“Love in the Time of Covid” by Paula Stevenson
We have been isolating for more than 60 days. But this is not so strange for us as we live a fairly isolated life anyway, 50 kms from town and not a neighbour in sight.
The most noticeable blessing is that this isolation did not occur during our three year long drought, as we would have been deeply affected. We had just staggered out of the dark tunnel and had a few weeks to rejoice in the welcome rain, when the virus appeared.
It meant no visits to Sydney, no birthday dinners with the family, no yoga, no fitness class and no writing workshops at Warrah Hall.
So we stayed at home.
But it has had its benefits. There is little pressure to complete tasks as there is always tomorrow, there are few deadlines and less stress.
It means here is more time to stop, pay attention and observe the world around us, especially the natural world.
We listen for the glorious call of the birds each morning, watch the caterpillars decimate the grape vine and await the butterflies, see the barley shoots emerge from the soil and marvel at the size of the castor oil plants that have thrived in the paddocks. Our cattle are fat and healthy and we can barely see their heads above the grasses.
The creeks are running again and today we saw an odd green shape lying on the creek bed. It was an ancient turtle his shell coated in algae, but he poked out his head and motored off down stream.
The roos have left our garden and instead have made soft beds in the tall grasses alongside the road. When I walk, I hear the chattering of birds above me and on some days if I look up, I will catch sight of the pair of wedge tailed eagles that have a nest nearby.
It is quiet here. And we love it.
Few cars travel by. There are no planes in the sky and we have time to sit and meditate and be thankful for this land and for the country that we live in.
Images:
Top and home page: “PS Weeds” Courtesy of Paula Stevenson.
Bottom: Barley 20. Courtesy of Paula Stevenson.