What’s it like when the City that never sleeps, is told to go take a long, long nap? Well, our life here has changed in every possible way, and it’s been hard on all of us. I know everyone is making adjustments — but going from the speed of this city, to a complete abrupt stop feels like coming off of a moving sidewalk in the airport. You feel like your legs should still be moving.
I’m working remotely.
Lucie is doing school remotely.
We’re attending church remotely.
Felicity and Lucie get all of their therapy remotely - with Rob’s full involvement.
Huddle Up is at a stand still.
We’re home and sheltering in place, and missing so many people we would see day to day that it hurts. The first time Lucie saw her friends from school on Google Classroom, and smiled saying hi to each kiddo, I teared up feeling so sad that her childhood looks like this right now.
The first time we attended a zoom church service, the tears flowed as I thought about the uncertainty of how long this will continue, and wondered what this city will look like when it’s all over.
So many things that used to feel like such certainties, now feel so uncertain.
In my Christian walk, I have been taught that the things of this world won’t last forever, the day-to-day grind isn’t where my purpose lies, or where my joy should come from. I feel like I have agreed on those points without much thought up until now. Because up until now, that concept has really always just been “in theory”. If I lose my job, if I lose my health, if I lose my friends, then “in theory”, my relationship with Jesus can still sustain me; joy can still be found, and my purpose can still thrive beyond my circumstances.
This time we are now living in has shaken things up so much to the point where it’s not just in theory anymore. On a daily basis, I am seeing my friends lose their jobs, my husband’s company bleed out, people getting sick, some are dying, businesses are closing, schools are closing. I feel like, whether we like it or not, we are all getting a hands on understanding of just how temporal things can be in this life. While I see so many of my familiar experiences fade away, something that has risen through the debris, has been a clearer picture of just how steadfast God’s presence in our lives has always been. Even when we didn’t notice it - as we zoomed past on our moving sidewalks - he has been with us. This has all been so hard. This has all been so sad. But I can say that i am thankful for this fresh perspective, and I have been able to experience joy in the midst of all of this uncertainty because of it. And by joy, I don’t I mean I am not sad, or grieving the loss of so many things that were, I just mean that I am confident that God’s presence will remain with us through it all - comforting us and helping us.
There are some other things I am thankful for -
Thankful for this time being more hands on with Lucie and Felicity day to day.
Thankful that we have been able to pretty easily come by everything we have had need of.
Thankful for working internet.
Thankful for family walks.
Thankful for winter leading into spring, and spring leading into summer.
Thankful for big closets, that I can step into for a moment to take a breath and restart when needed.
Thankful for health.
Thankful for socially distant walks with friends and picnics in central park.
Thankful for almost 11 years in this city; thankful for this poem.
Thankful for family near and far.
Thankful for this chance to share some pictures from our lives over the past two months, and looking forward to seeing you all and hugging you real tight some day soon!
Love,
Los Hicksons
View looking south in Central Park during one of our walks
We built a fort for dinner and a family movie night
My workspace in the bedroom - Lucie and Rob made the rainbow to be part of the rainbow connection
On same days, this is what’s going on behind me lol
Felicity’s Physical Therapist sent us this pic of her view from a tele therapy session with Felicity and Rob
Felicity Day! We celebrated having our littlest love home from the NICU for a whole year!
Family Game Night with the fam from PR
Bessy even plays dress up sometimes
Care package from super thoughtful friends <3
Virtual Sleepover with family in Miami
Easter morning tradition: the girls and their Boonches Bunnies <3
NYC Blooms
Los Hicksons
We took a walk on Easter to Carl Schurz
Enjoying the spring blooms
Walks with friends - at a distance
Socially distant visits
Besties for life!
Big smiles under that mask
SOLIDS!
On an extremely blustery day, a temporary wall came down on a a building across the street, and the fire department came, so Lucie immediately suited up!
A favorite stop on our daily family walks
On another day, there were so few cars that Lucie and Rob were able to venture into the median on Park Ave and get a closer look at the gorgeous trees
We had a picnic in Central Park, and Lucie practiced social distancing by refusing to take a picture with us lol
I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - in Spanish (Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal)! It had been a goal of mine to read a full book in Spanish (for years), and this was such a fun, magical read so I’m glad I was able to. I am going to try to read through the whole series now. With everything going on, I was having a lot of trouble winding down my thoughts so that I could go to sleep. Reading books like this and Anne of Green Gables before bed, really helped.
Lucie’s class assigned everyone a letter or symbol and during the class meet the secret message was revealed: “Stay <3 Safe. We <3 You K-105!” Lucie was the “W”.
Desperate times…
Not too shabby!
Walking along the river
Bessy got a haircut too.
Walks to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park
Heading to Randall’s Island
Just stunning - and so surreal not seeing any boats or ferries.
Back at home, LEGOS have been a source of many hours of play
See?
Lucie has taken on the role of assistant coach to Rob - here they are showing their best game face
Feli is able to face out in her carrier now! Yay!
Lucie set up a birthday party for her doll, Lucie Jr.
More LEGO creations
An afternoon in the Great Lawn with friends
It was so breezy and nice that we even got this troublesome napper to sleep
Lucie picked Feli up on her own to snuggle her for a bit
Showing off her car collection!
I wanted to share a few more scenes of New York on Pause:
Dishes stored out on the communal tables in Le Pain Quotidien. I just read that they filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and plan to close over half of their stores.
I saw this on the sidewalk heading to Mount Sinai for one of Felicity’s check ups.
A notice in Central Park
Lucie and Rob walking in front of a hardware store advertising that they are selling N95 Masks.
Rob waiting in line to go to the grocery store.
Notices on our local grocery store. They have been tremendous, and have continued to replenish supplies throughout this whole difficult time. We have found pretty much everything we have needed. So thankful for them!
Our apartment building - can you see our rainbow? (And the cool art from Invader?)
Standing in the middle of Park Ave - It was a green light, when typically we would not have been able to cross as there would have been wall to wall cars.
Peace