I made it.

TGIF!

In the late 80s and through the 90s, ABC featured four shows in the primetime block on Friday nights called TGIF. This was almost certainly the highlight of the week for my young self. My best friend and I would get together to watch the Tanners on Full House, Urkel on Family Matters (I used to do a wicked Urkel impression, by the way!), and Baby Sinclair on Dinosaurs, and that iconic roller coaster scene that opened Step by Step. We'd eat popcorn, play Mall Madness, and test out the Ouija board. I lived for Fridays.

5 o'clock

This week, I was also living for Friday. Working from home is like starting a brand new job. Everything feels unfamiliar, even though I'm in my own home, and I know my role. I'm fidgety and am having difficulty concentrating at times. Except when I'm on Teams calls with coworkers who have children or pets, it's incredibly quiet, unlike the office environment. I was so eager to get out of the office and away from the contagion that I did not have time to prepare myself for the reality of working remotely, without human contact, without the energy of others—for better or for worse. I'm mentally exhausted. I've never needed a Friday more than I do now to push reset. I wish I could be that eight-year-old kid again who could have a sleepover at her friend's house and watch Urkel. Instead, I drank a beer. Maybe there are some advantages to TGIF nearly 30 years later.

The author at work.

Today's weather reminded me that situations often change quickly. My lunchtime walk, which I so desperately needed, was cut short by rain. With a strong wind indicating the passage of a cold front, we went from 68 degrees to 38 degrees and from puddle-lined streets to dry pavement in a span of hours. Even when we know something like that is coming, it's still a jolt. So why should this transition to remote work, with less preparation and warning than the 7-day forecast, feel like anything less than a jolt?

As much as I love Fridays (and posting Urkel Dance GIFs on our Teams chat), I'm going to need to keep seeking and recognizing grace each day to push through these pandemic days.