What a year of adjustment. It’s been a year since we went into self quarantine here in Lille, France. Alternately, it feels like just last month or millennia ago. Neither of us can believe it has been a whole year and also, that it is not yet over.
In the year of a Twilight Zone kind of suspension, our lives did not vary much from day to day. Although we experienced many jolts and missteps along the way, over time, we developed a slow, pleasant routine.
We had blue days where depression affected one or the other of us. We would have times where we successfully kept ourselves busy. We experienced periods of a kind of lethargy fog, where we could not seem to move in any meaningful direction. We came up with plans on how to put spark back into our solitary lives, only to watch them crash and burn without fruition. We kept the suffering between ourselves so as not to accidentally affect our loved ones who were also dealing with the effects of a global lockdown.
We both read a lot daily. We read local news, US and global. We keep tabs on our previous hometown and where our home would be if/when we return to the states. We voted absentee. We have kept up our weekly video chats with family and friends. We’ve sent cards and packages to keep morale up for all of them.
We know people who caught the virus and lost the battle. We know people who have suffered terribly both economically and health wise. Our intimate circle of family and friends have thankfully remained safe. We have a dear friend who is an ICU nurse that has filled body bags numbering almost as many as her patients. Her determination to continue is an inspiration.
The French lockdown came, receded and returned in waves. First, in mid-March 2020, the first restaurant and retail closures and the home lockdowns began with outside excursions only for essentials combined with a government-issued attestation.. Phased lifting of the lockdowns and closures began mid-May, however, by October the rates of infection increased to the level that President Macron announced another lockdown. Gradual lifting of measures occurred in November, although restaurants, bars and cafés have remained closed since October. We remain under a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew and there is discussion that about 20 regions, including Nord, our area, may need to go into further weekend lockdowns,
Over time G took up cooking as a hobby. I did finish the scarf I talked about last year and determined that it didn’t hold my interest enough to continue to another project. I taught myself how to taxi whistle fingerless and tried with spectacular failure to learn juggling – I’m continuing to try despite all indications that it’s a lost cause. We also got ourselves Brompton folding bikes to get out on nice days and enjoy the city in a more COVID-safe method. The advantage of the Brompton is that it’s folded footprint is small enough for our elevator and apartment storage is a breeze.
With funds we would have used traveling, in October we visited IKEA and socially distanced, worked with a wonderful kitchen design rep who assisted us with ordering four IKEA cabinets, sink, 4 burner stove top and oven. After it was delivered, we assembled everything and our fabulous landlord’s talented handyman installed the kitchen, while we sequestered in one of the bedrooms. The landlord split the cost with us and at €1,500, it remains the best investment we’ve made here. At move in, there was a worn cabinet holding a single sink, with a faulty two burner stovetop. We had zero counter space so we had created a bit by the addition of our washer under a table and a dresser to hold the microwave and counter top stove. It was akin to camping.
The finished effort yielded an L shaped full counter with double sink, four burner stove and an oven and the effect was incredible. Please pardon all the French translation stickers on the refrigerator. You can see our new bikes tucked under the counter on the end.
Baking in the new kitchen has been such a pleasure that over time we farmed out breads and cookies to all of the building residents. They were also introduced to American cornbread, to their delight. Three of the building residents and I embarked on exchanging drawings for each other based on a single word for the inspiration. The words given were; Lucky, Whimsical, Gourmand and Sapin (Fir Tree). That kept me entertained as well. We have not succumbed to over-eating as we’ve read is a problem for many. We have however, adapted to a daily ritual of wine and beer. After all, we aren’t driving anywhere.
In addition to the kitchen, we’ve had a dozen little home repair projects that have kept us busy. Why bother the landlord when we had so much time on our hands? After ordering online, G installed a toilet paper roll holder and a towel holder in the W/C. He also installed a new shower bar, shower head and bar soap holder in the shower room. I did paint patch-ups, plus I tackled repairing the living room fresco which had suffered water damage in one section some years ago. I decided to begin a new project to faux paint the W/C door to match all of the other doors in the apartment, which are constructed of stained/leaded glass panels. Here are shots of the repair and an existing leaded glass door and the W/C door faux project, in progress.
We video-learn weekly with our French tutor. Our progress is incredibly slow as we struggle to acquire this skill. She is incredibly encouraging and patient as we stumble through our lessons, having to re-learn points continually. Retention when you are older is tougher. But we persevere and refuse to give it up.
G still does all of the shopping and errand running. Our safety precautions remain the same. I do go out for quick walks and double mask when I do. Otherwise I climb the inside five-story stairs daily for exercise, and watch life from the balcony that we are so fortunate to have. We have everything we need either in walking distance or via online ordering.
What has remained on the sideline is anything which is not an emergency that requires medical attention or a trip outdoors. G has experienced a knee issue and I, a foot issue. He broke a molar which has not affected the root but needs repairing. We have blood labs we should be getting but have put off. We have video conferenced with our doctor over prescription renewals and visited Paris in May and October, when allowed, for doctor and test checking. At this time, we are still waiting for our vaccines for 65 and older, which have been delayed, but are expected to begin by April.
And the year has passed for us without tragedy or drama, thank heavens. Some rough spots but overall, quietly and pleasantly which is phenomenal given the times. We are enjoying our life in Lille and have attempted to keep some semblance of normalcy in the passage of the seasons as we watch life from our windows and balcony.
The holidays came, we decorated, made cookies for our neighbors and they made treats for us too. We’ve managed to keep and be reminded of good pieces of our lives. We hope the same is true for all of you.
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