By Anita Garner
My new book released a few months ago and at the same time a series of personal events happened alongside the universal one, the pandemic. For a while appearances that were meant to be in person looked fine until cancellations began again for the second time. I’ll be talking about “The Glory Road: A Gospel Gypsy Life” from the corner where my computer resides.
It’s time to revive still-workable parts of the plan. Zoom it is. I’m a Baby Zoomer (sorry) but even I know what needs to be done before the connection is made. I do it but then I change it.
My friend, Karin is the opposite. She also knows what needs to be done, knows what time to do it, has her routine down and is always butt-in-the-chair on time, smiling and looking great. She’s a heavyweight in her field who never leaves things to chance. Preparing for a discussion with a board of directors about a new contract, you can bet she’s done her research on the organization before all the faces click into place on her screen. Then there’s her personal ritual she describes this way:
“Hair fluffed up. Makeup on. Outfit of the day in favorite colors, spritz of Chanel. Go!”
Here’s me getting ready: Change out of plaid flannel shirt or a faded tee shirt from long ago into something that looks like a grown-up might wear it, something with buttons. Spritz water on the cowlick that recently arrived to change what was meant to be a new hairstyle but now must be adjusted because of that piece that sticks up in front. Move the monitor. Move it back. Become fixated on the background that’s showing. Get up and move the chotchkes on the bookshelves. Now engrossed in re-arranging the entire shelf. Back to the chair by the desk by the window. The light has changed. Change position again.
The call is delayed, leaving time to look at the background again, not so much for the sake of the people on the other side of Zoomland but because it’s the first time I’ve seen the room like this. Some of it I like but most things would look better on a different shelf. Mental notes about putting this over there and that over here.
Back in my seat just before the new start time. Lessons have been learned about Zoom backgrounds but now my family is moving into a new home where I’ll assess and re-assess the view I wish to present on the next call. Admit I will never be as good at this as Karin.
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