In preparation for celebrating the new year, Bryan found a website which gave the times for cities around the world. He was fascinated to think that some countries had already entered 2022 and some would lag behind us in their celebrations. And what did he do with that information? It took him several days, but he wrote down EVERY city, country and time in his notebook. He is very serious about his “work” and daily jotted down information from this site.

To what end? I’m not sure. But it gives him a feeling of a purpose and a goal to be reached. He is still living at home and has not yet returned to work out of an abundance of caution. Reluctantly, he agreed to take a bit of a work break due to the resurgence of the Omicron variant.

I must pray for patience during this time with Bryan at our home. He is so eager to return to his apartment and start back up with work that he must ask me, on average, six to ten times a day when he can go back “home”. As I type now, he just came down for the fourth time this morning. When I appear exasperated, he gets upset with me.

I tried to calmly explain that I do not know when his roommate would feel better and symptom free from his Covid breakthrough case. However, I did try to get him to realize that it may be a while until that happens. In speaking with the family doctor this morning, she expressed concern that most cases she has heard of have had lasting symptoms for four-five weeks once exposed. Bryan wants this concretely quantified. ‘Well, when exactly will that be?’ ‘Son, I have no clue! I’m not sure when your roommate will feel better, but it looks like that might be longer than we thought.’

‘Well, when can I go back to work. Mom? ‘ So, I had to give him a specific date so that he could at least count on that concrete goal. ‘January 18th,’ I said. ‘And if you are still not back in your apartment, we will drive you to work so that you do not have to ride on Bucks County Transport which is still pretty risky.’

The passage of time is such a difficult concept, especially for those similar to Bryan who need to deal in absolutes, not abstractions.

I’m trying to look on the bright side of things with this S-L-O-W passage of time. It will give me an opportunity to schedule Bryan’s days with time for piano practice for his upcoming recital, teaching him how to make food journal entries towards a healthier lifestyle in 2022, get him to walk with me daily and to record his exercise as well. And, just maybe, when he returns to his apartment, he will have learned a few good habits about time management and what constitutes an important use of his time.

In the meantime, God grant me patience and kindness! I must remember Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”