A Literal City of Ghosts

How funny is it that I popped in the audio version of Victoria's Schwab's City of Ghosts while completing some household tasks during these housebound times?  No, really.  I found myself reading City of Ghosts while going for a drive for some essential groceries looking out into my neighborhood that has become a veritable city of ghosts in and of itself.

That being said, I am truly thankful that so many people in my community are staying home as was directed by the government.  But during those few times when I venture out, whether it be for some exercise or for some groceries, I find myself walking through a ghost town.  There is hardly anyone out, and if they are we are at least 6 feet apart.  In addition, I've tried greeting my neighbors with a friendly "Good Morning!" or a simple "Hello!" while going for a neighborhood walk with my kids only to be ignored by them time and time again.

I have to admit that all of this is rather unsettling.

It's almost like we've all become ghosts that cannot see one another.

In Schwab's book City of Ghosts, that is exactly what happens when Cassidy's best friend Jacob tries to communicate with others.  Apart from Cassidy, no one else sees or hears Jacob because it just so happens that Jacob is indeed a ghost.

Schwab's book was a nice read that brings you into a world where humans and ghosts are connected through "the veil".  Although it's meant for younger readers I'll be recommending this book for my daughters to read over the next few weeks.  The cool thing about this book is that Cassidy and Jacob have the capacity to walk in and out of the afterlife through "the veil", allowing them to encounter a number of ghosts who either are stuck in the "in between" and cannot move on, or choose to stick around for their own varied reasons.

Kinda cool, no?  I think so anyway, especial because here I am again, reading yet another book that has a bizarre way of connecting with what's actually going on in my life right now.

Let me explain...

Not only am I busy working away at this blog during these uncertain times, I'm also working away at suddenly teaching all of my classes from a distance (something I've never done before and I'm not entirely sure is going to be 100% effective for students - but that's another story all together).

As for the rest of my time at home during this pandemic I too have been visited by ghosts - well kind of...

You see, with all this time at home what is one to do?  As for me, I'm not one for watching too much TV or movies.  I prefer keeping busy in a way that makes me feel productive.  But there's only so much laundry, cooking, and cleaning that a gal can handle!  Do you feel me?  So, in these quiet times at home I've found myself revisiting old hobbies that in recent years I've not had the time to participate in.

I've been knitting, sewing, planting, trying new (and old) recipes and simply finding as many ways as possible to be creative and to stretch our family resources as much as possible. 

And as I've revisited these old hobbies I've been truly enjoying myself.  I'd forgotten how much pleasure I derive from them and how relaxing I find it.  But most surprisingly, while doing this I've been visited by the spirit of my grandmother who introduced me to so many of the old hobbies that I'm now revising.

As I sit at the sewing machine or spend time rolling up balls of yarn that have kept silent in the bin downstairs patiently waiting for me, I've been transported to another time and place altogether.  I've had vivid flashbacks of old times growing up at home, sitting next to my grandmother in her room while she sews.  I can hear the buzz of the machine working frantically and see it so clearly even as I sit here typing.  One of the most vivid visions is the black and white gingham housecoat she would wear, covered in threads from her sewing, and the fuzzy tan slippers that she wore religiously to keep her feet toasty in this frigid country.

As distant as I am from my family and friends right now, this quiet time at home has given me a chance to reconnect with my grandmother.  I cannot say that I've seen her ghost like Cassidy sees Jacob's ghost, but I'm certainly being visited by her spirit.

Although this house bound time has come with its costs, I have to admit that I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get quiet enough to reconnect to my past.  To feel my grandmother's presence once again.

Even better, I've been passing on these skills to my daughters as they stay home with me day after day.  That makes me feel like my grandmother's spirit is living on through them.  What a wonderful gift.

Even if the world out there seems like a literal city of ghosts the reality is that we are never alone.  You simply need to make the most of these challenging times and reconnect to that which has been lost or forgotten.

Regardless of whomever and whatever are you reconnecting with while spending quiet time at home, I hope that it has been keeping you good company.