I am sure I am not the only one who is sitting here in November thinking….”how is it possible that we are still thick in the middle of this?”. I remain, after all of these months still taken aback as I see everyone in masks, feeling like we are in the middle of some unimaginable pandemic movie of my nightmares.
When the pandemic first started and we were watching our brave Italian friends cooped up in their apartments and as Americans started to see empty toilet paper and hand sanitizer shelves…. my own family faced tragedy. The day after I purchased my first batch of emergency cleaning products, I received the call you never want to get. My darling, dearly , DEARLY loved brother had been rushed to Johns Hopkins and had stopped breathing on the way. Without more than a thought of ”where is my purse?”, I jumped in my car, drove to the airport, and boarded a plane to get to his side as fast as humanly possible. My brother Henry was my person. He was all of our person in the Thorn family. He was our heart and soul, our wet your pants laughing comedian, our biggest fan, our biggest teaser, our fiercest protector, and our most hilarious and steadfast team cheerleader. He was in Johns Hopkins on life support. I had to get there as fast as I could. For the first few days of his stay, they thought that maybe Henry had COVID-19, the first case to come to Hopkins. After days of severe visiting restrictions and the need to wear PCP equipment to hold Henry’s hand in his special room, the causes of his condition were determined and COVID ruled out. We would loose my award winning perfect big brother, we would also escape COVID ourselves due to his non contagious, non virus related medical emergency diagnosis. We would also, before the end, get a birds eye view of one of the best hospitals in the world, preparing for the worst. We watched from inches away, the A team preparing for battle. I will forever have the greatest admiration for health care workers, the sacrifices they have made during this pandemic, and the price their families have paid. This same admiration flows from my being for first responders, front line workers, food providers, essential workers, teachers and school officials. These heroic people are our angels on earth.
When I returned from Johns Hopkins in early March, I was shell shocked and horrified by the loss of my brother. While the world prepared for lockdown with impending concern, I was frozen and speechless. As a normally micromanaging and hovering mother, the on the regular, unsolicited Dear Abby, advice spewing creature of my childrens’ nightmares….I went silent. I would look at my husband with big brown pleading eyes and he would assure me they were all fine. My father was a prepared sailor, a WWll ambulance driver, and an insurance company executive. I was trained and genetically prepositioned to have my little army ready for battle, unexpected doom, and any emergency which required non-perishable rations and Twizzler. I was made for this job and I completely was not there, when the calling came. Thank God, Don and I raised equally equipped kids who knew exactly what to do without that harassing mother woman texting disaster preparation plans. They have been rockstars throughout this global nightmare.
When we left our home in Florida in the end of March, I filled our car with our college age baby, my business, our dogs, and my beloved hubs. We left our summer clothes behind because they didn’t fit in the car. I was sure I would be back for them in a few weeks. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that today, on the morning before Thanksgiving, that I would find myself here.
Here is in an inn in Bluffton, South Carolina. That baby and my husband are sleeping soundly in the room while I type. Other loved ones are minutes away asleep at my sister’s house. The rest of our loved ones are scattered around the country, Canada and London, respecting International travel bans, protecting health and following travel restrictions with our support and admiration. Those of us who have come, have come to honor my brother, who died in a time in history when funerals, memorial services, and celebrations of loved ones are impossible. Those of us who have come, have come with those who could not come, in our hearts. This week, we will celebrate the biggest heart and most hilarious spirit. In a tiny way, we will honor our biggest cheerleader.
It would be easy this year to ignore the title of my blog post and revert to dwelling on the horror our family, our country, and our globe have experienced the last few months. The loss of life, jobs, income, homes, and normalcy has taken a huge toll on humanity everywhere. I especially worry about the impact it has had on both children and mental health. I also am riveted by the plight of our heroes, many of them everyday people, who have risen past the horror into the helping position. I am cheering for our volunteers who are feeding families, I am cheering for our visionaries who see the problems and find the solutions. High five to those of you who are seeking out elderly neighbors and making sure they are okay! Bravo to those of you who are standing up to inequality and caring about others besides yourself. Thank you to those of you who are protecting our planet.
In a year without international adventures I am turning my eye towards home and community, and simple pleasures. Here are 10 things off the top of my head I am thankful for. Please feel free to add your own in the comments!
Those blessed souls who create television shows and movies and put them on our screens with magical systems like Netflix, Acorn, Hulu, and On Demand. If I could bake you a pie, I would. You have both kept me sane and also kept me out of my family’s hair. We all thank you!
Let’s hear it for the clean beauty gurus. I learned so much the past few months regarding clean beauty. As someone who doesn’t dye my hair or alter my face, I am all about good moisturizer and cleanser, gorgeous lip color and fabulous mascara. Since I am not putting chemicals on my hair or in my skin I have taken a big interested in what is going on my skin. I learned about my favorite products this year from beauty counter representative @ktschrader, blogger @nan.philips, and @indiaamory sharing what was in her beautiful pouches. Thank you ladies!
Drew Barrymore. Drew has been a shining light during the lockdown. Happy, cheerful, honest, encouraging. For kicks, read her blog post about her zoom meeting which went very, very wrong. Every parent needs to know…. they are not alone juggling kids and work.
The Southern Coterie. Thank you so much ladies for bringing amazing content and educational programs to your membership. I learned more during the last few months about running my business than I dreamed possible.
Rita Konig. Holy mother of God. If any of you know Rita will you please tell her there was a crazy woman stuck on top of a mountain in Vermont quarantining half the summer soaking up every word she said during her Create Academy course!! I feel so smart now!! Plus she justified all my life long luxury shop indulgences and antique hoarding!!! LOVE YOU RITA! I am dying to start my next house project!
My girlfriends. Sitting outside with you this summer was my bread and butter. I am so grateful to each one of you. XOXO ROCK ON “HOT MOMS”! I love you!
Safe cars. I have driven more these past 8 months than ever before. If I could grant a wish, it would be that everyone have safe transportation. I am so grateful to have been able to travel in a bubble to deliver children, visit my mother, and see pretty sights during a trying time. I have always loved a Sunday drive. Now more than ever I appreciate just going for a ride, looking out the window and admiring your vegetable gardens or leaf piles as we go on our merry way. You just know, this is going to be the year of the holiday light displays, right?! Tis the season to be tacky. Bring it on!!
Facetime. Thank you so much to whoever invented this magical product and brought it to every device I have. As a visual mother, who wants to look at her grown children, this product has brought me joy and kept me sane. So grateful to look at my babies.
People providing food and water. Right now in our little community in Vermont volunteers and donors are working tirelessly to provide food supplies, and holiday meals for friends in need. This is happening all around our country. Our friends at @kenyadrylandseducation fund are working tirelessly to provide Northern Kenyans with food needs and clean drinking water. The schools are closed and students are home with their families. The loss of school meals is crippling.
I am so grateful to my father Bill Thorn. He has been gone for several years but his heart beats loudly and lovingly in mine. It is because of him that I am so grateful and I admire people who do generous and kind things. He was so observant of those doing good in the world, he was both complimentary and appreciative. He did funerals really well, he loved his family, and he often had a little happy Winnie the Pooh like humming going on at the dinner table as he ate something delicious. I will spend the next few days striving to honor his beautiful soul and his amazing son.
I send off this Thanksgiving wish to all of you. May your souls feel love. My you find little things to bring you great joy during this holiday season, may you connect either purposefully or accidentally with someone else who needs joy. And may you feel peace and enjoy pie.
I am grateful for you, dear reader.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Tricia
