Is it even meant to return to normal — or is this supposed to be leading us somewhere else?

It looks exactly like the Shabbos after Purim. A blue bottle of Bartenura sits on one end of the table, and colorful taffies and Zillions on the other end, next to their respective consumers. 

I cannot control the intake of candy because the colorful packages spill everywhere; the sweets are in bags, boxes, or spread out on the floor as the children haggle and trade. It’s okay, in a few days I will place a ban on nosh. For now, it’s keeping them busy.

But it doesn’t totally feel like the Shabbos after Purim. It feels like we are suspended somewhere in time, unable to imagine Pesach being less than months away, struggling to fill our minds with the usual post-Purim thoughts and calculations. Instead, other thoughts race through my head:

Will we have food for Pesach?

Will I have tissues next week?

Will my cleaning lady come? Do I even want her to come?

How will I stay sane with the kids home from school?

How will we stay safe?

Which country is taking the best approach?

What is going on??! Will life ever return to normal?

Is it even meant to return to normal — or is this supposed to be leading us somewhere else, somewhere new, and much, much better than we can ever imagine?