WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

MenoAZinkulling: N

This month here at the Wild YAMster's bloggy, you are going to be regaled with words related to feelings and happenings of the last twelve months. Oh yes, you know of what I talk.  This is to be the ALPHABET OF AAARRGFIZZZ... We've all had to deal with it. This will be a reflection purely from my point of view. You don't necessarily have to agree with what I say; just appreciate where it's coming from. Normal service will resume on May Day. (By which time I may be yelling that down the ether phone loud and repetitively!)
☀♉☀

I mentioned the formation of language around Coviditionitis. One such formulation that is getting my goat a bit is "New Normal".

I'm sorry, but normal is normal. If it is not normal, it is - like the alternative name of the virus - Novel - which, of course, means "that's new!" To say something is novel feels slightly out of place, too - for it conjures up thoughts of being slightly fun or entertaining. Even the trend for the Noir is classified thus. There hasn't been too  much fun or entertaining about COVID.

All the changes we have had to adapt to as collateral damage from Coviditionitis has meant learning new ways of living - and at the moment, they can still be classed as new. But not 'normal', if compared to life before March 2020 when reality hit in. What we do now have to adapt to is that the new is starting to have become part of our background life and - most of us - don't think twice about putting on our masks, washing our hands, or making a bend on the path to ensure the distance between ourselves and the chap walking in our direction. In this adaptation, what was once new, is becoming normal. 

In short, what is new cannot be at the same time normal and vice versa. If you are still in the process of adjusting (what? still, after 12 months???), then it is new. If you have adjusted, it has become normal. 

One of the big winners during this crazy year has been Nature. Everywhere it was noticed that wildlife seemed to flourish, and the air in our cities cleared up. With the increased need to get outside, people started to appreciate being within nature in ways they had, perhaps, previously overlooked. Simply being in the garden with the birdsong that was missed in the buzz of traffic excited many city dwellers. Being able to actually hear the bees and the rustle of the leaves in the breeze...

One memory I shall always treasure is of the hypericum bush in dad's garden. Bee central! With the silence of lockdown I could hear the hum ten feet away; bumbles of three types, honeybees, hoverflies, a wasp or two... oh how they loved that shrub.
Finally, how could I pass through 'enn' without a proper mention of the First Minister of the Bonny Land, none other than 'oor wee Nicola'? I always had some admiration for her. I've had my brush with politics (have I ever mentioned that here?... no, note to self for a future post) and know the shell one needs to build. My estimation has only increased with the dedication she has shown to daily updates and a sense of genuine condolence and concern - of empathy - that she emanates. So many folk are ready to criticise but have no concept of what it is to be in that position - or even close to it. Is Nicola perfect? Of course not and let nobody blame her for that - unless, of course, you really are perfect... are you??? No. She has proven herself a worthy stateswoman over the past twelve months, in the face of not just the pandemic, but the onslaught of her detractors, those who claim to want the same goal, and from her ex-boss, Awricht Sleazemon. 


See you tomorrow for the ongoing saga. Please be aware that there is more I amAZing over at 






19 comments:

  1. Nice! Nothing is New - Now. But I sure will be happy to be able to do some of the things I got to do before. Not that I led an overly exciting life, but I would like to be able to get in my car and visit my sister, without having to worry about all the encounters in the 7 hour drive, that could make her or my ill brother-in-law sick. Or bringing something back to our village on my return.

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  2. For a period the sky even was clear of so many contrails. That is changing, though.

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  3. N has been for Neighbours and Neighbourhood this past year!

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  4. Now, I cant' distinguish between the "old normal" and the "new normal"... I don't know which is old and which is new!!!

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  5. I want my old normal back... to change things to a new normal sounds like the new normal of WP to me ;O)

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  6. Hi Yam - yes ... new is strange now isn't it. There are new things, but normal - we'll never go back to what was normal before ... life goes on ... it always has - we just need to find our way to do doing what we can in the present state of affairs we find ourselves in. Difficult - but we need to care for us and for all ... with thoughts - Hilary

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  7. This, like SARS, will change us forever.
    It is important to have good leaders. Our PM secured us the vaccines, we don't have the capacity to make them. Our provincial leader is a dipstick, listening to lobby groups, rather than the health units.

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  8. This expression totally slipped my mind as I was working on my post for today.

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  9. We found a very very bright spot in the midst of 2020 in Nature. We rediscovered all the wonderful trails and parks in our County.
    Happy Friday
    Hugs Cecilia

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  10. we adjusted to our new normal because the old normal was a lot like the new one. we never traveled, or went to parties or family get togethers, did not seek ot crowded places to eat/drink. the only thing that changed for us, is we could NOT do those things if we wanted to.. and I could not chat with strangers in stores.. the mask has ruined conversation for me and that is new normal i don't like.. sorry for using those two words so many times

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  11. Nailed it. I, the Tigger, am quite pleased with the new working from home arrangements for F; I don't want her to go back to the office. She has 4 colleagues - 2 of them like me in the office, 2 of them don't. The 'don'ts' win when everyone is back in the office together. I'm not sure how I will fill my days when she is no longer here to supervise.

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    1. Hari OM
      Deary me, Tigger, I feel fur ya... it is a conundrum many pets and their owners will have to face - eventually. Some sooner than others. I predict a rise in requirement for animal Sigh-Ko-Log_ists... H&W Y-a xxx

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  12. Yes, New Normal is a rubbish phrase - like so many that come out of politicians and journalists mouths these days.

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  13. I have never fallen for the "new normal" saying...

    I agree about nature, it has been thriving during the past year!

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  14. We are lucky to live on a large property with few neighbors and not much road noise so we are used to hearing the small voices of nature around us. There hasn't been much that changed for us other than having to wear masks when we go out shopping.

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  15. The pandemic hasn't changed my routine much. I love being home. About the only thing that has changed is wearing a mask.

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  16. I have used the term New Normal. And I still do. Because despite what you explain (which makes total sense), the normal we had before is not the normal we will have after.

    In the Netherlands (and I bet other countries as well), there have been a lot more complaints about neighbours: noisy neighbours with even noisier children. The tolerance level certainly went down as everybody had to stay home.

    Klem

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    1. Hari OM
      Ah yes... we all adjusted to the peace and quiet! All those phrases of stop and smell and flowers, or keep calm and have a cuppa... suddenly made a lot of sense and now we all have to think of ramping up again. Well, some of us do... Yxx

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  17. Our DIL and son began working on making their home more homey. Comfy patio furniture and plants. New furniture for home offices as both will permanently be doing at least 50% work from home in the foreseeable future. Shelves, additional lighting and other amenities that make staying home a bit more enjoyable. Eating meals at home has become the normal, again. namaste, janice xx

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