This has been an extremely tough year for me. Many days I have danced with the darkness but press on. At this moment I am trying to get my Property Manager to agree to allow me to have an emotional support dog. I have not heard anything yet, but trying to be patient as they have to check with my counselor. If one thing my journey taught me is to be patient.

I continue to push forward. I walk every day, most days putting in over my 10,000 steps. Today I am at over 14,000 and still have to walk at 2, 3, 4, and 5p. It just seems that is my whole life is working and walking. Not much of an existence. I do try to do what I can. Today I am making myself Duck L’Orange. As I have in the past, I will use leftover duck for Duck Alfredo. I bought some rice as I have a rice cooker I have not used, so maybe some duck fried rice. I used to get that at Gourmet Garden in Wareham but the locals here don’t offer it.

While I sometimes suffer depression due to being alone and isolated, especially during this Covid pandemic, I try to press on. I walk. I have come to know some of the local vendors. I get my Italian Grinder sans lettuce and a Highland Special Pizza from my local pizza shop. I was getting tarts, oh so good, from Confectioners on New Boston Rd. I got my hair finally washed and cut with Connie at Euphoria. I am ready to step up to colour. I started getting electrolysis from Elite. I even bought some yarn and needles from Karen at the craft shop. Got some new kitchen towels from there to replace the ones I bought at Christmas. I bought some new Irish themed towels. Perfect!

I started with a new counselor that I really like. I didn’t much care for the prior one. At least this one is being thorough. She even asked me questions to see if I was bipolar. I picked that out quick enough. I explained to her that while I am not bipolar I was once married to a bipolar person and when they went off lithium, wow.

I hate that I can’t just go to a restaurant these days. The Governor has restricted to 25% capacity so sometimes it is hard to get a table. I have wanted to try a few places but mostly I maintain my distance. I am in that older crowd that they say have to be especially cautious.

The isolation and loneliness gets to me a lot but I have my campfire friends.

I saw these at Shaws and started collecting them. I arranged them around the candle to make it like a campfire. Anything you can do to get through Covid. I am hoping by the Fall we are normalized. I miss being able to just go somewhere. I worry with these new strains coming out that we may have new outbreaks. Until then, I will just keep walking. Whatever it takes to get through, day by day, step by step.

My heart to your heart, one heart, one spirit.

Lady Emma Croft