Going Forward/Going Back

I discovered a rough writing prompt from last year as I began my January ‘tidy up my life’ process, starting with sorting out my desk. I chose to respond to the concept of ‘going back’.  Looking through the rearview mirror at that moment in time, when we were in a fleeting happy post-vaccination New Era, only drives harder my thoughts on that day--

June 2021

Is there such a thing as going back? I think not. Once we move forward everything rearranges, the universe shifts, and that one unique moment is forever gone. In so many ways, this past year proves the impossibility of going back. We may feel life is ‘back to normal’ but our normal is now the new one. Normal is not wondering what to do with this pile of masks. Normal is not wondering when the next shoe will drop, as if this momentary happy bubble of hugs, and smiles seen (our eyes have been doing all the heavy lifting), and of meals and laughter shared without worry of proximity, and back to hugging some more, is guaranteed. Because we now know that…..

And then the prompt time was over. Pencils down.  What in the world did I think we knew? I can’t imagine finishing that sentence today. I know that masks are the least of my worry. My eyes will still work overtime to convey every emotion I want to share.  I think my next move might be looking at the other side of the prompt. Going Forward. Hmmmm…. And pencils down.