Claudia (speaking of myself in the third person) tends to overdo – not always, sometimes she can be a slug. But on a day like yesterday, when oppressively cold weather finally leaves, she goes bonkers.
Okay, back to first person. I got up yesterday, had coffee, wrote a post, put on old clothes and was out the door without eating any breakfast and on my way to the nursery. Since Don was feeling under the weather, I had to get the plants, the produce, and stop at the pharmacy for his prescriptions. I tend to get anxious about going out into the world these days (who doesn’t) and the extra task of picking up the prescriptions added to the anxiety. I took my mask, some gloves (sometimes I wear them, sometimes I don’t, because there are two schools of thought on that) hand sanitizer, some Clorox wipes and drove to the nursery/farm stand. It didn’t start well. I parked my car. Another car pulled in next to mine. I was there first, out of the car first, and the woman in the other car proceeded to walk around her car to within two feet of me, whereupon she said, “Oh, I’m sorry.” Two feet away. Luckily, we both had on masks, but really, what the heck? She was clueless and my muttering made that my feelings clear. Inside the farm stand, she exhibited the same sort of behavior, crowding people in the aisles. It was only 9 am, but there were a lot of people there. I guess everyone felt as I did, finally freed from freezing temps. Anyway, I spent most of my time avoiding others, moving six feet away when they were clearly in their own little worlds and blithely unaware of social distancing. Same thing happened in the nursery. I always had to be the person to move away. I think people feel that if they’re wearing a mask, all other restrictions are out the window. The whole thing left me feeling tense.
Additional note: this happens in NYC even in normal times. I am always the one to move out of the way, to let people go by, as they seem to be in some world other than the reality of the crowded streets of New York.
I got the produce, took it out to the car, went back to the nursery, got what I wanted while constantly dodging people in the greenhouses – moving to another aisle to allow 6 ft between us – it was like playing dodge ball. Even an employee who was in the greenhouse restocking never made an effort to let me by. I had to stand there and wait for her to make a move that would allow me to safely pass. Exhausting. I loaded up the car, all the while avoiding people in the parking lot. Some people, I must add, were very aware of social distancing and were cordial and friendly about it. Thank goodness. Everyone had a mask on, it’s the rule here in NY, so that wasn’t an issue.
Drove to the pharmacy, called their number, told them I was outside, and a technician appeared with a mask and gloves on and dropped the bag through my window. Drove home, tried to take my mask off while driving, then proceeded to worry that I’d touched my face, tried to squeeze hand sanitizer out of a tube to put it on my face, whereupon it plopped out in a big glob onto the steering wheel.
Oh my god.
I was in the house immediately upon pulling up in the driveway, washing my hands and face. And then rewashing them several times as we unloaded produce and plants. It’s frigging exhausting and since I don’t do it very often, I am unsure of myself. Did I wash my face and hands enough? Did I make sure to disinfect my credit card, my glasses, my wallet, my whatever? (I showered as well.)
This is the new normal.
Then I moved all of the plants outside except for the four heaviest pots, which I moved to the kitchen, near the door, so that Don could take them outside without having to take too many steps. I folded the tarps and stowed them away.
Then I potted all the remaining flowers and mowed the front lawn. I had to mow because rain was on the way, and I insisted Don not partake, although toward the last third of the job, he appeared and begged me to let him mow a bit. He had sunglasses on and his eye was all better, so I relented and let him.
But I bit off a bit more than I could chew, and I was tired. Plus…allergies from mowing and bits of dandelion fluff floating in the air.
I watered all of the pots, collapsed in my chair in the den, ate some pasta that Don made for lunch and remained inert until late in the day when I realized the sun was shining on the porch so I went outside and sat on the glider in a state of bliss. What I had been yearning for was finally here.
I’m so grateful. We have this almost two acres of property to work on and enjoy. We have the porch. We have the gardens. I guess the long wait makes this even more precious.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Ooh, that very first photo of the pansies! So sweet! I just love those flowers. You certainly did have a busy, exhausting day! I think today should be a relaxing day for you – puzzle and reading! Glad to hear that Don is better. Thanks for posting!
That’s exactly what today is going to be, Ellen! Stay safe!
I have found social distancing to be so much more than staying away for other people. It has required me to re-think my practices in being with others and my expectations of how others will behave when we meet. I have found friends expectations to be different to mine when I have talked with them about it. As you have said it is the new normal and because it is new we haven’t yet established common understanding of the practice. Some people’s way of dealing with the new normal is to ignore it entirely and behave as they have always behaved. Other people are trying really hard and finding it frustrating when they find others not behaving with the same fervor. Some are more relaxed and are taking their time with the changes, some are locking themselves away to stay safe. It will take time for the majority of us to develop common practices that are acceptable to keep us safe and yet still connected. Unfortunately some people will not make the changes and so it will always be up to us to remain vigilant and alert for our peace of mind and protection. I pray you and Don stay safe and well.
Wise words, Miche! We will have to protect ourselves. Stay safe!
WORD!!! We all have different ideas of what to do. Six feet is the minimum , not maximum, in my opinion!
Whew, that was a busy, productive day!
I’m sorry about all the stress you’re experiencing over this Wuhan virus, Claudia. It must be very hard.
Because nothing has been open and we really had enough supplies,with our storage and the unwanted produce we get from the charity we volunteer for, we didn’t shop for over 6 weeks, except for food for the carnivore companion animals. We wanted others who weren’t so well prepared to have access. We don’t need to wear masks unless in a store, so we don’t and have never used any gloves. I am concerned about immune systems getting weaker because of all the germ avoidance, just when they need to be strong.
One county north of us has opened up, so Saturday we’ll be having brunch with our family doctor at our favorite restaurant where we always sit outside, and also, we’ll visit friends we haven’t seen in months on the way home. I’ve missed both activities. I think social isolation is not good for our immune systems, either.
The weather here is lovely, which is nice considering we had some very hot days that made us worried the nice weather was over. Today we have rain and that’s good because we need it!
Happy weekend to all.
Please do not call the virus by the incorrect name. Referring to it as “Wuhan” is just not right.
According to the World Health Organization, the official name is:
DISEASE:
coronavirus disease
(COVID-19)
VIRUS:
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2)”
Thank you! Stay safe!
I apologize if it offends anyone, but the virus came from Wuhan, so despite the “politically correct” (or perhaps the in response to pressure from China), decision to refer to the virus by a number, I’m not going to do that. We’ve had MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome-also a corona virus-, Ebola, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Lyme disease, Hong Kong flu, West Nile virus… and those and many more were named for their origins. There is historical precedent and I don’t recall anyone being bent out of shape by those names. I think it’s perfectly silly to avoid naming this one for its origins.
I disagree. Let’s be better and name viruses responsibly, no matter what has been done in the past. What has been the practice in the past should not define now. That’s what is being done with COVID-19 and that’s what should happen in the future.
I don’t understand why you’re considering it irresponsible to name viruses according to their origins.
I thought I explained. And I didn’t say it was irresponsible. I said ‘Let’s do the responsible thing.” Maybe I should have used the word ‘right’ thing instead. I think the origins don’t need to be a part of the name of the virus. I don’t even refer to the flu pandemic at the turn of the century that killed my two aunts as the “Spanish” flu. I bet the people in Lyme, CT would rather not have the name of their town forever attached to a tick disease.
A virus might seem to originate in a certain place, but I’m betting there’s a far more complex set of facts as to origin. I get it, sometimes these names are a sort of shorthand for the technical name. Why not simply give it a name based on the type of virus it is – as they have with this virus? I’m not a virologist, obviously, those are simply my thoughts, and apparently, the thoughts of many experts, as well. When you’re dealing with something as huge as a global pandemic, word choice is extremely important.
The point is, when a virus already has a name, as this one does: Coronavirus, COVID-19 – why call it the Wuhan virus? No one refers to it that way. The only people I have heard use this terminology are some Republicans in Congress and some conservatives and it didn’t fly. It simply isn’t the name of the virus.
As the Vice-Chair of diversity, equity, and inclusion for pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Marietta Vazquez, said, right after this virus started to be written about, Asians and Asian-Americans noticed a spike in discrimination and xenophobic attacks. “In mid-February, the Asian-American Journalists Association called on the media to be mindful and accurate in their reporting on COVID-19.” “The official name was deliberately chosen to avoid stigmatization.”
Thanks, Cara.
I agree Claudia. Calling the virus Covid-19 is not being “politically correct” it is simply being correct.
xo
Agree, Ellen. xo
With all due respect, it’s COVID-19 or the Coronavirus, not the Wuhan Virus.
I’m sorry, but I know of young people – and by that, I mean in their 20s – with perfectly healthy immune systems who have come down with COVID-19. For those of us who have partners – as you and I do – I don’t feel particularly socially isolated. I’d much rather be safe than sorry. If I do visit with someone, it will be at a distance and with a mask on. I wear a mask because I care for others.
Have a good weekend, Cara.
You did so well with staying sanitized! And the worrying about staying sanitized! And do you know what I am worrying about now? Keeping my immune system active!! When my sis was going through chemo the doctor told her to move around other people once in awhile to keep her immune system active. You know, move around healthy people, not those with colds and flu. So now how clean should I be? And with Covid, how do I keep my system active without getting sick? I guess we all should err on the side of not getting around others because no one knows if they are asystematic or not. I think I would do what you did and just come home, clean some more and sit on the glider. And I would have some pineapple juice and 7UP. And maybe weep.
I meant “Asymptomatic”, hope everyone knew what I meant.
xo
Chemo is different than this virus. What was most likely good advice for that particular situation isn’t the advice that should be followed for this virus. It’s hard, all of this, but I feel absolutely sure that isolating is the right thing to do. And those that aren’t doing that are, in my opinion, fools. You’re doing the right thing, Tana. Stay safe.
Your porch is so inviting. Hope you and Don can spend some much needed time on it today and all the tomorrows.
Have a lovely day!
Thank you, Cathy. Surprisingly, it’s very humid and near 80 degrees today. Just a few days ago, we had frost! Stay safe.
Lol….you described my experience at two garden centers perfectly! I think I’m going to stop going to stores during the senior hours. There are always at least two people who are totally oblivious to anyone else around them. They get too close…or don’t move for an awfully long time. (Makes me wonder if they’ve snuck in a quick nap.) And, it seems so crowded. I’m not sure it’s any safer quite frankly. Anyway, I got all my flowers…and if I haven’t, I think I’ll just make do. I’m not up for another nursery experience.
It’s going to be perfectly heavenly for a few days…there is a chance of thunderstorms, but no all day events. So I’m planning on taking my time with the plantings…and enjoy the process. I’ve waited too long to rush through this. I have three blooming plants on the deck now, and it is heavenly. Just have to add my cushions, and you’ll find me on our deck every chance I get.
Your porch looks absolutely perfect. I can just see you and Don sitting there…a good book, and a hot or cool drink by your side. Utter perfection! Enjoy planting today, and I’ll be doing the same! Stay safe! ;)
Yes. I’m now set. I’ve been there three different times and that’s it!! Now I’m going to put a few plants in the garden – not today, it’s too humid – plant some seeds that I already have, and sit back and enjoy.
Enjoy your planting process, Donnamae. You’ve waited long enough for it. Stay safe.
What a day!
I find the same people here, and it seems like I am always the one to be considerate, even before the virus. Our grocery store has marked the aisles one way although most people seem to ignore it. It seems like a good idea but harder to do in practice. And of course in Michigan we have the idiots who refuse to follow the rules and don’t wear a mask because it infringes on their freedom.
It does make it all more stressful.
You did fine with the sanitizer and the washing.
Your porch looks so inviting and peaceful. I still have no flowers but we will go next week and also get some vegetables for our garden. Our hostas are just breaking through this week.
We are finally getting some warm weather too.
I’m glad to hear Don is feeling better. The though of an injection into the eye makes me cringe.
I hope you take it easy today and have a peaceful day.
Stay safe.
I am. I took a few photos outside, I’m working on the puzzle, and otherwise, laying low. It’s very humid out there today! Stay safe, Marilyn.
Oh Claudia I feel your pain! As bad as it is with those kind of people in your area imagine what it’s like in our state, Florida, with a governor who doesn’t have a clue. Yesterday at the grocery store there were more people without masks than with them. They seem to think this pandemic won’t touch them and put all the rest of us at greater risk. It’s scary and exhausting to go to even the most necessary of places especially with people who look at those of us with masks as if we are over reacting. Oh well, I’ll continue to do what I know is the right thing and pray for those who don’t. Enjoy your beautiful porch, you earned it!
Luckily, it’s required here. Frankly, even if it wasn’t, I would have one on. I say, don’t worry about those idiots who look at you as if you’re overreacting. You’re doing the right thing. Stay safe, Janet!
Sounds so exhausting and I’m so sorry that you had to go through all of that. It’s crazy to me to watch how different people respond to all of this and that certainly makes one ponder some things. We personally do not wear masks when going out for our own reasons but we certainly have them with us, and put them on if we are asked to by establishments that we frequent. We also make sure to distance ourselves more than 6 feet from everyone that we can because we have chosen not to wear a mask for our reasons but want to be respectful of others and give everyone the distance. Even when we go hiking outdoors, when others are approaching us, we stop well ahead of their reaching us, move over to the side and turn our backs to them.
The hardest thing for me during all of this has been dealing with everyone’s reaction to this virus, and all the information being put out there. The reality is we are living with a virus that we do not know everything about and our normal has changed. But reality is also that we are all human beings and we all have to do our own research and come to a conclusion of what we are comfortable with be it wearing a mask and gloves or not, going out or staying home, etc.
Yes of course there are those in our country who are being completely ridiculous with the way that they are acting and are not considering others at all. My decisions of how I handle this, not always wearing a mask, is my own and as I said for my own personal reasons but I can still be respectful of others and do my best to protect all of us.
I hope that you have a weekend of beautiful weather and are able to get outdoors. Blessed Be,
With all due respect, I wear a mask to protect others. I have no idea if I’m asymptomatic. Neither does Don. I don’t like having a mask on, no one does, but I feel my wearing one is the safest thing for myself and everyone I encounter. Those are my thoughts. Stay safe.
I understand that you wear a mask for everyone else protection. But it’s not that simple for everyone.
My husband is a disabled veteran with PTSD and cannot wear a mask, it totally freaks him out and causes severe anxiety. I have PTSD as well ironically enough and feel the same way. Plus I have anxiety so bad that when I have the mask on I start to hyperventilate.
We both tried to wear one and just cannot. We did our best at trying but it further damaged both of our mental well being. So we made a conscious decision that we can live with and do our best. We do not go out around others unless we have to right now. I think we are mostly all doing our best right now and that may not look the same for all of us. We are both doing the best we can in our situation. That was the point I was trying to make, nothing more.
Completely understandable, Belinda. The clear path to take is to limit your exposure to others, which you are doing. Please stay safe. My little excursion yesterday triggered my anxiety, so I’m paying for it today. xo
Belinda, I have such sympathy for you and your husband. While wearing a mask is
routine in some professions and thus not difficult for me, I have a keen understanding of PTSD and the various ways it may surface. There is actually a lot being written about this very issue in regards to mask wearing.
Purely to illustrate my true understanding, I will share that among other incidents I was held hostage, pinned to a hospital wall by my throat by a deranged man, and was choked by a man rehearsing how to kill his wife (which he did a few days later) thus I have had a lifetime of PTSD. So I truly understand and want so badly to offer suggestions which might help ease your plight and particularly the disapproval you meet from others.
When you find it necessary to go out in public places you might wear a ball cap, regular or sunglasses, and loosely wrap a scarf around your neck (infinity style), thus you can tuck
your chin down into it at any given moment and particularly should you happen to
sneeze (which is normal for everyone even in good health). For all practical purposes
you will appear covered. May God grant you more joyful moments and less anxiety in your future.
R, your thoughts about this subject are invaluable, though I wish you hadn’t had to go through that. I’m sure Belinda will find your words both comforting and helpful. Thank you. I hope Belinda sees this.
Masks are required here in Illinois but people still aren’t obeying that rule. Brian went to the grocery store last week – a huge one near us – and even though there’s a sign right on the front door that says masks required, he said there were three people in the store not wearing one! Where the heck was the manager?! I told Brian he should’ve gone to the Customer Service desk and said something.
A few days ago I was in Walgreens to pick up a prescription (I forgot they had a drive-thru; I wasn’t in clear thinking mode) and the two women in front of me to pick up their prescriptions were not wearing masks. The sign on the front of the door of Walgreens said masks recommended. From what I understand about the rule of masks in IL, they are required only in places where you can’t maintain social distancing. Absolutely ridiculous of these two women to think that they could always maintain social distancing in Walgreens (or any other store). I asked the pharmacy tech about it – he was a young guy who was clueless. He said, “What are we supposed to do, call the cops?” I said, “No. You get the manager to change the sign on the door to masks REQUIRED. Then if customers don’t obey that rule, you ask them to leave.” Oy!!
Yes, what the hell is with the staff? Tell the customer to leave. Period. If they can’t honor the rules, they can go elsewhere. End of story!
As Don says – frequently – “I like you, coffee and a few people. That’s it.” Obviously an exaggeration, but you get the idea. Sometimes, it’s best to avoid those who practice willful ignorance. That isn’t always possible, however. Good for you for speaking up, Melanie. Bravo! Stay safe.
Perfect pansies on the porch! Tuesday evening I needed to post birthday cards, the nearest post box is on the main road about 10 minutes walk away. My son said he would walk with me as he wanted to call at the nearby small grocery store. We get there and for a small shop it’s very well organised, someone at the door telling you when you can go inside. He was allowed in and I decided to stand outside on the pavement as I wasn’t in the queue.
The pavement is very narrow and I can see three teenage boys about 15/16 years old, walking three abreast, deep in conversation and heading straight towards me! I couldn’t jump in the busy road so ended up turning my back on them and flattening myself into a brick wall as they brushed past!
You’re not supposed to be in groups larger than two unless you’re family members living in the same house, these certainly weren’t brothers, nor did they have the sense to move into single file as they passed me😬
Happy Friday
I would say “Unbelievable!” but it’s all too believable. There’s a ‘me, me, me’ attitude in play here, the same as the young people who jammed into bars in Wisconsin, no masks on, nothing, so they could be free to, what?…get infected? All for a beer? I want to smack them all, including those three teenage boys! You did the right thing, Dee Dee, but I’m sorry you had to deal with it. Stay safe.
Oh Claudia…I can relate to you. In 63 days…decided to go to the little bank here to deposit the stimulus check that was supposed to go into my bank in WV…it didn’t. The traffic in this city was horrendous-oh an accident and end up in hospital with virus patients…deposit check and cash some money? Germs on cash? I send cash to grands for things…I touched that thing at the drive in the money was in…more hand sanitizer…and so on…I have still not shopped in a store…family dropping off food. I still maintain that even though I am isolating…the others in this building or not and going to get mail and take trash is probably not safe. This is the new normal…and so are the days of our lives…When my family gets back to some kind of normal, I will probably order food and pick up…when will I ever feel safe going into a store? This is not fear…this is caution…good luck my friend…I understand totally….
It is sensible caution – not fear. You’re right Brenda. Good for you for doing everything you can to protect yourself and others. Stay safe.
Claudia,
Just looking at your porch lowered my stress. It is so peaceful and gorgeous.
Happy to help with the stress level, Susan. Stay safe!
your porch looks lovely. That picture makes me jealous.
A big part of the reason we bought this house was the porch. I fell in love with the house the moment I saw the porch! Stay safe, Jan.
I hear your feelings of almost hysteria! By the end of your day, I think you needed to sit on your sweet porch, have a drink of some kind, & know you’re hopefully safe & sound at home. That’s what I do! I hate going out to do many errands at once. WAYYYY too nerve-racking. In fact, I told my husband this am, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m developing some OCD!!?? Not good!
Looking at the ocean most days does something to ease my fright & nerves, as they feel shot most of the time lately.
Be well. Have a lovely weekend.
Well, I’m having a bout with anxiety today and I’m sure it’s due to yesterday’s outings. Don rubbed my back and now I’m going to work on the puzzle – hopefully that will help. Stay safe, Priscilla.
Hi Claudia. Your house and outdoor space reminds me very much of our old farmhouse. It is getting to be a lot for a 69 year old but I love it anyway. It is exhausting to “go out”, and then fret over whether or not I sanitized inbetween touching this and that. I think people are becoming too comfortable when venturing out and forget or forgo wearing masks. Just do what you are by keeping the distance. I let people know kindly that we need to move apart more. Since you are a kindred spirit in your love of nature I need to tell you we’ve been observing and keeping distance from a robin and her nest right next to our side door. The eggs hatched and I saw here on the nest earlier. I had to go on the porch to uncover pansies and noticed the nest had become somewhat detached from the wisteria and then I saw a baby on the ground! OMG. My Don came out and went to pick baby up to bury it and saw it still moving! Not a feather on her. We stabilized the nest and put her back inside, trying not to touch her. Of course I’m crying because she will freeze/starve if mama doesn’t come back! Don said we did what we could and I know nature has it’s ways, but this breaks my heart. Sorry to go on, I needed a shoulder to cry on. Take care.
Love that you can observe the robin – but I completely understand your worries about that baby. I would feel exactly the same way. I hope and pray that mama comes back, Penny. Thinking of you and sending love.
Joy! Mama has come back. We can only hope that baby wasn’t injured in the 5 foot drop onto mulch. Will find out soon enough.
So happy to hear this, Penny!
Hi Claudia,
This virus is nothing but evil, straight from Satan himself. Not only does it have us jumping through hoops we are not used to or have even thought about, it has us second guessing our actions. What a toll it is taking on everyone!
Anyway, I love your porch! It’s not just the porch, it’s your personality showing through and just wonderful for you to sit there and enjoy solitary relaxation or a cozy time with Don and even an inviting spot for tea with guests. Just lovely.
It’s so inviting that I am going to accept and head out to mine right now!
Take care…
Thanks for the kind words on the porch, Kelly! I hope you enjoyed your time on your very own porch, too! Stay safe!
The porch looks beautiful. Yep, not much fun shopping and dodging other customers. I hope Don is better soon. Enjoy your weather.
Thank you, Kay. He feels much better today, thank goodness. Stay safe, my friend.
Claudia, the view from your porch is just gorgeous with those willowy spring-green trees in the background. I’m so happy for you, despite your mega-busy day. You’ll be in your heaven now for the next few months; will do wonders, with lots of positive energy from the surroundings. Good air; light; beauty; color; birdlife and wildlife; sun; green things growing. Senses alive! Ahhhh, just feel the ease of tension…
My husband did decide to venture out for some starter-veggie plants to make this much-expanded garden he now wants to do, well beyond anything which would have been good enough for me, so he had the best luck with our smaller, hometown garden center; and, this morning, he caught it just right when no one was there in this outdoor section of the store; so, he was able move about quite freely to get kale, basil, cucumbers; I don’t know all what else. I think some lettuces.
(I’m really happy about the kale because when he did finally go to the local grocery store [we really one have one of any sort of ‘substance’/variety], there was no kale in the produce section at all, we never see it frozen anymore either, so I was pretty disappointed because these forays into the world for groceries are a rarity for us. [It’s a box chain/store but they seem to be having supply issues, which I’d thought had improved but I guess in some cases not; one clerk told my husband that they’d ordered 50 tri-tips {meat/beef} and only received four.])
My husband did however see a man causing a bit of a stir at this ‘combo’ hardware-store/garden-center establishment who was insisting he be allowed to go into the hardware part without a mask, store management arguing it when the dude said he couldn’t wear a mask due to a medical condition. My husband said the guy was just overall belligerent. It really puts the store employee in a predicament.
This mask thing is such a source of vehemence and opposition with some people. I don’t understand; it’s such a simple thing. I don’t breathe well with a mask either (especially an N95 mask, a couple of which I have left over from our wildfires of the last two years, when I have to make doubly sure I don’t breathe in the dangerous particulate matter from smoke and soot; I have a lifelong chronic and incurable lung disease AKA asthma). But you can find a mask that’s still effective and not so ‘confining’; cripes, you can MAKE one, even out of men’s underwear (that’s no lie; my husband watched a youtube or something on it, and he crafted one just as a lark, but it worked!).
We did go early this morning for our post office run, so I got to see a few minutes of my small-town environs. The jacarandas are blooming but aren’t vigorous this year; maybe in a week, I’m not sure; they’re looking sort of ‘thready’; I might be too early. (I don’t quite know what’s wrong with me but it’s as if I look at my town as something in my life which once was but no longer IS. Like it’s no longer relevant. We drove by places I used to go, just four months ago, and it’s as if I’ve stepped over a line to a diff threshold where I’ve accepted I’ll never be going back to that life. That it’s part of my past now. Really curious; odd. It’s a matter-of-fact thing with me, too; I’m almost emotionless about it [passive; detached; indifferent; benign {but I don’t think it’s depression; it’s not melancholy either}].)
But we went to the bank, too; old-fashioned bank where they’ve reactivated a former drive-up window with a teller in place (we had some business to transact), so that worked out well enough. But then my husband couldn’t remember if he wiped down his bank card before he put it back in his wallet. And, yes, it’s this continual strain/stress of … did we do this, did we forget to do that. Like, to me, it’s just not worth it for what you’d have to go thru in a restaurant or some of these other stores, especially if you’ve got shoppers (or diners) around you and they’re being cavalier. Yes, I miss casual shopping but we’ll leave it for the essentials like groceries, eventually going to medical appointments; if something goes wrong with a car. We need a new frig this summer but will buy it online and have it delivered. Our dishwasher pooped out on us just before Covid broke; we’ll do the same for the frig as we did with the dishwasher; it worked out just fine.
I even feel odd about driving around town with my passenger window down (for the nice, fresh air in the morning) because of cars pulling up right next to you at a stop light with THEIR windows down, too; like, I watched two cars ahead, pulling to a stop side by side, and the one guy driving turned his head to sneeze out his open window, so did that big sneeze carry droplets in the breeze from his driver’s side to the other car’s passenger side with THEIR car window open? I swear this is all enough to indeed drive any of us bonkers. It’s so much easier to just stay home!
Haven’t read much of any headlines but I did catch that photo this morning of Dr. Birks and Dr. Fauci wearing masks, bookending Trump who of course did not wear one. Had to laugh. Right. Look at that picture. Who do you most believe and whose words do you hang on to right now? It ain’t the guy not wearing the mask. Drs Birk & Fauci are leading by example; they didn’t need to speak a word; the message came thru loud and clear.
Speaking of clear, we are getting a lot of late-spring haze (typical) in my part of SoCalif today. My husband, at my encouragement, has taken a modest driving trip (still in our county; just a 25-mile radius) to see if he can catch the big flyover today which honors our Covid-19 essential workers: The U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds in a formation of six F-16C/D Fighting Falcons. They started today in San Diego, make their way to Los Angeles and then fly points north. I just hope he’ll be able to see them with all that haze, but they’ll probably fly fairly low. (I think it’s good my husband can get out. I didn’t want to go, felt badly about being a killjoy, but I’ve got bills to pay this afternoon and a little separation is okay for a few hours. He’s currently parked in one of the cities’ empty parking lots at city hall, waiting this out; will probably nod off a little, which is okay, too, as he is in the shade and can keep his windows mostly rolled up in case anyone suddenly were to come right up to him or something (again, having to think of every weird scenario).
Unfortunately in my area, we’re seeing some sobering ‘trending’ of the virus. I live in an agricultural-growing area of SoCalif and we have various processing/packing plants for all the fruits and vegetables in the orchards and fields. One plant alone now (it’s not huge) has 35 positive cases. It’s similar of course to the meat-packing plants we’ve all been reading about; it’s impossible to distance when standing at sorting counters/conveyor belts (I’ve been in these plants and I know how it goes; I’ve had jobs in the admin part of manufacturing when a product is being made and how more than one person can be working a machine in close proximity to another person).
Anyway, for the moment, we’ve got food, we’ve picked up our mail, we’ve got our garden plants, we took care of some other business; my aim is for us to sit tight and not go back ‘out there’ for a good three weeks. We knew as soon as SoCalif started some tentative re-openings, that there’d be an uptick in cases/deaths, just like anywhere. We were lucky for a fairly-long time, that our own small town had very few cases; but, alas, not so the case from today.
To the Sparks household: Continued rest for you m’dear; and continued healing for Don’s eye. Two acres is a lot to take care of, but it’s your haven and away from other germy humans; so, take your time; spaces in your view are looking full of color with your new flowers; everything will come together after that late-late snow.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Vicki. We have to go out on Saturday to pick up our grocery order but that is relatively risk-free. The cart is wheeled out to our car, left there, we put everything in the trunk and return the cart and off we go.
I am betting that as responsible as Governor Cuomo is, and he is extremely careful about all of this, as manufacturing and construction starts up again as of today, we will see an uptick. I hope that isn’t the case and I’ll be thrilled to say I was wrong.
Stay safe!
Glad Don’s eye is better. Your Pansies are beautiful. Relax today and do your puzzle and sit back with a book.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn. Enjoy your day, as well, and stay safe!
i know it feels good to get things done, but i’m glad to hear you balanced your too-stressful, too-busy day yesterday by taking it easy today!
sorry you had to deal with (rude, foolish or too-tired-to-focus) people getting so close to you.
if i tell you that i’ve had an edbd (i just made that up … ha), you’ll know that i am too tired to type much so i am from now on shortening your perfect description of being out in the world right now … “exhausting” and “like playing dodgeball” to “edbd”.
also, i never liked dodgeball (much preferred running, playing on the bars and four-square … and still love running) .
hope your allergies and anxiety and don’s eye are all better and you’ve both been enjoying that nicer weather and the results of all your hard work (mowed lawn, other areas cleaned and those pretty flowers and wonderful porch) because two acres is a lot to maintain, even if you enjoy that work!
i am taking it easy tonight (edbd … i wish i could use a cart at work to serve as a barrier and remind people to not get close to me or anyone else). grocery shopping/deliveries tomorrow morning, then home to shower and try to relax.
hope you, don and everyone else are safe, well and have all you need as well as an easy weekend.
kathy in iowa
I like ‘edbd!’ Excellent, Kathy! Have a restful weekend after shopping for everyone, my friend. Stay safe.
I just LOVE your stone porch floor!
Thank you so much, Janice! Stay safe!
Oh Claudia, I’m so sorry. Things like that just feel close to inexcusable in today’s health climate. I regret to say, as others who have commented here, that I’m not sure it’s unusual. Between blogs and FB I hear grim stories and of course even on the news. We’ve had several incidents related on masks here in Michigan, including a shooting. I haven’t been in a store since March 16. Friday I had to go to the blood lab and it was the first time I’d been anywhere like that in ages and it was freaky. They were wonderful, only one other person was there but it was unsettling.
When I’m on my walk, few are wearing masks. When Rick had a hardware emergency a few weeks ago, even the staff weren’t masked. He sent the manager an email and when he had to go Monday, they were, so I was glad about that. No one seems to be paying attention to the rules and it makes me wonder– when did we (as a society) become so cavalier about “I’ll do what I want” and not think of the greater good? It feels like about three and a half years ago but in truth, I think it started a long time before that — a sense of entitlement without concern. It makes me profoundly sad.
Your porch is exquisite and I love those pansies. I know it had to be mentally and physicially exhausting to have your day yesterday. (Or was it Thursday — I think I’m behind.) I hope you got a good break on that lovely porch.
Don went to pick up something for the local hardware store and no one was wearing a mask. Unbelievable! So we’re figured we’re better off shopping at Lowes, which has a protocol in place.
“A sense of entitlement without concern” is a perfect way to describe this self-absorbed, me, me, me time we’re living in.
Stay safe, Jeanie.