[Magdalen] Where are we

[Suzie Buchanan]

I'm still here, but I rarely post as I usually read on my phone and hate
typing on it!  When I sit at my computer, it is almost always work time.
I've been rector here in Lenoir NC for three years now.  It's a great
parish, and I love the area.  We stopped in-person worship in mid-March,
did a few outdoor distanced services in person this summer, started
preparing for return to in-person indoor for October, but then our local
COVID numbers skyrocketed, so we remained online only since then.  From the
very beginning we've had weekly online worship (pre-recorded), zoom coffee
hours, zoom bible study and other meetings (book group, committees).
Mostly I've been recording from home, although we have also delivered
communion to everyone's home once a month (8 times now) and I record the
consecration at the church altar.  Vestry drops the little white cupcake
sized to-go boxes off on people's doorsteps - about 80 boxes for 145
people.  Longest drive is to one parishioner who lives  Our organist
records prelude, postlude and two hymns for me to use each week.  It's been
kinda fun to see our usual 8:00 no-music part of the congregation reaching
out for help in figuring out how to sing along with the Gloria.  That
prompted me to adjust how I put the words up on the video - timing the
phrases with the music.  (All words for the liturgy are on the screen,
including the readings, so nobody has to download or find an online
bulletin).  I'm really really tired of all the computer work I do - and
miss being WITH people.  Tried to visit one of our parishioners at the
hospital yesterday (she had a small stroke this past week), and couldn't
even get access for a prayer.  She moves to a rehab facility tomorrow,
where she will be quarantined for 14 days (but I'm told I will be able to
have "window visits").  But we've had good phone connections across the
parish (everyone gets a phone call every week from a vestry member) and the
vestry meets with me on zoom weekly.  It could be worse.  We've only had
one person die from COVID, but have had a number of other funerals where
only a few family members could be present.  That has been the hardest
piece - even harder than missing out on Sundays together.  We currently
have a handful of parishioners who have recently tested positive, but
everyone seems to be hanging in with fairly mild symptoms.

My husband Rick and I are happy to no longer be in a commuter marriage.  We
did that for my first two years here, but last August he moved to NC and we
bought a house.  SO glad to have had that landed before 2020 hit!   He was
able to keep his job with the IT department of Union Presbyterian Seminary
- he had been working on their main campus in Richmond, VA but now works
mostly remotely (moved to data management) but also once a week at their
Charlotte, NC campus (about an hour away from us).  Access to great
internet was one of the home buying requirements because of his work, and
it has certainly come in handy for me this year.  And our home is large
enough that we have been able to set up separate work-from-home spaces for
each of us.  And had room for me to isolate in house when he came down with
a mild case of COVID.  I have managed to remain healthy and he's completely
recovered.

My beloved yellow Lab, Kodi, died on Ash Wednesday after about a half year
of serious heart issues and a number of surgeries that provided some very
good final months, but eventually couldn't fix his issues.  Our two year
old black Lab, Tuckerman, has been very "off" since then, and has been just
beside himself with happiness when we added a chocolate Lab puppy to our
household six weeks ago.  She is now 14 weeks old and a delight.  "Abigail
Foments a Rebellion" is her official AKC name.  And she lives up to it.
Abby is a bright spot in our home for all of us during this hard time.

Today is Christmas Cookie baking day - so I'd better get back to the
kitchen for the next batch.

Blessings to you all
Suz