I just noticed a sign in a window that said: “You’re not stuck at home, you’re safe at home.”
Perhaps that is something that Mr. Rogers would say, if he were still with us. He had such a gentle way to turning things into plusses. And explaining and defusing scary and unpleasant things.
Safe at home for me means health and comfort.
Counting my blessings.
Before the onset of the Coronavirus, sometimes when I woke up, I would be thankful that I didn’t wake up in say, Syria, or Afghanistan, or in an immigrant camp.
Now I think of many more things that make me safe to be thankful for:
A husband who cherishes me and makes me laugh.
A helpful and loving son and daughter-in-law only a mile away.
Another helpful and loving son and daughter-in-law only a phone call away.
Family on both sides that is caring and connected.
My health.
Clean, running water.
A solid house in a pleasant neighborhood.
Good neighbors.
Good and great friends near and far.
Reliable cars. And a truck. And a convertible for fun car.
And a driveway and garage big enough for all.
A dishwasher. Until we put an addition on the house with a new kitchen seven years ago, everything was handwashed.
Reliable Internet.
Reliable phone.
Cell phones.
TV’s, computers, and Kindles.
A private back deck to relax on.
A yard big enough for a dog, garden, and swing set should we choose to have them.
Regular mail and package services.
A whole house fan. (Often better than a air conditioner.)
Ceiling fans.
Air conditioners.
Plenty of clothing for all seasons.
Plenty of books.
A washer and dryer.
Tools for making and fixing things.
Supplies.
Nearby stores and services.
Living in a time when we understand disease and how to take precautions.
Experience and resilience gained from national and world tragedies and outbreaks of serious diseases.
Enough of a financial cushion to buy what we need.
We don’t have everything, but we want for nothing that counts.
Plus, with our decades of shared experiences, we still find love, humor and contentment with each other.
We are home. We are safe. I am grateful.