“Reflections on the A - Z Challenge”

  

   I completed my second consecutive year of the April A-Z challenge. It’s always a tremendous satisfaction to finish anything I start! Around 2014, I belonged to a blogging group for a few years, but unfortunately it discontinued and I stopped blogging. I haven’t blogged to promote myself or make money (not that I wouldn’t mind), I just enjoy writing. Learning to blog and having my own site was exciting. It was a pleasant surprise when the A - Z challenge popped up in my Facebook newsfeed  in 2021. I’m in!

    It’s never easy to complete this challenge. I’m always busy with home, family, school and my indulgence in art. So, it is indeed a challenge. I never have my blogs prepared in advance. It’s on the fly on the day and at the moment. My blogs usually correspond with my life. I have never been a writer of fiction. I appreciate this opportunity and effort the creators of this blogging challenge and Facebook page have put forth to make it happen.

    I don’t have much else to say, but thank you! 

Linda 🌷

“Zoo”

 

    I do not like zoos. Have I ever gone to zoos? Yes, I have. When my kids were little, I took them a few times to a small zoo in San Jose. It was a very nice park with kiddie rides and climbing structures, a puppet show stage, food vendors and a train. There was also a zoo portion of this park with a little petting zoo.

    It tugged at my heart strings as we would pass near the tiger’s small enclosure, as well as the bear’s small pen too. It was summertime and the animals looked hot. A summer day in San Jose ranges from 90 - 100+ degrees easily. It made me sad to know they would never have the experience of a long gallop or run. There were other animals too, like the hippo. A small pond for it to cool down in and no mud to roll around in. The monkeys seemed to be stir crazy. I always left with a heavy heart and with unease.

    The last zoo I went to was the San Diego Zoo. This was probably twenty years ago. It was the final straw when I watched a polar bear trudge around in the hot sun. There was something terribly wrong with this picture and I felt a little sick. 

    When I was a little girl, I would watch a show called “Wild Kingdom” (wonder if anyone remembers) and Jacque Crusteau, with my dad. We would marvel at the beauty of nature and wild animals. If I could shut down every zoo today, I would. Wild animals were born to be wild and roam. We have no right to cage them. I am grateful for the animal advocates out there who put their beliefs into action and are the voices for animals who are wrongfully treated. 

    

                                                                        Freedom

“Year of transition”

 

    I would say it has been a year of relief in contrast to the two years prior. It’s a different experience when you are out dining and you can order from the menu without wearing a mask or even walk into a restaurant mask-free. I love seeing other diner’s smiles - seeing their joy and expressions of pleasure; as who doesn’t love to be out dining…and I’m back to wearing my favorite lipstick too. I returned yesterday from a flight to and from Las Vegas, flying mask-free. It felt great! I feel comfortable and not in fear of coming in contact with Covid. It was pretty scary there for a while. The possibility of catching a life threatening disease that was rapidly spreading throughout our country was real.  Today, that fear is lifted and yet I still take precautions such as, sanitizing in and out of any establishment, wiping down shopping cart handles and I do not touch hand rails. So, I’ve been working on my balance. The escalator can be challenging - steady as she goes!

    It feels good to be getting back to normal. I’ve spoken to many who discovered silver linings throughout the pandemic. I sure have. Prayers to those who lost loved ones due to Covid-19. I know there are many.