The Strange Times in Which we Live: It's Going to be Another "Zoom Christmas!"

I attempted to do a little holiday shopping today.

I actually went to our downtown area where the shops are, here in our little seaside town. It's was prettily enough decorated with lights and red bows, but it was also remarkably empty for a weekend in mid-December.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with an artist friend many years ago, when "e-commerce" was first starting to become a thing, and we discussed how actual shops as we know them might well largely vanish in our lifetimes.

We were probably being a little alarmist at the time... but the relative absence of people downtown, and the noticeable number of papered up storefronts of businesses that failed last year and had not been replaced with something new made me think of that conversation.

Even though the culprit was something besides online competition...

I wasn't very successful, as a couple of my "go to" shops have closed permanently. Besides, I am trying so support a couple of artist/crafter friends and buy handmade goods from individuals, rather than things that have been manufactured.

As I drove home, I thought about how much life has changed in a matter of just two years.

Once again, there won't be any kind of "Family Christmas" this year... we will talk to each other via Zoom and otherwise stay home.

Our middle son (32) will be here... primarily because he lives with us during the winter months when his job working for a parks and recreation department of a Seattle "satellite city" goes dormant for a few months.

Sign of the times, again... the city can avoid paying full-time benefits to a whole category of workers by "sort of laying them off" every winter. So Son gets to draw very meager unemployment benefits for three months, instead of drawing a regular salary. It's just enough to pay the rent on his tiny place, and his car payment... he "makes it" because he gets room and board with us during the down months.

Getting a part-time job makes no sense for him, as he would lose his unemployment... and a 3-month job would earn him less, anyway, since it would be minimum wage.

Sometimes I just don't understand this world we live in! So many things seemed designed to hinder us, rather than help us...

As I got home, I wondered again at how much the world has changed. And I realized that one of the things we risk losing in all this is our enthusiasm and sense of joy. I became more aware that I really wasn't looking forward to Christmas, as much as I used to... and not just because I am no longer a kid!

Still, maybe there is some kind of "silver lining," somewhere... in recognizing that we do have many things to be grateful for, and particularly in recognizing that we have inside things (inside ourselves, that is) to be grateful for: our good health, having shelter, our pets who love us regardless, our spouses and lovers and children whom we get to spend more time with. Maybe we rediscover old hobbies and interests we previously gave up. There are good things to be grateful for!

Thanks for reading, and have a great remainder of your weekend!

How about YOU? Do you feel enthusiastic about the holidays? Are you looking forward to them? Will you be able to spend time with family? How has life changed for YOU, over the past two years? Do leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — NOT A CROSSPOST!!!)
Created at 20211211 23:23 PST
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