COVID Sucks

In some ways, Dear Fiancé and I fared pretty well this year despite COVID.

He trained for and started a new job*, and I focused on my writing in a way I never have before, meeting a delightful, kind, intelligent group of writers in the process.

We got freakin' ENGAGED. I planned a wedding!

But...

I still feel stuck. Stuck wondering when I'll be able to make my next vocational move, and literally stuck in place, getting excited about Wal-Mart trips.

Like everyone, I've had a lot less in-person social contact since COVID. FaceTime and Skype help but they're not a substitute.  

DF came into contact with someone who tested positive, and works in a high-risk environment. We've already told our families that we won't be seeing them in-person for a while. We don't know how long. 

And now, I 'm waiting to hear back about a riding lesson I have on Sundays. I'm assuming that, in the interest of being cautious, I won't be able to ride this weekend. Which may be the epitome of a "first world problem" but it still sucks.

But hey, 2021 has to be different, right? Right?

So This is Christmas - And What Is It Now?

Background: I am a Jewish convert; most of my family is Protestant and Catholic.

My family used to have a two-part Christmas - Home Christmas and Grandparents' Christmas. Christmas Day was pretty laid-back - my parents, brother, and I would have muffins and open presents in the morning in our PJs.

We rarely had anyone over. My mom doesn't like hosting parties. Christmas lunch/dinner were usually simple things - leftover Thai food, sandwiches, nachos. 

On the 26th, we got up early and drove from New England to Central Pennsylvania. When I was a little girl, both sets of my grandparents were still alive. They lived in the same town, so we'd visit my dad's parents during the day, then go to my mom's parents in the evening.

Update

Since I last posted, I went on a bit of a writing hiatus - instead of writing full-time, I've been doing a few hours a week. I've come up with a few different ideas for my characters, and folded one set of characters into the Levy House Literary Universe. Hopefully it'll all come together.

What a Year

I can't believe we're 2/3 of the way through 2020!

At this time last year, I'd started a full-time temp administrative job at a large hospital and hoped to become a full-time (permanent) administrative assistant. I was excited about having my first full-time job, and about my hourly wage. The department where I worked was full of wonderful people and did great work. I was proud to work there.

I right around the time I knew I'd be upgraded to permanent employee status, it felt like my life fell apart. My grandfather, to whom I was very close, and who I talked to at least once a week, died the same day I got the call saying we should come see him.

My anxiety and depression, which felt like they were under control, kicked up.

Last December, I made the difficult (but I think wise) decision to leave that job. It was a great job, great workplace, but it was more than I could do.

I took the next couple months to focus on getting better and rethinking what would be a good life/work balance. I decided to move in with my boyfriend in May.

Due to COVID-19, I ended up moving in sooner. Due partly to the pandemic and partly to my mental health needs, I decided to become what Boyfriend calls a "stay-at-home writer."

During NaNoWriMo, I finished a rough draft of a story I'd been writing and writing for 4 years - Mémé Knew Best. After that, I knew I could finish a novel. Since NaNoWriMo, I've written material for other stories in the MKB universe, and worked on revising the current version of MKB.

My writing group, which I found during this chaotic time, is amazing. It's a group of friends who lift each other up and send each other purple heart and sparkle emojis. Love y'all

A Line from Mémé Knew Best/Possible Tagline

 The air was thick with water, earth, horsehair, and hay. Dirty and clean all at once.

AITA: Mémé Knew Best Edition

My writing group wrote "AITA (Am I The Asshole)" style posts from the points of view of characters in our stories.

This is one from the POV of Susie Hart, our heroine's mother.

Dear Reddit,

My daughter (22) would rather live several states away in a freaking mansion than move back in with me and my husband (39) and her twin brother.

(Content note: mention of firearm)

About Me

Allison David grew up in the Boston area. She got hooked on creative writing making Disney song parodies with her best friend in middle school and writing her first novel in high school. She lives in MA with her partner and their two cats.