February and the first few weeks of March have been a blur. Not because I was so “busy” as the world says, but because I think that is how things feel when the world shifts, even if it is temporary. You look back and you can see a few landmarks, but it is all kind of smooshed together and your brain has a tough time sorting through it all.

My husband and I spent the first week of February on a fabulous, alone time, beach and relaxation soaked trip in Puerto Rico. We had never been and thought it sounded like a grand adventure. It was. There was amazing food and drinks, lots of alone time on beaches and pools, and lots of exploring and adventuring. It was perfect. Then we came back and eased into our day to day rhythms, and happy to be back at them, only to find ourselves here. Where everyone simultaneously is, but also sort of alone, together.

I am sure everyone’s inboxes are saturated with everyone that you ever interacted with commercially telling you what they are doing to protect you and them and what you should be doing. It has gotten to the point where I am questioning when I haven’t heard from someone. As my friend said, why does Martha Stewart want me to get Coronavirus?

In any event, I don’t plan to muse on the virus or handwashing at all. I will say that I have felt it important to temporarily suspend homemade bread deliveries to people I don’t know in light of current events. I would feel awful if I spread something and I don’t want to make people uncomfortable. I figure having an unknown person knocking on your door with baked goods about now is about as unwelcome and socially unaware as it gets. So, I imagine I will be doing my deliveries for the next few…whatevers…to my family. They need it right now too.

Which really brings me to the point of this rambling. We are all in such uncertain territory here that it takes a moment of reflection and digging a bit deeper. My kids’ school is closed for four weeks, and on the surface, they are super delighted by this turn of events. However, there is no doubt that this a disruption to routine. So here is the deal, everyone, even people who like the novel (no pun intended), like routine. Whether it is the way you wash your face, you fix your coffee, your favorite lunch, or your favorite spot to sit in church, a routine is comforting. Hello, monkey wrench. When routines are disrupted, we are all a bit frayed which means more grouchiness, more snapping back, more impatience. So along with a little bread baking for my family, I am hoping I can also bake in (pun intended) a bit more tenderness, graciousness, and patience. I don’t want them to be feeling alone in this. I want them to feel welcomed at home. I think I will start with some St. Patrick’s day approved Irish Soda Bread. It is truly the best soda bread—I am going to say ever—without a hint of self-reproach. Or maybe it will be my (finally posted) Buttermilk Biscuits this morning, tall and fluffy with lots of butter and jam. They are definitely worth it too. I highly encourage everyone to give either of these a shot for a little extra tenderness and love at their own homes.

Finally, everyone will no doubt be coming up with great strategies in the coming weeks for how to social distance without killing our human need for connection, and support those more vulnerable in our society. I plan to scour these for anything that supports my mission–more love, more graciousness, more connection. If I come across any that are really working well, I am sure I will share them. After all, that’s what humans do. We share and do life together.