With everything going on, it sure is nice to feel normal

Published 11:58 am Thursday, April 2, 2020

It’s all we can talk about. COVID-19 has taken over our lives.

I wake up these days feeling like I am living in some kind of sci-fi movie only to find out this thing is real. It’s a challenge to stay upbeat when news reports sound dire.

But I know I cannot slip into a place of fear and panic, so I am working hard to find happy moments, one of which occurred this past weekend.

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The weather was beautiful, so I did a little gardening.

Admittedly, this required me to do some shopping, which was before the shelter-in-place order was issued. Don’t worry, at the time I made sure to social distance.

This restrictive limitation, obviously, drove home the circumstances we find ourselves in, but thankfully when I got home all seemed normal.

Therefore, with a plethora of pretty plants, I began to map out my plan.

The annuals would, of course, go in my pots on the patio and the perennials would be set in the ground.

It didn’t take long with the sun out and the temperature hovering near 80 degrees that I began to work up a sweat.

It felt good and normal.

I was able to work in the yard for hours since daylight savings time had arrived. In fact, I worked outside long enough for those pesky little no-see-ums — the flies that are nearly invisible — to come out.

Although undetectable, you certainly can feel them when they bite, and let me just tell you, those little insects made a feast of me.

I would rather deal with a mosquito any day. This type of family of flies literally eats your skin off.

You should see my forehead. I look a sight.

Nevertheless, this did not keep me from going out again on Sunday, but you bet your bottom dollar, I went in before those flies came out.

Spending that time in my yard felt like heaven, especially with everything else going on.

Life is topsy turvy right now and finding a little bit of normalcy seems imperative, at least for me anyway.

So whether it’s working in the yard, going fishing or even cleaning the toilet, in these uncertain times it is amazing how just doing normal things can make you feel good.

Monday, when I woke up and came downstairs and looked out at my yard, I smiled.

Even in the midst of this coronavirus, we can find some happiness. It just may take some digging.

 

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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