Ava

Ava – a breath of new life, the name given to a Coronavirus-born infant by her mom/respiratory therapist who caught the COVID-19 and had caesarean delivery to give her lungs room to breathe. She lived so did her baby infant, born prematurely. That is how I feel today-the 38th day of staying home, feeling my sense of inner peace. I believe in what St. John Paul II said on Jan. 6, 2001: “Duc In Altum, Latin for Put Out Into the Deep,” and he invites us “to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence.” 

But now, I feel it in my heart, in my 38th day of staying home. How was my journey? Like a wave, that ebbs and flows, or like summiting a trail that keeps going up. I worried about my family members, especially missing my granddaughter so much and her joyful presence, my friends, my relatives, my cleaning lady, my gardener that I kept crying. 

I kept attending the livestreamed mass and took delight that Easter Sunday livestreamed Mass Holy Family Artesia was viewed by 12,000. Fr. John Cordero reported in his Regina Coeli broadcast yesterday that previous year’s Sunday Easter collection was around $50,000 to $60,000 and giving online during this CoronaVirus Easter week was $34, 401. Paraphrasing what he said, we feed off your generosity, love, and support. We feel like we are shouting in the dark. But, we receive the echoes from our shouts in the dark. We see your support in keeping the church alive, in how you care and support us and our parishioners. 

How loving and appreciative is that!!

I spent yesterday listening all afternoon to DNA, the new CD of Mon David and Josh Nelson and the live concert of Michael Paulo. It inoculated me to live beyond this pandemic, to reach Lake Biernz in Switzerland and to travel with adventurous classmates. I started dreaming for a playdate with @nikkidoodledo‘s genius 3yo twins who love smoothies, outdoors, pasta making, making cookies, playing with bedbugs, and blades of grass, even noticing that pine trees are dancing and raring to draw an embryo, as he woke up. Mom captures these priceless vibrant moments!!

Yesterday, my favorite beautiful daughter stopped by with her daughter, both in masked, socially distancing. I noticed my granddaughter is now riding her bike, without training wheels. Hooray for that! I told her how much I missed playing with her. She said, ” I do too, Grandma.” She paused. Then, asked ” Grandma, why is your voice hoarse?” “Ah yes,” I said, “but it will clear up soon, okay?” Hosh, how caring she is!

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