For the curious at heart… For those who just want a good laugh… And are looking for company in life’s misery (when did misery ever not love company!) … Here is a sitrep on my life [in COVID times]

Imagine a big cruise ship. This one is really huge. Luxurious. Lively. Majestic. Symphony of the Seas shies away before it. If you think I am the cruise ship in this narrative, thank you! Unfortunately, I’ll have to disappoint you.

Now imagine a row boat parallel to the cruise ship. Yes, that’s me! Don’t mistake me for a pretty yacht. I am a proper row boat with paddles. I don’t mind not being the cruise ship as long as I have my sandwich to myself – a happy peaceful life, a picnic in the sea, a scenic surrounding with a luxury liner on my right and the sun-kissed snow peaks of the mighty Alps on my left, life a bliss!

But all of a sudden, I hear the cruise ship’s siren blast. The ocean liner decides to pick up its pace by notching up its nautical miles per hour. The ripple effect in the sea is ripping apart my boat. My picnic becomes panic. The sandwich is frantically thrown out. I have to row my little haven away from the havoc the ship is causing by crashing into the waves. I pick up the paddles and row away in fear.

Droplets of sweat trickle down my forehead. I turn my head towards my shoulder to wipe it away and I notice something strange. I am not alone. Ghostly structures have invaded my boat. On close examination, I realise they are none other than my office responsibilities, dead-lines, studies, social connections, family commitments and my (dear) husband (Finney). I wonder how I managed to cram all of them into my tiny boat; But here I am servicing multiple threads including myself and still rowing ever so faster to save us all. I can feel my triceps and biceps pumped up – I might have even gotten Arnold’s look.

Unlike the terminator, I do not have the vision from the future. All I know is what I can see right in front of me – the need to survive on a daily basis. My survival instincts are so strong. And I row, row, row away, not gently, not down a street, but in fear against a Kraken (Yeah, the cruise ship has transformed into a Kraken now). I’m sure you are itching to know what happens next. I’ll surely let you know when I do! xD

If you think my real life is funny, you should see what it is like in my head. My mind thinks that I’m not a wooden boat, nor an inflated rubber boat, but a paper boat. A PAPER BOAT!! Can you imagine!

In my mind the ground under me is constantly dissolving and I’m like this – one hand on both the paddles which seem to be crank shafted in the middle (some cool mechanical physics trick), the other hand servicing those in my boat, with my head spinning in circles screaming  “Aaaaaaarg”. Now you have the complete picture of me. The sad part is, I do not know which is the reality anymore – the wooden boat or the paper boat.

I’m sure your empathy hormones are brewing. Thank you!

Here’s how I look at this whole thing…

• Life in COVID times is like a ship on fast and furious mode. Consequently, it has made me run faster too. Well, I may have even grown some muscles I thought I never could (which is not a bad thing I suppose)
• I sincerely believe one day things will slow down and become better, because I believe in the one who said, “I have plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you”. Who knows I might even become a cruise ship myself and take you on a jolly ride! 😉

Now the bigger question is, which one are you? 😊