by Susan Stanley-Witt

The last three years have been tough . Not being able to visit family abroad . Friends whose parents were sick and whom they couldn ’ t visit . People dying . A lot was terrible , but there were also reasons to be grateful .

I am grateful that we live in Hamburg , where we could always go out for walks whenever we wanted , unlike other places like Paris or Madrid . I am so very grateful that my children had graduated from secondary school and I didn ’ t have to do homeschooling with them . I would have failed miserably at math ! I am grateful that my family had an income and we didn ’ t suffer financially . I am grateful that our home is big enough that we could spend time at home in separate rooms . I am grateful that I don ’ t live alone and I always had a family member to hug or just touch . Human contact became so incredibly important during the weeks and months of just seeing friends on a small computer screen . One suddenly had time to contemplate life , due to churches , theaters , restaurants , etc ., being closed . I learned how much I love and cherish my family and friends . We were all pretty much in the same boat and could , through our own experience , understand how the others were feeling . We sent each other jokes and funny stories , cheered each

PHOTO BY SUSAN STANLEY-WITT

other up when needed , commiserated when the cheering up didn ’ t help .

I remember sitting at home wondering when I would catch COVID and praying I didn ’ t infect anyone else when it happened and that I wouldn ’ t have lasting symptoms . Exchanging stories of people we knew who had caught the disease , the fear and uncertainty , was terrible . I ’ m surprised more people didn ’ t get stomach ulcers . I had times when I went to the supermarket every single day because I couldn ’ t stand staring at my four walls anymore and the supermarket was the only place open . It felt normal in a time full of uncertainty . I started cooking a roast chicken every week . I called it corona chicken . What ’ s for

There is so much to be grateful for in life , and I really did make an effort to concentrate on that . What stood out most was relationships . Having people who I love and care for and who love and care for me . Friendship . My oldest son got married . These are things that a pandemic cannot take away from you .

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