Day Thirty-Four. Governor Cuomo has extended stay-in-place, lockdown, self-isolating – whatever you want to call it – until May 15. At least another month. This isn’t a surprise, of course. But it does overwhelm.
I’m not in a very good mood today and it is what it is. I’ve been feeling under the weather for a few weeks and though I’m much better now, it was a pain in the tush. The weather has turned cold. Tonight, we might get 2 – 3 inches of wet snow. That little bit of news sort of set me off this morning. I started to worry about my plants that have buds and flowers, I felt resentful (how dare Mother Nature?!!) and the ‘Overwhelm,’ which is the best thing I can call it, took over. The temperatures around here are 20 degrees less than normal for this time of the year. This is the time of year I love to be outside working and the combination of the cold weather and not feeling well has kept me from doing that. And then, of course, there’s the self-isolating.
Anyway, I’ll pull myself out of it. I’m a strong believer in letting myself feel whatever mood I’m in, not apologizing for it, and then moving forward. I’m betting we’re all battling this kind of thing, especially during this pandemic.
Life seems to be reading, eating, doing dishes, doing the laundry, trying to grab a slot for grocery delivery, watching old reruns – on repeat. I know I’ll feel better when I can get outside and accomplish something. Don mowed the front lawn for the first time on Sunday, which is something I always look forward to doing.
Okay. No more feeling sorry for myself. It’s very cold out there but it’s sunny. I can hear bird song. I have to clean the bathroom. We ordered a few more groceries – we start a new list as soon as we’ve had a delivery – and couldn’t get a delivery date, but to my surprise we did snag a pick-up opening, so we’ll drive to the store tomorrow with masks and gloves on and pick up our groceries. And then maybe we can take a break from it for a while.
By the way, I called the main number for this grocery chain to ask a question about our bill and in the course of the conversation was told quite firmly that drivers are not allowed to take tips. Hmmm. I suggested that, given the circumstances, it would be nice if, during checkout, we had the option to add a tip, as we all know we are not dealing with “business as usual.” He said he would pass on that suggestion.
Then I called our local nursery to see if some sort of protocol was in place for plant shopping. The nursery is connected to the farm stand I mentioned earlier. There is a protocol in place for the farm stand, which is indoors, but not for the nursery, which is primarily outdoors but is also in three different greenhouses. So far, plant buying traffic has been quite low, given our crazy weather, but in a couple of weeks it will increase. Since I don’t plan on buying anything for at least another week, she suggested I call back as they will probably have to come up with a plan by then.
Obviously I’d go there in a mask and gloves, with hand sanitizer. (Governor Cuomo has an Executive Order requiring anyone who is out in public to wear a mask.) I’d be armed with a list and would only get those items on my list, with no wandering around looking at things. That makes me sad, as it’s one of my favorite things to do. But efficiency is a must. Both Don and I would take our cars, so we could load everything at once. I’m very clear on what I need, having done pretty much the same thing for years – plants for pots on the porch, the funky patio, and in the secret garden. Two big bags of potting soil. Three hanging plants.
If I can make my porch the haven it usually is for us, I’ll feel much better about things. I’ll feel a bit more free and certainly more at peace.
Thanks for being patient with my clearly meandering thoughts today. Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Claudia, I’m so sorry you’re feeling out of sorts, but it’s a comfort to know I’m not the only one! It’s snowing here (AGAIN) and we haven’t had one single day in my part of Wisconsin where it’s been nice enough to get out in my garden. I’m on the end of week five of working from home – my brain is fried, my emotions are all over the place, and I’m missing my grandchildren’s hugs and kisses. So far my nephew has lost his prom, his Eagle Scout ceremony, his graduation, my niece has lost her college graduation, one of my sons has had to postpone his much anticipated wedding for a full year (!!), and another one of my son’s can’t even go to the ultrasounds for our granddaughter due in early June. Our governor just extended our safer at home for another full month, so we are in the house until at least May 26 now. I’m still grieving the loss of my mother, and find it hard to concentrate on reading or needlework. While I’m certainly grateful to be safe (as possible) at home with my husband, it’s very hard to not mourn a loss of our simple daily routines and all the things we took for granted – the ability to drive to see our children and grandchildren, the rare fun of dinner out at a nice restaurant, or a special outing to the symphony or theater. My third son is on the front lines in the ICU – Covid 19 ward at a large hospital – my prayers every day are for his safety. At the end of this, I hope we will never again take our simple pleasures for granted. My thoughts are with you and Don – hopefully for both of us the weather will start warming up so we can get some much needed gardening therapy.
Oh, Martha. That’s just too much! The ripples from this are really hitting you and your family. I’m so sorry. It makes my feelings seem rather petty – you have to cope with so much more. I’m sending my love to you and yours – my prayers for your son – and my hope for an end to all of this. Much love, Claudia
I think I am meandering right along with you. I have all this that could be getting done but isn’t. It’s too cold here for plants for at least another month so I’m fine with that. We do love to get out and walk. I feel tons better if I can get myself out into the fresh air. I am really losing patience with the complainers. People are actually suing the governor because the boat launches are closed. They should have given that some thought when they filled the parking lot to overflowing and it had to be closed. People are angry and frustrated and have no idea who to be angry with. I understand It’s hard to be angry with a virus but I am sick of people having to vent constantly. Our lives have all changed and it’s rough but it doesn’t warrant protesting at the state capital because you have to stay have and your “rights” are being taken away. Hang in there. Your feelings mirror most of ours.
I know. I saw that on the news. It’s ridiculous! Someone on FB was defending them with talk about ‘civil rights’ and ‘what would you do if you couldn’t do the things you love?’ – the answer – from everyone – “None of us can do the things we love right now, so shut up and grow up!”
Stay safe, Eileen. We know that we are very fortunate to be able to stay here in our home with a roof over our heads. I know you feel the same way, too.
I think we might live in the same state. I live in Lansing and it was a mess here on Wednesday. The hospital entrance was blocked, trucks were running lights as people were trying to cross streets, the continual horn honking was greatly disturbing to those in the hospital. There was more in my comment to Claudia. I’m losing patience with the complainers too. We are lucky we can go for walks. I do feel for the many unemployed but I hope they’ll get some relief and very soon.
You do. That’s my cousin Eileen – we’re a Michigan family.
YAY Cousin Eileen!
xo
When I m feeling overwhelmed with this sheltering in place I have to stop and thank God my husband can work from home and we are not sick.
I think the minimum wage people who are doing so many things we need are on the front line and would love to be home.
I think after this us over there is so much I will not take for granted.
I agree. And there isn’t a day that goes by where Don or I or both of us realize how fortunate we are – especially now. Thanks, Linda. Stay safe.
As Martha said, our Gov extended the Safer at Home date to May 26 and closed schools for the remainder of this school year. It is hard, but it is something we can do. Gov Evers said this will only be over when there is a vaccine. If only the weather would cooperate and warm up! Those who seem to be protesting this and whining about it all, of course, seem to be supporters of the buffoon. Yesterday when he said some states may re-open as soon as today I figured he is already planning his big rallies. He needs his audience, that is for sure. They do love to scream about their rights, but don’t care about ours.
I am glad you are feeling better. And, you have a trip tomorrow to look forward to tomorrow! It truly is the little things, isn’t it? My hope is that piece will remain with us for a long time.
Yes, we definitely can do it. And now your husband knows that the schools will be closed. He doesn’t have to worry, thank goodness.
Those big rallies will be dangerous for all who attend. I would ask the question, how can they be so foolish? But we know the answer to that.
Thanks so much, Chris. Stay safe.
As gardening is not a necessity, we cannot buy anything, no soil, no plants, no nothing. I’m glad the temperatures were low the last time. And today we’ve heard that at least garden centres are opening on April 27. One more week … I’m writing a list with all items I usually buy in spring: gloves, soil, seeds, oil for the chain saw, ….
Someday, this will be over!!!!! All the best to you and Don.
Regula
Glad to hear they are reopening soon, Regula! It will be over some day, but it will be over sooner if people practice social distancing, etc. I’m afraid that far too many here in the US are not. Stay safe!
I get the meandering and frustration. I wish our governor would add another month to ours but I’m planning to stay in for the next six weeks no matter what she says (I’ll still do walks, but no appointments, stores or gatherings of any kind.) I’m actually very content, since it’s snowing out right now (UGH) and what else am I going to do. I should be more productive than I am. But I’m getting through this with books, painting, Acorn, Netflix and cooking. And internet. The basement will always be there…
I will miss going to our farm nursery where I get my plants and I know it will be a madhouse there when the weather is better. It might be a seed year. A good friend sent some zinnias and cosmos and I might settle for that and order up some basil. I hope you can get to your nursery soon.
If you see the news, you’ve seen my hometown featured as protesters locked up the city with traffic, violated every traffic regulation in the book (the video of trucks with confederate flags, Trump signs and neo-fascist signs running red lights as someone was trying to cross was harrowing. They blocked off the hospital entrances; ambulances couldn’t get through. They want to go out fishing in their motorboats (Uhh, in April?) When they asked one woman why she was there she said, “My roots are looking awful and I want to get my garden going.” (I have roots showing too; I can cope. And as I mentioned, it’s snowing). Most of the folks out of cars on the capitol lawn were without masks and standing close.
I understand frustrated. I don’t get stupid. And I shudder, wondering how many of those folks will be bringing the virus home to their own communities. It’s very wearing. Meanwhile, I donate to the food bank and Salvation Army. If I could sew, I’d make masks. I buy things from artists whose shows are being canceled and independent workers who are unable to work. And laying very low.
I saw it and I was appalled. Was anyone arrested for blocking entrances to hospitals? They should have been.
Love your line: “I understand frustrated. I don’t get stupid.” Perfect. Stay safe, Jeanie.
I don’t think there were any arrests. However, the mayor said, in light of the protest scheduled for Monday (the Michigan Militia said “bring your guns”) citations will be issued for any kinds of violations. I hope he’s right.
I hope he’s right, as well. This is getting dangerous. xo
I am watching what is happening in the US, just appalled (I’m in Australia). We have had less than 100 deaths and are still in pretty deep restrictions. Aussies don’t like being told what to do either, and we are all starting to get a little frustrated, but we all understand why we are doing this. One of our state governments is taking quite extreme measures to protect our First Nations people, declaring biosecurity zones, and we GET IT.
We are appalled too, Denise. Truly appalled. Bravo to Australia and New Zealand. We have a malignant narcissist as the leader of our country. He truly doesn’t care about anyone but himself, and people are dying because of it.
Thanks, Denise. Stay safe!
I have been feeling depressed lately but our changes are actually kind of nice. We used to have cars and trucks screaming down our street way beyond the speed limit. Now hardly any. We live in a very cloudy zone (Seattle) and now we have sunshine, I think it is because the pollution is down. It is nice and quiet so you can hear the birds. AAH. My plants are not doing so well but hope springs eternal. We will survive.
Mother Nature and the climate and animals are benefitting, aren’t they? That makes me happy. Stay safe, Jan.
It is all a bit overwhelming. But, there is nothing we can to about it, except to accept that this is the new normal of our lives. Hopefully, this is temporary. As you heard from Martha and Chris, our governor extended our stay-at-home order til May 26. However, there are those who will file a lawsuit…I’m convinced they don’t care about our health.
I really thought I would use this time to get some projects done…at least more than we have done. Instead…I find myself seeking out distractions. Anything to deflect from what I think I should be doing. To make myself feel better…I think I’ll blame it on the weather. As good an excuse as I can think of.
I am anxiously awaiting my trips to the nurseries. The main one I go to has senior hours that I plan on taking advantage of. But, that is several weeks way yet, so we’ll see. I was so hoping for an earlier planting date than normal, but the weather is not cooperating…yet. Stay safe! ;)
I am not getting projects done either. I think we have to allow ourselves to just be. It’s okay, Chris. Stay safe.
Donnamae, I am waiting for the announcement from Fitzgerals & Vos that they are filing suit. They are loyal only to their party, and certainly not to the people of our state. Let’s hope the weather forecast for temps in the low 60’s next week actually happen. That would certainly help!!
Oh we know they are going to do it….it’s just a matter of when isn’t it? (I still say they don’t care about our health at all.). Stay safe my friend! ;)
I can add to this; not getting my projects done!
xo
Claudia,
My feelings mirror so many. I’m feeling especially sad today as a lady I used to work with passed away yesterday from this Virus. She was one of the nicest people. I’m so appalled at the protestors that I have no words. Do they honestly think any Governor would shut down things unnecessarily? Do they think the States themselves aren’t losing a lot? I saw this quote recently that is so fitting. There was no name attached, so I cannot give credit. “Society has gotten to the point where everybody has a right, but nobody has a responsibility.”
Great quote. I got into a tussle with someone on FB the other day who said – in defense of the protestors in Michigan – “Imagine if you couldn’t do the things you love.” Are you kidding me? My response was, “Give me a break. We are all missing out on things we love. But we care about our health and the health of others. Grow up.”
It’s insane.
Stay safe, Susan.
The moods are up and mostly down as this thing seems to go on and in! I hope your local nursery gets some kind of protocol. Ours is by appointment only. They schedule a maximum of 10 people at a time and you’re asked to stay only 30 minutes. Howard and I are making our list.
I heard the same about another nursery. Ours should do the same! I’ll suggest it to them.
Or…I’ll go at 8 am when they first open!
Stay safe, Jane.
I have been doing okay once the first week was over. Glad we can work out of our house and also very glad that as a small business we still have some
clients to pay the bills. What is saving me is Face Time with my friends, sisters and kids. I am social and it’s hard to be social when wearing a mask in the grocery store!
I tip everyone now; don’t care what management says. UPS, FEDEX, Amazon, mail ,grocery and trash people. They are putting their health on the line for me and I want to give them more then a thank you.
This snow forecast was really upsetting me this morning- the star magnolia is almost completely out, a hellebore has buds, the peonies are just pushing up and the roses are trying so hard to leaf out. And now cold temps and snow! Then I looked out the window and what did I see- a huge brown rabbit eating the birdseed that had been knocked out of the feeder! First time I’ve ever seen that happen. Made me feel so much better. Keep smiling!
We tip, too. The snow is not making me happy. It hasn’t come yet, but it will be here in a couple of hours. Sigh.
Stay safe, Betsy.
I went plant shopping today. Not many people so it was easy to stay apart. We put the credit card in a basket which was zip lined to the man at the register. It certainly was a fun outing with very minimal contact.
I don’t think ours has a zip line! That’s a great idea. Stay safe, Kay.
Hang in there, Claudia. Better days, weather-wise and health-wise, will come in their season.
Like all of you, I am yearning for seeds and six-packs of annuals, sunshine and warmth. Social distancing won’t seem so bad once I’m in my garden daily. Fingernails with dirt underneath are the best!
Regarding the Michigan temper tantrum: my go-to phrase is “you can’t cure stupid.” Apparently you can’t cure selfish either.
I hope everyone gets their quota of personal space now, because when this is finally over I’m gonna have a hard time restraining my hugs!
Me too. Thank goodness I have Don around to hug.
Can’t wait to garden. Stay safe, Roxie.
I agree with going with your feelings and not trying to ignore them or push them away. Acknowledge them and let it be. They will pass, just like the clouds. It’s cold and snowy here, too right now. I’m going to bundle up anyway and take a short walk before I have to feed the cats their dinner. I’m tired of being cooped up. Need the fresh air. I look forward to my daily walks.
No masks required here (yet), but of course, they are suggested. Most people do indeed wear them in the grocery stores and Walgreens. (The only two places I’ve been in weeks.)
I can’t believe the grocery stores don’t have a place on their apps where you can put in a tip. That’s ridiculous. I know with grocery delivery companies such as Shipt, you can add a tip. (I have friends that work for them.) Could you possibly leave a cash tip in an envelope or sandwich baggie on your porch when you know your groceries will be delivered?
The private nurseries here are only offering pick-up. Place an order online, then they deliver to your car. I’m so disappointed in that. One thing that makes me happy every spring is wandering the nurseries and picking out my plants. I’m not sure what Home Depot and other big box stores are doing with their nurseries this year. I haven’t heard anything and it’s still too cold to plant anything (though I’ve had a hanging basket of pansies on my front porch for several weeks now), so I haven’t even checked.
xoxo
That’s what we’ve done – we put in in an envelope on the porch railing. But we don’t always have cash – so it would be more convenient to add it to the total.
I really want some pansies. I’ve had them for the past couple of years and I miss them – they last all season for me – flag a little in mid summer but they revive again in fall.
Stay safe, Melanie.
Yeah, we’re very low on cash in the house, too; waiting for a good reason to go to the bank/ATM with more than one transaction I guess. We did further investigate and our home delivery from the local grocer (coming here in about 9 hrs from right now) absolutely prohibits tips to the driver (unlike Instacart). We’ll put some cash in an envelope anyway and hope the deliverer will take it. My gosh, you tip the guy delivering pizza (in the other world we used to live in) but not a grocery deliverer who’s risking HIS LIFE for you? !! I think it’s unfair for the store employer to say they can’t let their employee accept a tip. It’s made me so mad that I told my husband we’re going back to Instacart.
Too much money being spent. But we do have to tip!
You are allowed to have meandering thoughts. You are allowed to feel blue. You are allowed to feel worried. You are allowed your feelings, Claudia! Good you can voice what’s bothering you; certainly you let us readers do it all the time! In this together…
I was just reading an article about the toll it’s taking (the stay-home order) on people who live alone and who also don’t have a pet like a dog or cat; the isolation of going weeks and weeks without talking to another person or having any kind of physical touch like an arm thrown around the shoulder, a hug, a shake of the hand…is really, really getting to them. Even reclusive people or ones like me who need a lot of ‘alone’ time, personal space reach their limit on how much human contact they can continue to go without. We seem to sort of be like canines in that regard (a solo dog will mostly like the comfort of another dog, being a team, living as a duo, despite loyalty to their human companion/best friend); the pack mentality; communing and gathering and doing things with each other as a unit. (Speaking for myself. Comparing myself to a dog, but that’s A-OK with me; I love and respect dogs!)
It crossed my mind, although you can’t really compare it, of being homebound/sheltering-in-place vs solitary confinement (involuntary); I just don’t want to ever reach the point where I look at my home as a prison, like one big ‘cell’ (reminding myself instead, for the trillionth time, THIS IS TEMPORARY and is for my safety [and that of everybody else I hold dear]). Thing is, if I can get out twice per month as a passenger, and see my local world from the car window for a few minutes (when we finally have to go retrieve our stacked-up mail at the post office), that’s more than some people get, and I will find a way to be content with that, for now. And I know how fortunate I am to have a backyard. I can see green; I can see color. I can gather some roses; I can dig in the dirt; hear birds in the trees; see the kitties sunning themselves on the hill; watch my dog scamper on the lawn as if she’s a pup and not the old girl she is; feel the breeze on my face; gaze upward to a blue Spring sky. Ah, the little things; the important ones! Gratitude with a capital “G”.
So, Claudia; you’ve got your upcoming shopping plans; you have thought things through as to how to do it efficiently, go in, follow the list, get out, no dawdling; and I guess that’s part of what’s so stunning as we all have to do that now; whereas, in the past, we’d just do spontaneous things, jump in the car, go shop on a whim for pleasant hours; meander inside a favorite store, etc. (And I don’t think we’ll ever take it for granted again! Making a list of all the things I’ll do after a vaccine sets us free!) Let that darn wet snow come and go; you’ll be back out there in the yard and garden before you can blink an eye, and it’ll be your tonic!
I so get it, what you’re saying about this time of year and our garden centers abundant with new stuff for Spring & Summer; I, too, love to slowly stroll through my favorite garden centers around-about now, in the Spring sunshine (not too hot yet!), looking at the plants and colorful ceramic pottery; the fountains with their bubbly water like a happy song in the background; all the new garden statuary for the season. Even the new garden furniture; colorful patio umbrellas. All of it. Sigh. I could chance it; our garden center is open as part of an essential business which is a hardware store, but the spaces are too crowded; I just can’t see how I could physically distance in those narrow outdoor aisles at my particular store (yours sounds much more do-able).
(I’m with you on the procuring of food and supplies. I am SO sick of scanning online services and online stores, trying to find available stock; trying to get a delivery slot, etc. [I finally got one elusive prescription drug today and they’re mailing it to my house, God Bless ’em.] I can’t believe how much it has dominated the days and weeks; stuff we never heretofore gave a thought to. But then I think of the people in those long lines of cars [hours & hours] waiting to pick up free food when they have no job. I know I’m lucky I can still even BUY food [although the coffers are VERY depleted around here and we’ve got other bills to pay]. We haven’t been told we can’t tip the grocery delivery driver who’ll come tomorrow, so we’ll be prepared to hand him/her an envelope of some cash; with Instacart, we’d been able to conveniently include the gratuity with our online order. We’re so deeply appreciative of the help; like you, we wouldn’t think of not tipping unless prohibited, and I’m proud to say we’re generous tippers; on my part, that’s thanks to my father and a lifetime of me observing him to be fair and decent on so many levels. My husband worked in a family restaurant for YEARS during high school and college; he knows what it is to be dependent on tips for one’s livelihood.)
(I dated a guy once [the one I’d thought I’d marry; thank God I didn’t because I was meant to find my husband which came much later!] who was a lousy tipper; a cheapskate. This guy is easily worth several millions of dollars today from what I understand [a property mogul] and I’m sure he has every dime he ever earned [unlike me, who doesn’t have much of a pot!]. You never see him donate to local charities and community causes, which doesn’t surprise me. [We still live in the same town; I hear more than I want to hear or know about him. We’re a poor small city, so of course the wealthy and successful stand out.] On the one hand, back in the day all those MANY years ago, I was crazy in love with him; but, frankly, he embarrassed me when it came to these things [like tipping, when we’d go out] in our shared, distant past. NOT, in my personal opinion, good quality or character in a person, especially when you have the means. [I suppose it all weighed in on why I did NOT marry him!] I don’t mean to sound ‘puffed up’ like some ‘goody-two-shoes’ person, but I’m glad I was brought up to look outside myself [most of the time anyway]. I can recall when my now-deceased brother was traveling in a foreign country and he gave a beggar on the street a healthy handout and the man was so grateful for the cash that he cried. There’s a lot of desperate people out there, and you don’t have to be in a foreign country to find them; they’re right here in your own neighborhood and we’ll see more & more of it with this awful economic downturn and SO many people out of work.)
I was thinking, too, of the resiliency of people, especially the younger ones. We’ve just learned that a mom on our block is pregnant again and they say this now completes their small family. Happy for them. It was planned. They decided to not ditch their plans! I’m sure it’s challenging to get to all the pre-natal appointments in the middle of an epidemic; and they’ve got another toddler who’d need his pediatric appointments (and she’s homeschooling the older child, so she’s got her hands full [but, you know, when you’re young, you can do anything; and she worked outside the home til recently…so, despite living on one income now {the father is a hard worker and thankfully has a job which is considered ‘essential’ during the epidemic}, they are very glad she can be a stay-at-home mom]). Point to me being, they’re pressing on, and not letting the virus stop their family/future; so, more power to them. With so much talk of hardship and death, I just felt this neighbor’s news was so uplifting and hopeful, and a reminder that life must and will continue…we adjust, we adapt but we carry on…
…such that we need to still make our plans for the short-term and long-term; life will not be on ‘hold’ forever and we will prevail over this virus thanks to all the smart people out there who’ll come up with the ways to fight it!
Good news about your neighbor! That’s lovely.
We are generous tippers, too – always have been. Even when we have very little money, and that has been the case many times, we still tip generously. I must admit our cash reserves are being depleted this month. Too much money spent because we have to order ahead of time, trying to anticipate what we might run out of. If that makes sense. xo
Makes SO much sense. We have spent much more money than usual with this stocking-up business. For earthquake preparedness (SoCalif) we were very behind, so that’s now taken care of … but it’s more than that (a 2-week suggested supply), feeling we’ve had to anticipate store shortages against what we figure would be our personal needs; and, of course, we can’t go out to do it ourselves (the shopping), so it’s a hedge against running the supplies down too low here at home when we realize how many weeks (and weeks and weeks) we’ll be homebound (nobody else is going to do any preparedness for us; we don’t have adult kids to look in on [or worry] about us; we have to be responsible for our own selves).
The preparedness really has taken up an enormous amount of time, effort, planning and money … which ‘the budget’ wasn’t prepared for (nor were we of course; none of us were). Frankly, it’s been exhausting; like you’d said, I want to sit back now and step away from it for awhile; USE, not purchase. Quit thinking about it. Like, sure, we’ll keep apprised of what’s going on with the food-supply train/chain as much as we can, but the pocketbook and we need a rest. I don’t like the taste of our municipal water and my supply of bottled water is down pretty low (and what’s left must be kept for, as mentioned, earthquake preparedness; enough potable water for two seniors and four animals), and I’m on my last package of paper towels; but, if that’s all I’ve gotta worry about, I’m lucky. Can’t even imagine what it is for a family with kids to feed, no job and rent/mortgage to pay, along with all the other bills.
I want to try to lengthen the time between shopping – for budget reasons and for a respite from always having to think about it. I often wonder how people with a kids and no job do it. My heart goes out to them.
We’ll continue to tip, but I wish it could be made easier for everyone. Not everyone is mobile or has cash on hand. (Don went to an ATM the other day.) But what about the elderly, those who can’t drive? I guess the grocery chain would tell me that since they don’t allow their drivers to take tips, it’s a non-issue.
This day hasn’t been easy for either Don or me. It’s cold, snow is coming, we’re going a bit crazy. But we’ll get through it. Thanks, Vicki. Stay safe!
Exactly. My one quite-elderly neighbor just down the street (lives alone) doesn’t use a computer. Knows nothing about the internet. HER next-door neighbor who is young, healthy and home from college is walking her dog for her and I’m sure she’s getting the older lady groceries (the older lady is probably writing her a check as reimbursement; I don’t know the details). But not all older and/or disabled, homebound people have the luxury of a conscientious neighbor OR family. (In this case, a lot of this older woman’s ‘contemporaries’ have passed on. She has adult children and adult grandchildren but they mostly live pretty far out of the area and I’ve never thought they’re very engaged in her life, sadly.)
But, yes, I wonder who’s ‘out there’ … who needs supplies, even medicines, but can’t figure out how to get it done. It must be bewildering for them to watch their food supply dwindling at home; afraid to go out, if they ARE mobile. We have notices in our newspaper of places you can drive to for a free food box, or where you can go to pick up a ready-meal, point being you have to GET there, and what if you can’t get there or have nobody else to do it for you.
This older neighbor of mine does drive on a very-limited basis but she’s of course not going out in the world since the virus outbreak as she’s of the vulnerable population. (She moves slow; getting more and more unsteady on her feet. She wouldn’t be able to get in/get out at the grocery store very easily.) You just hate to have to think of people falling thru the cracks. A lot of the Greatest Generation particularly are unlikely to ask for help (has to get pretty bad before they will); there’s a personal pride there of not looking to anyone else for assistance and being self-sufficient (I experienced this with my parents).
Oh, Claudia; I hope so much that you have sun soon. The snow must make you feel even more closed in when you’re so especially ‘itching’ to get out there in your garden and feel some ‘freedom’ from indoors; ‘done’ with Winter. My husband showed me a Facebook page where someone he knows in Nebraska got a white blanket of snow earlier Friday but it melted within hours because the temperature suddenly rose into the 60s. He said, “That’s what Spring can be in the Midwest.” He knows because he lived it for a lot of years. Unpredictable! I hope your buds will be okay out in the garden. Darn.
Snow on the ground. Heavy and wet. Depressing – at least, to me. Don thinks it’s pretty. But it will melt as the temp is reaching 49 today. Sigh.
Oh my. …..reading your post and then all the comments has made me realize that I am not alone! For the most part I have been doing okay. We live on a small farm and there is always plenty to do and since I am a homebody and a bit of an introvert, staying home has not bothered me too much. We have four daughters all married with their own families. Three of them work in health care. The other works in food supply, making sure that the stores in five states around us are able to fill their shelves. The three in health care are on the front lines. One was tested for the virus today since the coworker who sat right beside her in the hospital last week became ill and has the virus. Our daughter started showing symptoms today and the hospital won’t let her come back to work until she is tested. My husband and I just stay here on the farm. We were already pretty well stocked up on things. That’s just part of our country life but for the fresh things we need, one of the daughters brings it to us. We visit from a distance.
What has had me in a horrible mood the last few days has been face masks. The hospitals where two of our daughters work (it’s the same network but different cities) has asked the public to make face masks. They set a goal of 10,000 and they are about to meet that goal. I would have made them sooner but had to wait nearly a month for the elastic. Anyway, while I have been sewing the masks I started thinking about the fact that this is the United States of America! If we had any leadership in this country, hospitals wouldn’t have to ask the public to make them. They would already have what they needed. And of course when I think about that thing in the White House, I just keep getting more and more angry. I’m sure my BP is up. Thankfully we do have Gov. Cuomo to listen to and we especially thought the press conference today was good.
But, all in all , we are just taking it one day at a time. I am so thankful you write this blog every day. It’s the first one I read. I come back later and read the comments. While I don’t know you or any of the ones who comment, it does feel like we are all connected. And in this day and time, I think that is a good thing.
Sorry for such a long comment. You and Don take care and stay safe.
Oh, Lorinda, you do have worries, legitimate ones. Hoping your daughters stay healthy and glad you and your husband have the farm. Thank you for sharing here. You’re right – we are all connected. Stay safe!
sorry you’ve not been feeling well, that today’s been a hard day and snow is headed your way. hope tomorrow is easier, brighter for you!
we had more snow overnight and for a little bit i didn’t think about the virus … just how beautiful the snow looked outlining all the tree branches and how clean it made the world seem. that was a nice little break.
then i went to work and reality reappeared for dealing with people who are sick yet say nothing but “come on in” (i sure don’t stay then) or who act like nothing’s wrong in the world and get angry when i remind them to stay at least six feet away from me. ugh. and scary.
on a happier note …
many congratulations to don on his sobriety! that you both shared your stories will certainly help other people. thank you for that. i drank socially in my twenties (going out with friends on a friday or saturday night, never at home). no addiction, but too much a few times … not good. one of my best decisions ever was to stop drinking 32 years ago. … see?! your sharing freed me to share, too. thanks for that, too. :)
also, my niece had her baby yesterday, her husband could be there and they are all doing well!!! :) they are supposed to go home tomorrow and i will be so relieved when they are out of the hospital! :)
good luck with the grocery pick-up. and keep dreaming about the gardening that you will get to enjoy soon. soon-ish.
stay safe and have a good weekend, everyone.
kathy in iowa
Congratulations to your niece and family. Good news! I’m sorry you have to deal with people who have no idea how to social distance. It must be maddening. Stay safe, Kathy.
also …
i loved, loved, LOVED your governor’s response today to the man who should never have been our president who tweeted a self-serving, flip-flopping lie about him (governor cuomo). LOVED it!
kathy in iowa
Wasn’t he great? I love him.
Claudia, Thank you for blogging in this troubled time. I love reading your blog.
I too have down days . It’s very hard not to. Thank God for strong governors !
Thank God, indeed! Thank you, Sandy. Stay safe!
Wow, between Martha, Donnamae, Chris and I there are now 4 of us from Wisconsin here. The state where the weather is too darned cold and it keeps snowing every day. The plants are coming up in the garden despite the cold. The nurseries here are still closed but I sure hope they’ are allowed to open in May. Like others here, I kind of consider them essential to my well-being this time of year.
I love your philosophy of giving yourself permission to feel whatever mood you’re in. Have to admit I’ve had some bad attitude days lately and doing as you do would probably help me put it behind me quicker. Sometimes my black moods match my husband’s business fortunes. And he has had some extremely stressful days figuring out the role his non-profit can play in the new post-virus world we’ll be negotiating. Just when we think all is lost something happened recently when he got a call out of the blue from someone he knew from the Obama White House who now is working for the Democratic campaign and asking him to advise them in his field. The recognition of what his organization has already and can in the future accomplish will certainly help. Still, the complicated search for some of the stimulus money will go on so he can keep his staff together.
I’m just looking forward to the day when I don’t wake up with my stomach in knots worrying about what sort of future my sons will have. They graduated college during the Great Recession and now will have to live through a major depression to rival the one their grandparents grew up during. We waited and planned before we started our family. Boy, sometimes I think our timing was crap. And then one or the other of them sends me a goofy text to cheer me up and I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Take care.
Kay
I’m thinking of you and your husband and of the positive work he does. This must be a very stressful time for him, Kay. I know you worry about your boys, but it sounds like they have a good attitude about this. You and your husband did a good job with your boys. Stay safe!
Hello Claudia is not being easy for all of us, I am also exhausted, working tirelessly at the hospital, my home careless, so much to do in short time, cook, feed my animals, water the plants and still sewing masks because here in Brazil we are missing, and the solution is to use the same ones. Take care.
Oh, Edis. Please take care. I worry about you working in a hospital. Try to get some rest when you can my friend. Praying for you. Stay safe.
No room for a tip for my grocery delivery service either, and this next delivery, in addition to leaving notes like “any size, any brand”, I’ve started adding notes like “thank you! You’re awesome” randomly throughout my shopping list. It’s something.
Our local nursery did delivery for a little while but couldn’t keep it staffed. Otherwise, I believe it’s order and pay online or over the phone and pick it up at a certain time.
I need to do what you do, leave notes saying ‘any size any brand.’ That’s a good idea! Stay safe, Leanne!