Hi everyone!
Among the myriad of things that I miss from being in the store, chatting with our customers is the one that I miss the most. Now that the store is temporarily closed, I thought short (-er than this one) blog entries would be a great way for me to continue feeling connected to all of you and introduce new customers to the website. Yes, it would be a one sided chat, but according to Scott that’s my favorite kind.
As I write to you with humor and lightness, I’m not for a second forgetting the tragedy and hardship that this pandemic is causing in the lives of many of our friends, neighbors and strangers (who don't feel like such strangers anymore). I constantly feel gratitude for our health and try to find silver linings. I’d like to start by telling you about a day at Maison Bienstock Quarantine.
I read somewhere that a schedule is important for one’s state of mind, even if you are not working. With that, I immediately scheduled about 12 mini-meals a day and worked everything else around them. Here’s what it looks like:
I wake up and get coffee and cereal and get right back into bed. Laptop on and first stop is to my favorite blogger SFGirl and then on to peruse Instagram to check in on my favorite Quarantine-easing sites including- samyoukilis and samsonthedood.
I’ve started to meditate on Headspace. And if you know me at all, you know that my keeping still for ten minutes is a bloody miracle. But this Quarantine seemed like the perfect time to introduce it into my life. In many ways, days are slower, which makes being still a little easier. And I must admit that I’m feeling the benefits.
I watch Governor Cuomo religiously every day and worship him. I’m a self-declared Cuomosexual (watch this), He is being the leader we need and the country could use. It's interesting how the pandemic has brought out the politicians' true selves. The great, bad and the terrible.
Circling back to the aforementioned 12 mini meals a day and working quite successfully towards the ‘Quarantine 19 lbs’, I have done exactly two work out videos in the past six weeks. Neither time was too pretty. As the others are high-fiving each other on the screen, I'm on the floor in a fetal position. Speaking of positions, the one activity I do enjoy is yoga. I’ve been taking the great online yoga classes led by my super talented friend, Mindy Bacharach http://www.mindybacharach.com/. They feel just right.
I go from night pajamas to day pajamas. Zippers and make-up have become a thing of the past, which, I must confess, feels rather freeing. However, something interesting happened a while back. For the first few weeks, wearing my jewelry felt somewhat frivolous, but one day, I was getting on a zoom chat with a friend and, just on a whim, decided to put on one of my favorite pieces, the Acanthus Aquila constellation necklace. I immediately felt slightly transformed and more grounded. A (good) part of my pre-quarantine self was back. So, yes, I could have given you a hundred reasons to accessorize during ‘normal’ times but these days, I have one. Do it yourself.
I have started cooking, which is something new and crazy considering there used to be a symphony of microwave beeps when I would get home from work. My subscription to the NYTimes cooking site is well worth it and while I continue to have butter, flour and garlic in my pantry, the oven is on.
It keeps me grounded to do something creative every day. I’ve been painting, rather badly. But my family lies to me encouragingly. Blik online has a great selection of paints and inexpensive linen canvases. I use acrylic paint which is so much more forgiving than oil paint. And Abstract all the way. There are no mistakes, just self- expression.
I also ‘try’ to get out most days. Central Park has always been my sanctuary and never more than now. And Nature has gone above and beyond to gift us the most beautiful Spring. The erratic temperatures feel appropriate for the times.
The 7pm applause is the highlight of my day. My wooden spoon is battered to pieces from my enthusiastic beating of my pot. I sometimes stop hitting my pot, just to hear the sound of my neighbors around me. Within that applause for our Health and Essential workers, I hear more. I hear a celebration of being alive, of being together, of being New Yorkers and of being fighters. Each and every one of us.
I miss you all and remember we are Alone-together.
Love and hugs,
Ruth.
