Again
I am so pleased to say Happy Anniversary to you and your time on FanStory. My return isn't a year yet, but I am thrilled that one of my favorite friends is you and of course, the sweet pup-turned-author-extraordinaire. I enjoy everything you write and how you have such a positive outlook on life.
Smiles and hugs, Carol
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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I am so pleased to say Happy Anniversary to you and your time on FanStory. My return isn't a year yet, but I am thrilled that one of my favorite friends is you and of course, the sweet pup-turned-author-extraordinaire. I enjoy everything you write and how you have such a positive outlook on life.
Smiles and hugs, Carol
Comment Written 27-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 27-Oct-2021
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Thank you so much Carol! What a fine review. I just assumed you had been here for a long time!
I thought people may well be over "pandemic talk". Yet I just wanted to evaluate my thoughts and reactions, both during and after. Many thanks for your encouraging words.
Wendy
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I actually joined 2009 and won first place and in 2010 came in second because I started homecare for my mom and Mike. I didn't write at all and then occasionally I posted for a a while. I came back full time after my parents and Mike passed away in January of this year.