#SS/16/100/2020
#sareespeak
#womenofsareespeak
#cotton
#aucklandnzss
In this era of viruses, what does one do, what can one do?
My whatsapp and social media feeds are inundated with status reports from all over the world, from family in 3 different continents, from places they don’t live in, conspiracy theories, remedies, homeopathic, ayurvedic, allopathic.
Email updates from my organization daily too, keep us on edge.
No rest home visits, one on one interactions, social distancing, triage client – ask the necessary questions –
Travelled, anyone visiting who’s travelled, how many people at home, anyone with cold or flu symptoms.
In the end, not many clients can be seen as they too are in a vulnerable, high risk group.
Listened to talkback radio as I always do on way home from work. Was quite put off by the attitude of a man who pooh poohed the whole thing. Said he’d had a long lunch with lots of wine, given the waitress a firm handshake, not practised the 2m social distancing and said ‘hey if you’re going to get it, you’re going to get it’.
I thought that was absolutely irresponsible behavior.
Measures are in place to prevent spreading, to keep our elderly, sick and vulnerable safe. It’s not just about us, the hale and hearty, but the wider community, the high risk categories who may not survive if they contract it.
I’ve cancelled my music classes.
At work client face to face interaction has slowed.
And I’m doing what I haven’t been doing in a very long time.
What saints and philosophers have been stressing since time immemorial.
Living in the moment.
Meditating.
Aren’t we all attempting to be aware,
conscious of
Not touching our faces at all!
Having to wash our hands constantly.
Not hugging, handshaking.
Keeping 6 feet, 2 metres apart?
Doesn’t this boil down to being mindful?
Anyway, with more time on my hands, I now
Keep calm and cook.
Keep calm and chat on the phone.
Keep calm and practise veena.
Keep calm and read.
Keep calm and switch TV Channels, then become less calm.
Keep calm and switch between Netflix and Lightbox, and again become less calm.
Keep calm and plan some family activities – games, movies, music, discussions, then become agitated during Monopoly when one daughter refuses to play because she hasn’t got Mayfair, Parklane, the other collects rent everytime I breathe, husband builds hotels by the minute,
Keep calm and look out for how we could volunteer in our local community.
Oh and keep calm and write a classic like ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’.
And generally,
Focus on the Us and not the I.
Lose the self centredness.
Take just that one hand sanitiser, Dettol wipe, Vitamin C. Leave the rest on the shelves for the Us.
Check with friends who have returned from trips abroad, now in self isolation, if they need home cooked meals, shopping, errands to be run.
And of course, when you have time on your hands,
Drape a comfy, feel good, soft bright cotton.
The brightest purple, with checks,
with gold annapakshis/swans and mangoes on borders and pallu, then
Match it with a loud red, white, purple checked blouse.
Complete it with a crazy-and-straight-from-the-heart Saree Speak post.
Saree stolen from mum, as daughters tend to do, around 35 years ago.
(Truth be told, I draped this for a music programme over the weekend, before the health crisis here escalated). Some photos and clips of performances in comments.
Bavani’s Happy Place 