by Beth Woolsey -

15 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

No time to write today. TOO BUSY SNUGGLING NEW GRAND-PUPPY. 

OMG, Diary.

Also, GAH.

Also-also, ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ x Infinity.

Also-also-also, I’m picking up these two at the airport tomorrow morning.

Also-also-also-also, it’s a good thing they’ll be home to snuggle their new fluff ball because I’m going to be competing in The Great Pandemic Bake-Off and it would be awkward, while all the other competitors open the secret recipe and bake their hearts out, to be the contestant who quits before it starts because she won’t put the fur baby down. I can see all the video feeds — bakers measuring and mixing and pouring and kneading, flour clouds in the air, wiping brows with the backs of their hands, furiously working for perfection — and then a video feed of me in the hammock chair burying my face in puppy hair and reading a trashy novel. It would make a riveting show, to be sure, but it wouldn’t be exactly keeping with the spirit of the bake-off. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

13 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

Just before we moved into self-isolation, I hit a new stride with book-writing. I was managing 2500+ words per day, and not all of them were crap, so that was a major win. I’d spend the morning writing at home, and then, when my family members interrupted me for the billionth time, I’d bail. I’d head downtown in our little village with its old brick buildings and coffee shops and bakeries and ice cream counters, I’d grab a snack or a caffeine boost, and then I’d go to the library, heavy bag in hand, laden with computer and research materials and post-it notes and multi-colored pens because everyone knows Only Good Things Happen when multi-colored pens are involved. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

12 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

This is Hazel.

She’s the one in the middle, bookended by my dogs, Zoey and Nyx.

I found Hazel on my porch today, just sitting like a good girl, patiently waiting to be let in so she could play with her friends.

Hazel, of course, wasn’t supposed to come over.

Hazel was supposed to stay home.

Hazel was self-isolating with her family, nine houses away from mine. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

11 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

Had sex last night and a quite excellent orgasm, and I’m trying VERY HARD to treat you like the Real Diary you are — a true and accurate record of What Goes on During This COVID Crisis — even though you’re available on the world wide webs for others to peruse. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I made a commitment to myself when I began this project that you weren’t going to be an adorable depiction of a fantasized experience — all sourdough starter and waffles and no existential angst or actual challenges — so here we are, and this is what I need to say. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

9 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

Today’s the day. Abby and Chandler’s college graduation in the stadium in Honolulu.

The cheering and being the Too Loud Mommy one more time as they walk across the stage.

The chaos of trying to find them afterward and lei them with the flowers I sent Greg to buy in Chinatown this morning.

The big party on the lanai in Abby’s building with all their friends, thrown with Audrey’s family — Abby’s bestie from kindergarten through their senior year of college — seventeen years in a row of school together, seeing each other through triumph and trauma. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

8 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

Summer arrived in Oregon yesterday with clear skies, summer winds blowing immature cherry stems off the trees, and temps creeping steadily upward into the high 80s. It’s swimsuit weather. Play outside weather. Linger in the sunshine weather. Spring will be back with a vengeance on Monday, though, if the weather reports are to be believed. It’ll be rainy day followed by rainy day followed by rainy day and repeat. Oregon’s never really been one for adhering to dates on a calendar for determining what season it is. Sometimes we rip through winter, spring and summer in a single day. But for now, and through Sunday, Diary, you can find me outside, which is my Happiest Place.  ...  read more