We’re ensconced. “Nesting in Place” as I call it.
After a couple of hours of running yet more errands yesterday; stopping at the pharmacy, the art supply shop, the chocolate shop (essential), the bookstore and the supermarket, we were wiped out. The week has been stressful, as you well know, and I think it really hit us. I was out and about more this week than I ever am, getting supplies, then realizing we need more supplies, and then doing it again. Enough, already!
I am not going to read any more reports on the coronavirus this weekend. Nope. We have done all we can – we’ve washed our hands and used hand sanitizer, we’ve cleaned steering wheels and door handles and grocery carts and have stopped shaking hands. Now, we’re in for however long we need to be.
The scene in the grocery store yesterday:
This was the paper products aisle. Completely cleared. Nothing. The lady we spoke to at the checkout said more was coming in on Sunday. I can’t tell you how many conversations we had about these empty shelves with fellow shoppers. It’s the kind of ‘we’re all in this together’ feeling that we get when there’s an impending blizzard.
As you know, I just finished The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford, listened to a podcast about the Mitfords, and now I’m a wee bit obsessed about these six sisters. I’ve read a fair amount about them over the years. I want to read more of Nancy Mitford, but Diana, Deborah, and Jessica were also prolific writers. I ordered a book through Amazon the other day, thinking I would have it in hand before I had to stay home indefinitely. It came yesterday, but I also remembered seeing a book about the Mitfords at a local bookstore earlier in the week. I found it when we were out and about yesterday and was happy to see that it was a different book than the one I had ordered. So I ended up with two books about the Mitford sisters.
I started reading The Sisters last night and I’m thoroughly engrossed. The volume of letters will be next. That book is used so I got it for $8 at the bookstore. The Sisters is written beautifully by Mary Lovell. Given the fact that these women led such unbelievably interesting and sometimes, quite shocking, lives, it reads like a novel.
I’m looking forward to reading even more later today.
I found out that Jane Eyre, which was supposed to have closed its run this Sunday, closed Thursday. Hartford Stage has also cancelled their next, and final, production of the season. I know that they are struggling, as is every regional theater in the country. This could devastate them. I pray it doesn’t.
By the way, we are trying to help our local businesses. They’ve had very little traffic the past few days. Except for the supermarket, which is part of a regional chain, every place in which we made purchases yesterday was a locally owned business. They need our help now.
So much change in a week.
But friends, there’s nothing we can do now but stay home if at all possible and, yes, here it is again:
Nest in Place.
Take care of yourselves.
Happy Saturday.
Here in Canada there is a movement asking people who can afford it to not ask for refunds for theatre tickets they have already purchased for shows which are canceled. Hopefully that will help small professional theatres weather the storm of these closures.
That is wonderful, Brenda!!!!! I hope EVERYONE does that. My husband is a public school music teacher, and I beg you PLEASE to not ask for refunds for school musicals and performances, as well. We had a big one to happen in our community this weekend which was canceled. The kids (and directors!!) are devastated. Please don’t ask for your $10 or $15 back. These are money makers for their programs going forward.
I saw the neighboring town’s ad for their production of Music Man and it’s slated to be performed in a week or so. I turned to Don, remarking that if it is canceled, as it surely will be, they will be devastated. I well remember how important those performances were for us when I was in high school.
Yes, I don’t know all the details, but my husband’s friend and co-worker has a son who has been training for the Olympics; he’s a swimmer, and he also has a college scholarship he’s shooting for, which the swimming (and I guess the numbers of competitions/matches/rankings [?..I don’t know what some of it is called]) is tied into, like a sports scholarship or something, and the meets right now and til end of the semester were critical to his standings and qualifying, but all the meets have been cancelled, as school is also cancelled, so everything the kid has worked for in the past three years is likely out the window, as the meets will not be rescheduled. My husband’s friend didn’t even really want to bring it up to anyone, because there are people in so much more jeopardy with job loss, etc., but it’s an illustration of just one family’s story (they’re devastated, especially the kid) among thousands/millions experiencing this kind of disruption and disappointments. For instance, they’ve spent a ton of money over the last years, driving the kid to meets and races or even flying him here & there, so it’s involved hotels and the like, all the practices early in the morning when a pool is available; has come to screeching halt, and this kid has a huge identification with swimming; it’s his whole young life. And you all are right, these things are huge to kids because they don’t yet have the problems of adulthood; their sports, their performances in school plays, etc. are EVERYthing to them, and it’s hard for them to understand some of these world problems.
This is hard for everyone. Especially those who are doing high school musicals, performances, getting ready to graduate, competitive yound athletes…
That’s absolutely the right thing to do, Brenda. I hope theater goers here in the States are doing the same thing. Thank you!
Bonjour Claudia,
J’espère que vous et Don allez bien.
We are all in the same boat. Here in France, schools, nurseries, high schools, universities are closed until further notice. Museums, sports or cultural meetings also canceled. No one expected this damned virus and I think there will be more in the future.
Keep safe both of you.
Bonjour de Paris (pas de poignée de mains s’il vous plait !!)
Stay safe, Helene. And I will wash my hands, my friend!
Nesting in place is a perfect phrase. It’s the only safe thing to do. We’ve done all we can. In about a week, I will have to make a prescription run…hopefully I’ll be able to get them all. There is some question as to one of my BP medications, as it’s made in China…fingers crossed it’s still available.
Our trip to the grocery last night, was much the same as yours. The place we shop at is very large, it was very crowded, and the shelves were also very bare. The expressions on other shoppers’ faces was bewilderment. It was…simply surreal.
I am going to use this time to organize everything I’ve been putting off. And read and watch movies….maybe find some new recipes. And definitely plan my gardens.
My wish is for everyone to stay safe…take care of each other…and wash those hands! ;)
Exactly. We’ve done all we can. I can dream of my garden. I can wash walls, wash the siding on the house, read, do crossword puzzles. Stay safe, Donna. xo
I was looking back at your pictures…what is that fabric underneath The Mitfords? It’s lovely! ;)
It’s a throw I got years ago. It used to be on the back cushions of our old loveseat. Now it’s covering up my very old ottoman which is leaking its stuffing!
Well…it’s doing a fantastic job covering up the leaking stuffing…and it’s pretty to boot! ;)
xo
I read two things I didn’t need to know about. Yes, the supply problem. Which is I guess why they wanted us to stock up on our BP meds, not just for not having to get out, but also because we might not be able to get them because they’re simply not being manufactured? But, also, there’s a newly-released study (preliminary, and it’s just one, so of course don’t panic … hmmm[!!] …) that one of my BP meds (there are several types of these meds for high blood pressure of course) may interact in an unfavorable way with the Covid-19 virus, bottom line being that my drug may be very friendly with the novel-coronavirus; they like to keep house together. It’s an early study, because we don’t know much about Covid-19 yet.
But this is not empowering, that’s for sure. I just think overall that people aren’t liking this feeling of no control; it IS bewildering. I’ve decided I just personally can’t go out at all; I’m a major target for this virus. Even just a couple of weeks ago, I’d thought I’d be able to get out in the car, take a drive; get to a certain errand (with great care, obviously). Now, I’m sticking to my backyard and the interior of the house, that’s it. It puts a burden on my husband to do a few things out in the world for both of us but, thankfully, he’s being very, very careful. For himself AND for me. I just hope everybody else out there is equally careful; that the virus warnings have really, really sunk in; and, even if they’re young and less at risk, that they think about the whole population, and maybe their parents/grandparents. I have to have faith of good intelligence out there; smart young people who ‘get it’. Who understand the big picture. I did see a headline where ‘experts’ are now telling young families to cancel playdates, heed the social distancing. We’re all in this together.
Claudia,
I don’t think you could have a better place to nest in. Your home gives me the feeling of being hugged.
Well, you are being hugged, my friend. Stay safe, Susan.
I have always wanted to ‘just stay home’ anyway. so to me if feels just right.
but then I’m an introvert. so I understand what it might be for very social people.
it’s almost like a silent war.
I’m hoping when the temps all over get hot again with summer… it will magically
disappear.
one can only hope! xo
Introvert as well, so I understand. It will be hard for someone like my friend Rick, who needs to socialize and get out of the house. I love that – a silent war. You’re absolutely right. Take care of yourself, Tammy!
XO
Nesting is place is so perfect. I’ve been home sick, but am planning/hoping to return to school on Monday. I’m nervous .
Minnesota has cancelled many events, but so far is leaving school closures up to the individual districts. I hope a decision to close doesn’t come too late.
As has been said of other trial…this to shall pass. Praise God.
Don’t return if there is any worry on your part, Trudy. I honor your devotion to your students, but your health – and the health of the students – is the most important thing. Take care, my friend.
We, too, are nesting at home. Our daughter is coming out today and I am making our annual Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner. We are all healthy at this moment, and I look forward to her visit. Both she and our son and his wife start working from home on Monday. Our first grandchild (son & wife) is due next week. I am trying so hard to keep the joy & happiness in this event, and keep these newly added worries away for this beautiful time in our life. Not easy. But, we all are facing these issues with things like weddings and anniversaries, and other celebrations that have been planned for many months. I think that actually does “help” a bit, knowing we are all in this together.
Take care, everyone. Remember you can still keep in touch with family and friends, and we should do that! It is more important now than ever. And, to you, Claudia, thank you for hosting us at this lovely place where so many of us come every single day to keep in touch and follow you, along with keeping in touch with many of your regular commenters. Nesting can be a very good and fine thing. And hopefully we will all be out digging in the dirt in the next few months with this successfully behind us. ♡
The arrival of your first grandchild is exciting! I hope you will share with us when that happens. We need some good news about now! Enjoy your family dinner! ;)
Yes, do announce it to us, Chris! Anything positive and life-affirming is much needed by all of us. xo
We are nesting here also. I am retired so I plan to hibernate for the duration. I had not wanted to use delivery services before but now I am grateful that they ere available and just placed my first grocery delivery ever. My children both work in offices downtown but at both places they are trying to arrange for telecommuting. I hope that works out. I am praying for all to be safe and well and this pandemic to be wiped out soon.
I’m thinking we might want to order via delivery as well. Stay safe, Cristina.
There was a ‘virologist’ (had to look it up; they study/research the affect of virus on humans and animals in various settings like a community or the natural environment, as one example; many/most seem to be MDs) talking on a MSNBC (TV) panel and the question was posed from a viewer about the whole chain of: Somebody had to pack the items from the factory, then unpack them at the store destination, then the checker picked up each thing to run it thru the scanner at the checkstand, somebody sacked your groceries, etc. – – so, whether you were there in person or have a shopper thru a home-delivery service, where somebody else has shopped the items for you, handled the stuff and gotten it packed up to deliver, maybe somebody else is actually taking it to your door, look at how many times it’s handled in either instance (i.e., the many chances for virus contagion) . . . the question being, what do we do? The virologist said, “Wash off each item once you bring into your home. And wash your hands.” (That’s really all they can tell us, for now.) Somebody else asked about shared laundry facilities in apartment buildings, the same equipment used by many people. The panel experts felt the laundry soap and then the heat of the dryer would kill the virus germs; I assume the person would be using a disinfectant wipe on operating knobs & buttons. The one doctor said he went to a hair appointment, but it was two weeks ago; I got the distinct feeling he wouldn’t do it by this weekend (since you’re in too close proximity to the person cutting your hair; my husband is annoyed with himself that he, too, didn’t get a haircut two weeks ago!). If you go to the dentist, you have to hope/assume the dental technician and doctor is practicing good hygiene with sanitized dental tools & equipment but of course, til Covid-19 testing, there’s no telling who’s positive out there or not for the virus (could even be the doctor). I mean, you could really go crazy with this stuff; we can’t be completely sure of anything it seems.
You hear varying reports on how long the virus lives on surfaces…I’ve read ‘a few hours’ up to 24 hrs on paper or cardboard, but then somebody else says, no, it’s more like 72 hrs; 3 days for metal and wood…but then I also heard that it’s still on wood and metal surfaces up to 9 days when it was in a lab setting. Which is right? We need info. HAVE needed it; some of this is too little too late. All I know is, when we (husband and I) unloaded from the last run at the grocery store this past Thursday, of course we were handwashing, but we sure didn’t disinfectant every single can, every single bag of pasta; every box of Kleenex; each carton of milk; the package of paper towels. We did set the grocery bags on the floor rather than the kitchen countertops, pulled from the bags. But we just took the items out of the sacks and put them in the cupboards, or on a shelf, or the freezer/frig. So I guess we were stupid in our haste? For all we’ve tried to be informed? This is the time to be a total germaphobe, but it seems we slipped up.
I swear, all you can do at some point is throw up your hands and give it up to God. Pray for the tests that should have been here six weeks ago. Hope for the best. It’s impossible to cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’, for as much as we’ve all tried to do the right things.
These doctors on the panel said to not confuse quarantine with self-isolation/’nesting in place’. If you’ve got a place nearby where you can take a run, enjoy a walk, a little hike, don’t feel trapped or feel you can’t get out. Just do those things somewhere where you don’t have to worry about people’s ‘droplets’; go somewhere devoid of a lot of other people. I guess they mean this for those who perhaps don’t have the underlying issues which pose complications for the virus. Like maybe the 40-year-old who’s in excellent health. There’s a lot of conflicting info out there and it’s really starting to give me one big headache; it’s Sunday now, and it’s a day of rest from headlines and information. Need a break.
I’ve decided this is a great time to stay in and clean. (I never thought I’d say that!!) I’m almost 76 and it’s just not worth taking the chance. Tiff has got groceries for me and so, there’s no reason to be out in this chaos. I think it’s sad that so many have hoarded supplies to the point that there is nothing left for others. I believe in being prepared but some of this is almost ridiculous. So, I’ll stay in and clean and craft.
Stay safe.
Judy
Glad to hear you’re staying in, Judy. Perhaps we can have a phone chat this week? Perfect time to catch up. xo
Hi Claudia. Kay in SE WI here.
I used to comment here pretty regularly until last summer. When our downstairs reno really got underway, I sort of withdrew from online life. The project became very traumatizing and depressing because it went on far too long. Every once in a while though I’ve popped in to read your posts just to make sure everything was OK with you and Don. Vicariously enjoyed your return to Paris. Yay! But didn’t comment. Now I want to fix that.
Winter is over, green things are sprouting out back, and I rather like the idea of “social distancing.” Helps that I’m an introvert as well :-) because my husband won’t be joining me in this retreat. He feels, as boss of the nonprofit he runs, he needs to be in the office. Relieved that his many travel plans are cancelled or on hold though. And really glad he was in Wuhan, China before the first outbreak, but sad they won’t be able to do their planned visit here.
Anyway, take care everyone. With all the reading and knitting and baking and spring cleaning and Netflixing, I doubt it will be boring.
K.
Kay, lovely to hear from you! I hope the reno is now finished and you can relax. Take care of yourself and you’re right – it won’t be boring. Not for us introverts! Thank you Kay.
Our K-12 schools closed Friday very abruptly. What a strange week it has been. We went to the library and loaded up on books. Finishing leftovers and putting off battling the grocery store. We usually do meal planning for the week on Saturday; hoping to go out early tomorrow. My daughter makes a mean sourdough bread and she has stocked up on flour and has her starter working–we’ll live off sourdough bread and peanut butter and jelly if we have to. I’m thinking of it as a big snow day for the world. Thank you for your blog community!
It does have the elements of a snow day. The enormity of the whole thing just hit me. It’s unbelievable. Thanks, Linda.
That’s a good way to put it; the enormity of the situation. We have a somewhat-nearby city, here where we live in SoCalif, who will be closing down (unofficial announcement as yet; it’s in the grapevine with employees) and, by early next week, the scuttle is that it’s expected this particular city (of nearly 200,000 population) will be a ghost town, with the only things open being pharmacies and the beleaguered grocery stores. (Does that mean the doctor won’t be in his office after all? Better not step on a rusty nail. This is no time to be needing a tetanus shot.) And this is just the tip of the iceberg. It’ll happen everywhere. It already sounds like the lockdown in Italy. I don’t think it ever entered my mind that something like this would happen in my time here on Earth; I don’t know why, but I just never thought about such a thing.
I was referring to this city’s City Hall. It’s really no surprise.
Me either.
W are staying in. Just have to walk a block tomorrow to mail some things. We are going to wear our rubber gloves. My friend just called to tell me her Costco was a mad house. The lines were out to the door. She had a panic attack and made her husband take her home. Fortunately, they have enough food. Stay well and safe every one.
Marilyn
Yes, I saw some news video last night of a L.A.-area store which I think was a Costco (Studio City, Calif) and the line was not only out the door but winding around the whole building. That’s a long time to stand in line. I’d have a panic attack, too. It’s no joke.
Then, on Saturday nite late local news, a Costco in LaHabra, CA where the line of customers waiting to get in the store wound around the block. It was astounding.’
I felt sorry for an elderly woman interviewed on the street by a news reporter (really elegant lady and well-spoken), who clearly waited too late to get to the store. Said she went to three stores and couldn’t find paper goods and, due to a specific underlying issue, really could not be without toilet paper. Then another story was revealed of a quite-elderly couple sitting in their car looking distressed, a younger woman walked by and said, “Are you okay?” and it turned out they were too afraid to get out of the car and go into the store; I think it was a grocery store. (Probably afraid for their health, or maybe the crowds.) So it seems the younger woman took their list, bought the stuff for them, loaded their car, and then they paid her, or something like that; but apparently they were so grateful to her, that they cried. The younger woman doesn’t have to worry about her place in Heaven; she went outside of herself for somebody else in need, at a really stressful time for all.
Turns out that news report of the couple in the car was a national story (not a local one from my SoCalif area; there was a video interview of the young woman on CNN) and this was in Oregon … and, in her words and not the reporter’s I’d listened to (it was about the same story/facts as I’d heard [a little diff; the couple actually waved her down and gave her a $100 bill for the shopping]), the point remained about trying to help someone else during this crisis if you can; reach out (as reader Chris here on the blog has said, even just a phone call; keep in touch); again, in this together.
Claudia, you’re doing your part with your blog here at MHC! We need you; keeps us connected. Feels like safety in numbers!
I like the way you’re describing it as ‘nest in place’; sounds more positive, like a gift.
We have friends in a L.A. suburb about an hour from here, and they showed up at the big-box grocery store this morning, 5:45 am, before the store opened. Pitch-black dark and raining (we’re now finally getting some real rain although it’s not heavy; calling it March Miracle for dry SoCalif); and 150 people were already in line waiting for the front door to open. When in the checkout line, the store made each shopper distance themselves from each other by six feet, not three, so it made for a chaotic mess. It took our friends 90 minutes in the checkout line before they were done and out of the store. And by the time they were leaving, they watched whole shelves/aisles being emptied rapidly, while they stood there. Our other friends (mostly my husband’s) who all this time he mistook as living in Hungary, but it’s Czechoslovakia, which I think isn’t called that anymore but is instead split into two countries, like one being the Czech Republic(?), are experiencing a complete deficit in bottled water; raids on the water in the stores. And her sister who lives in Lithuania (borders Poland), and I guess wherever she lives is big on fresh bread/bakeries (or it’s just how they get it there; sounds like they don’t have ‘regular’ packaged bread in ‘regular’ grocery stores), revealed that the bakery is completely devoid of baked goods/bread at dawn. The bakers can’t bake fast enough before they’re cleaned out for the day, like even before the sun comes up. Unreal.
My husband and I just looked at each other, glad we shopped when we did. And that last trip was just Thursday morning, so can’t imagine what we’d find if we went to the store right now, just two days later. I guess the next thing is to look into curbside grocery delivery, as others have said, for weeks on into this…
Well, I’m off to reorganize the frig after doing it for its freezer last night. We’re not-great menu planners but that’s one of our new challenges. My husband and I eat completely different foods, but we’ve gotta try to reach a happy medium on it to make the food last now. (I think he’s going to be very tired of tuna in the can; he might have to learn to like a pot of beans or split peas, simmering for a few hours on the stovetop!) I wonder how much weight people are gonna gain, nervous-munching (or bored) and not getting enough activity?
Stores are still getting deliveries, I believe. Our local store was getting another shipment of paper products, etc., in today.
OMG–empty shelves. Haven’t seen that here yet, but certain items are not available. I think we have enough cat food and litter. Beyond that, we are staying in as much as possible and I am appreciating my home more and more, even tho its darker, messier, and not as organized as I’d like. The one thing my husband couldn’t find today was a book!! Since he’s at a loss due to the cancellation of college basketball, he really needs some good books. I’ll pop out on Monday and see if I can dig something up. Since the information on the situation changes every hour, I’m done for now with the news. We must all take care of ourselves and each other with as least stress as possible. You and Don are a great team!
Yes, with as little stress as possible! Thank you, Nora.
We got home from CA late last night and because we weren’t tired from being on CA time, we went grocery shopping at 10:30 pm. The store was crowded even at that time of night! No bread, no bananas, no almond milk, no Greek yogurt. We did get a couple of packages of TP though. Everyone was actually being sane with the TP and not buying more than two or three packages. Didn’t see anyone “hoarding” it.
Brian did run to a few stores today for needed things. And he has no choice but to go back to work on Monday: He’s a 911 dispatcher.
We certainly couldn’t practice social distancing on the plane or in the airports. I have a feeling people will now be cancelling their travel plans.
Oh, I think most people have already canceled their travel plans. So sad. Glad you’re home safely, Melanie!
Though things aren’t quite so bad here in Australia the world has become strange no doubt about it. Stay strong friends through this testing time, be well and hunker down.
Thank you Deborah. The same to you!
Time to catch up! The Sisters is fabulous. I loved that book — it’s well-thumbed as I’ve been back to it more than once (especially when reading Mitford.) What a remarkable story of these sisters. There’s a netflix doc if still there about Pamela and Unity Mitford and WWII Germany. It’s worth a look.
I don’t get the toilet paper thing — apart from the fact that I think people are panicking that this will be a diahrea kind of thing and stocking up. It’s not and it would help if they read the description! Our paper and sanitizer shelves are the same, as is Canada, from which I returned yesterday. I came home with 28 books, between a visit to the used bookstore, late Christmas gifts and books my friend had finished with, including six Donna Leon mysteries, a couple of Ian Rankin and Karin Fossum, four of the fabulous Susan Hill “Simon Serrailer” series (excellent!) and one of my equally beloved Christopher Fowler Bryant and May books. (I should recommend “Full Dark House” to you — set in the theatre.
So sorry about Hartford. Not unexpected but I feel for all these people in the arts, service industries and independent workers. It’s going to get worse before better, so says Tony Fauci. I believe him.
I’ll look for that documentary. I do get the toilet paper thing, but that’s not to say it’s a bit over the top. If you’re elderly and are going to be shut in for several weeks, what do you do when you have no more toilet paper? If you have intestinal problems or are immunodeficient and have to be inside for several weeks, you need it. If you have a large family, you need it.
Glad you got some great reading material! Thanks Jeanie.