Have you ever asked this question of yourself? Well, what was your response? Where’s the wisdom here? We are living in strange times, for sure! But, how can you and I make a difference in life, now? Can we really right the wrongs? Or at least try!

Somehow, all of us, have taken life for granted. World invasion of a Pandemic, the world  of politics gone awry, to almost non-existent, and if this isn’t enough, unscrupulous  values in humanity! Especially hurting, damaging and exploiting our children! God, isn’t that enough to warrant the opening question?

Am I angry? Yes! A suppressed anger for not doing more for my small world which runs over like a steamy stream into stormy waters. Much can be done, if only by one or two people who aren’t afraid to correct some very strong, mean and hurtful deeds. As the song suggests, “When Will We Learn?” 

I began writing this in a quiet frame of mind. However, my picture has not only changed but has become quite distorted!  My son-in-law, Jimi, was not feeling good yesterday. My daughter took him to the Dr. early this morning. Just what we dreaded and certainly didn’t want to hear; Covid! Very scary! Being a musician, not masking and playing in close quarters; is not what the Dr. ordered! When will we learn? Now, Jimi, wears his mask! Learning the hard way!

The problem, today, is that everyone has a theory, an answer but mostly the wrong answers. Who in their right mind wants to live in a fearful world? That’s exactly what we’ve become! Frightened! Scared,for sure, especially when it hits home!  While Jimi is quarantined in his music studio, the rest of us, in the house, are on high alert! 

We, America, and the rest of the world, were all caught unaware when COVID hit. No warning, no bombs; just a massive blanket of sick air dropped on all of us! 

The point is, everyone, please heed all the warnings! Look, we’re into early Fall and people are still being diagnosed with this beast, COVID! If I were a mom with school aged children, I’d be torn with my choice; should the kids go to school or not? I certainly would not be at peace sending them.  Maybe, streaming electronically is the way to go for a few months?

They stream in church services to homes because there are many who can’t or won’t attend services in a group! This is one of Jimi’s important jobs; preparing and coordinating the service for each Sunday morning via electronics! 

If not you, then who? If not now, then when?

I’m trying so hard to make sense of what’s happening in my little world, let alone the world at large!

Believe me, my greater concern is for my loved ones! Suddenly, my little world, is on stage, front and center and that’s all that matters! Oftentimes, I turn to music but today I don’t feel in the mood for music; not even in the background! Instead, I decided to view some uplifting quotes to elevate my mind and remove the webs of doubt and gloom. It’s not always easy!

                         “You’ll never find rainbows if you’re looking down.”   Charles Chaplin

My routine, of late, is staying quiet, writing a lot, emailing and texting and of course, praying! Psalm 91 is now my daily go-to prayer. It conveys my feelings and shrouds my doubts. I wonder if God and His Saints and Angels are tiring of me? I could hear them; “Here she is again!!”  I love bantering with Himself, God, as the Irish would say! I say yes, He says no! I say stop, He says go!  When will I learn?

I am very NetFlix bound these days! And enjoying all the foreign episodes! Such a gallery of great actors and viewing countries I’ve never seen. Actually learning some Turkish words and much history! I purposely stay away from the ‘news.’ I never can tell who’s telling the truth! Truth or Dare? I dare you to believe it!! When will we learn? If not now, when?

This new Virus is surely a strange beast! It plays hide and seek with a body. Do I have it or not? When in doubt, and even without the doubt, get tested. How to isolate, a family of five, is a huge endeavor. While home-bound, we are masking, constantly spraying all the areas we touch, washing our hands and certainly trying to keep our spirits high! My daughter prepares nourishing meals, checks our temperatures and oxygen levels each day! But, still, that’s not enough!  My grandson bought a few fun card games and we’ve all enjoyed this venture very much. Laughter and a different mindset is exactly the best remedy during quarantine time.

One evening, we changed the pace; my grandson set the kitchen up like a small night club with some bright strobe lights and we danced the night away!

Jimi’s quarantine is now over but left him very, very tired. Please, everyone, stay safe; for your sake and for your family members! If that’s the only thing we learn from this ugly virus is to heed the rules; not just for yourself but for whomever you’re living with! Then maybe we will have learned something of value! 

My faith has kept me strong through this time. I compare it to a watermelon! Yes, very large, quite nourishing and filled with sweet water. And you always want more! Our faith has not been given to us to be stagnant! It has taught me to stop fighting change; but, rather, find new answers; how change teaches us! And then maybe we will learn.

While listening to a Faith sermon, this week, I was intrigued by the Pastor’s comments.  I think it fits this blog nicely. About learning, not giving up and how change of attitude canactually save your life and mine! And how Faith can change your life! 

This story is about two frogs; one fat, one skinny. They accidentally fell into a bowl of cream. The fat frog panicked but the skinny frog just kept kicking! While the fat one was filled with fear, it became stagnant and decided to give up; the thin frog kept kicking! He felt a thickness, under his frog-foot and was saved.His constant kicking churned the cream into butter. The moral: Keep kicking because eventually, the cream will become butter! The thin frog saved himself.

Our faith has not been given to us to be stagnant or dormant but to keep kicking in life until we find the results we want.

Keep the Faith and maybe we will learn!  


Nancy Fraioli is a retired Benefits Asst. from Town/Village of Harrison, NY. She’s alive and well, residing in Sarasota with her daughter and family and enjoying the Floridian lifestyle daily.

Her passions are writing, reading books of philosophy, children’s stories and poetry. Her deep love is living, learning and sharing how faith, meditation, and music guide her daily life. And she loves to lunch with the ladies!

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