covid-19

Getting By😟VS Enjoying Life😊🎉…..

~ dawnlovely ~ 2 Comments

On a warmer night, I stopped to take a picture of this lovely, cozy, outside restaurant seating. This is the first evening, I have seen these seats empty. The beautiful lamp caught my eye, and it warmed my heart. This was before the “revised rules” were implemented, and folks chose to sit outside. As summer ended, it was nice to see folks enjoying the warmer weather, that was surely on it’s way out.

Spending my money weekly, eating out, having my dinner cooked by a stranger, but with a beautiful ambience, is not worth the money, to me. I consider it more of a treat, not an everyday thing, but I see it’s the norm for a lot of folks around here. Granted, this is an area popular for it’s restaurants.
I’d rather prepare my own food and create a beautiful ambience at home. All you really need is nice lighting and candles, to create that cozy mood. The temperature is slowly dropping, and It’s easy to pull off, and you decide what works for your budget.

I have learned a very valuable life lesson observing this neighborhood since the shutdown. Although a cloudy question mark looms over all of us, folks seem genuinely content. The majority of the population didn’t seem unhappy while adjusting to the changes. For the most part, folks were extremely polite in the stores and in the mile long social distanced-spaced lines.

After the first restrictions were lifted in the summer, folks looked very happy to finally be free to enjoy the sunshine and spend their money in the neighborhood.
The neighborhood felt energetic, and full of enjoyment.
It almost felt as though the virus didn’t exist, minus the masks, and gaps between us.

I noticed the difference in the sense of priorities, compared to mine. I was very happy that I survived, and got by to make it to the summer. I was simply happy to have some food stocked up, to have my basic needs met and to be able to be there for my family/friends.

I did not feel that much different than I did in March, except a little more blessed. Getting by was enough for me to feel happy and enjoy what I have. I have more to say on this topic but I’ll continue in my next post.
Have a safe and productive day:)


Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.


Love and Respect,


~Dawn Lovely


Follow me@:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

My Social Conscience & 🏪💅🏽😷 Businesses Holding On💵….

~ dawnlovely ~ 1 Comment

I finally treated myself to a manicure and pedicure, and I actually felt guilty for it. I figured, “they” are probably going to completely shut down ALL nail salons VERY soon, so I might as well go ahead and get one. I haven’t treated myself to this type of pampering for a year, and once covid hit, it wasn’t on the top of my list of priorities. I was trying to preserve my money, and prioritize. I practically had just arrived to this area to stay, still settling and budgeting. I’ve always been a do-it-yourself type of gal, and I take care of my feet, but there’s nothing like a professional mani and pedi. It’s one of the little, and only luxuries that I give myself.

I had never visited this nail salon before, and the employees could not see my face, and I could not see theirs. I like to properly introduce myself when I enter a new business, it’s only proper etiquette. I also want the employees to get to know me, a little at least, so we are familiar with one another. It was super weird having us all completely masked up and anonymous.

I was very uneasy as the esthetician worked on my feet, seeing her wearing that heavy plastic face shield, and a mask underneath. It looked like waaay too much, plus the plastic barrier between us, seemed unneeded and unnecessary. While I was masked up, and trying to relax and enjoy the chair massage, it was hard to breathe. I told myself to relax, so I wasn’t tense, but my thoughts were running everywhere. It is not healthy or normal to breathe in the air you exhale for hours and hours at a time. We all know this, however collectively we are not questioning it.

I have been fortunate so far because I work from home, so I’m not masked up outside for eight hour shifts. While the esthethitian looked geared up as though she’s about to exterminate termites, it made me feel claustrophobic. I didn’t feel good about that. I did not see her pull down her mask not ONCE while doing my pedicure or manicure. I found that crazy, and very unsafe. I actually felt awkward pulling up my medical mask to take a few gulps of water, and that was the only time my mask came off my face.

As she finished up my manicure, I thanked her again, as I did a few times during her work. Although I am paying for a service, I appreciate when I am given Great service, plus a positive attitude. I gave her a very good tip, while thinking, this may be the last week this business is open.

Money can not make up for the energy and effort it takes to maintain Covid-19 regulations, on top providing next to perfect service. I feel empathy on a different level for these service providers, the threat of closing looms over their heads as winter approaches.
I am not of the “mid-town” lifestyle, although I grew up at one point in this area. For some, their family owned business is ALL they know, and they have lived here for generations.

I feel as though I am a silent spectator in all of this, but I am learning one of the most important lessons of my life. My conscience bothers me the most, because I know overnight poverty and struggle is not the norm for the demographic around here. I can pretty much adjust to most difficult situations. The life that the cards the Lord has dealt me, has helped me be able to do that.

Watching slowly as businesses hold on for dear life, businesses that have been the fabric of the city, landmarks of this part of the city, truly bothers me.
I trust my gut, my spirit, and I know none of this adds up. It just doesn’t, and I have only scratched the surface.

My mani/ pedi turned out lovely, by the way. I do not know the next time I will be able to get one, so for that I am truly Thankful.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.

Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely



Follow me@:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W

Just Some Thoughts: In The Meantime…. 💯🤔☝🏼

~ dawnlovely ~ Leave a comment

I had to put the continuation of my last post on pause, there’s some thoughts I need to share…

Depending on where you live, the social climate outside may be different, it’s been calm over here, and I’m fortunate for that. Keeping up with the local news, the worldwide press conferences, ALL of the “unrest” of the people, the misleading mainstream media, the controversy, the chaos, the blatant lies, and the truth can be overwhelming.

I one hundred percent understand the anger, frustration and pain of the folks who are peacefully protesting, in general, folks are fed up! Covid-19 quarantine stress, money troubles, many other factors have come into play.
I’ve been keeping a level head for the most part, but I did have a good long cry after watching a woman cry because her local store was destroyed. She wanted to purchase groceries for her children, and had no where else to go. There was another elderly woman who cried the same, because she had no clue where she would get her medication from…

The fires really blew my mind, I was gazed, lost in the blaze. I have seen buildings on fire in real life before, but I have never seen a whole neighborhood on fire. I have only lived in Western society, and have been fortunate to never have had to experience war. Watching these events on livestreams, is the closest I’ve ever been. I especially worry  for the children and the elderly, they are defenseless. Can you imagine being  a child, walking past the local grocery store in your neighborhood that you love to go to with your mother, and seeing it has been changed over night to a pile of ashes???
I understand history, and these events are supposed to happen, the children will live through it, as they have in the past.
The difference for me with 2020, is there’s so much conflicting information, and agendas being pushed at once.

I saw a little girl be scolded by her mother in the store for touching her mask, then touching her face by mistake. Meanwhile, only approximately thirty percent of people in the store were wearing masks, and on the street mid-town street. Don’t they say that children are less susceptible to catch the virus?

I felt sad for that little girl because there’s so much confusion and mixed messages coming from adults. On top of it, these children will not be going to school apparently until autumn. I forsee that school promise may not go through, I would not want to have to explain that to my child.

Take Care, Stay safe, and Stay tuned.


Love and Respect,

~Dawn Lovely

Follow me @:https://twitter.com/iamdawnlovely, https://t.co/wfctLWHJ1W