Our Coronavirus Story Part Two
Whew, California just issued a statewide Stay at Home order. So our higher level of staying at home due to my asthma and chronic health challenges is now the expectation for everyone in the state. All 40 million residents. It’s surreal.
We had a strange moment where we realized that we had been not going out for anything for the last 6 days. Only six days? It feels like far longer. Every day is a rush of cascading news and rising numbers. We learn statistics about who is more vulnerable. And read a flurry of potentially wrong or misleading information. All while we’re in a limbo which, currently, they now say could last three-eighteen months. I told my kids that I had prepared for two weeks with pasta and cereal and snacks. I hadn’t even thought to prepare for MONTHS.
The good news is that we have friends that can bring supplies to the house. Though research this week found that the virus can live on surfaces for longer than previously thought. So now I worry about anything being brought into the house (not just people). We’re wearing gloves and putting things into the garage for days before bringing into the house. It’s scary times.
The news is filled with anxious concerns about how many people will need hospital care over the next days, weeks, and months. They don’t have enough masks or protective equipment. We’re doing our part by staying home. We have Anika’s friend that is part of the family that moved in with us last week since she didn’t have wifi for distance learning at her home. She’s not having sleepovers- she’s with us for the long haul. That’s the challenge in these times, that kids still want to hang out with friends, which isn’t going to keep anything from spreading around. So we talked a long time about strategies before our social distance implementation. We are all doing our best with circumstances that change dramatically even within the course of a day.
It’s so much to take in and process and understand. It’s high anxiety and high stakes. And the world a week ago looks like a faraway shore. Even commercials look like strange other-worlds where people travel and hug and browse stores or sit in restaurants for meals. Or stand near one another. All things which feel remote and strange from this new land.
At the same time, nature surprised us with unexpected snow. We had a surreal moment realizing that it didn’t matter how much snow fell on a Sunday evening. Snow on school days didn’t matter in the least. We didn’t speculate about whether it would be enough snowfall to cancel school. Because school was canceled anyway. It’s little reflections like this that somehow bring the gravity of the situation home in a stark and unsettling way. These changes take our breath away when we least expect it.
Personally, I enjoy her choice of footwear in the snow. Holo-slides for the win :)
We take time to appreciate everyday beauties. The surprise snow was dramatically different after spring-feeling sunshine the week before. We enjoyed romping around the backyard in the snow. I took photos of winter fairies for Forest Fairy Crafts. Ian cooked ramen with his “perfect eggs.” We tried Popin Cookin hamburgers. I filmed timelapses of clouds overhead. We watched Twitch streams of Call Me Kevin on Saint Patrick’s Day. We’re marathoning the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Last night we watched Frozen 2.
Even with the heightened drama, ordinary minutes fill ordinary hours. I am so grateful that we have the ability to isolate here. The journey ahead will be long. But we’re one day closer to the other side where that far shore is closer, and we can go back out to all the ordinary things we took for granted one week ago.
Wishing you good health.
Days Home: 2-4
Number of cases in the United States: Passed 1000 ( I forgot to write it down and it’s rising fast. Supposedly more tests are available which makes the numbers rise with staggering speed)
First case reported in Nevada County
White House advised people not to gather in groups of 10 or more
Spring Break gatherings on the beaches in Florida (way more than 10 people)
San Francisco started Shelter in Place guidance which expects everyone to stay home except for essential services
Events: School was supposed to start distance learning on Wednesday. Canceled for the week on Tuesday due to logistics with implementation. Now supposed to start on Monday.
