FLASHBACK to 2020! I stumbled upon this essay which I did not have the energy in the height of COVID to pursue. You remember – those early days in the pandemic where we were all in the upside down. It’s better now, but I’d still like it NOT to be our new normal. Here’s a glimpse into that time, and likely what many of us were feeling:
I use humor to deal with stress. It’s a very tricky thing for a writer to do during the world’s current state of affairs – which is the plethora of viruses and bacteria out to kill us, largest among those in the moment is COVID-19.
It’s not that I don’t take all of this very seriously. It’s because I do. If I don’t try to lighten the mood here and there, I’ll disappear down the rabbit hole. So, please know I am completely sensitive to this, and know that I am just taking snapshots to diffuse the bigger picture right now.
With that disclaimer, I am going to begin with the first chapter in what will unfold into the COVID Chronicles.
Foraging for Food
I have a suppressed immune system. Hence, I’m one of the “high risk” individuals when it comes to COVID-19. This is doing nothing for my paranoia. I have been in an enclosed building to purchase any item a total of three times since March 11. Afterward I’m convinced that any slightly sore throat, sneeze, or bout of fatigue means I’ve contracted the virus and my family needs to evacuate. It doesn’t matter that I always have fatigue and weird symptoms. This time, it could be “it.”
So…how to keep the cupboards stocked and the family fed? My husband braves the stores from time to time, showering immediately when returning home and tossing the suspect clothing into the washing machine. Otherwise, we have developed an interesting system of ordering everything we can get through delivery.
I ordered what I thought was a roast chicken, and ended up with 20 roasting pans, sans anything edible in them. Another challenge is remembering to check the sizes of everything, as the pictures lie. I also ordered what I believed to be 8 ounces of a fancy olive oil and ended up with about a quart. It was very pricey. As a writer and web curator, I find this infuriating for customer satisfaction. And then of course, there’s the takeout. Do you wipe down the takeout containers? Dump the food on a plate and throw the container away? Wipe off every grocery item? Let the non-perishables sit in the garage for 48 hours?
A day in the Life
I’m having a hard time remembering what day it is. The new lack of schedule does not have me running my kids to school, walking the dog, grocery shopping, and my usual house and work upkeep. Oh I’m still doing moar of this, but not on schedule, in the usual manner, and not in any order.
Sleep?
Why can’t I sleep anymore? Is this due to the lack of schedule, social life, or anything resembling normal? The sun still rises and sets, but my circadian rhythm seems non-existent. Binging TV has become my late-night go to, and we all know how healthy that is for our sleep cycle. However, I never had the time to watch anything before. God help me, I can’t stop!
Screens
That brings me to the topic of screen time, not just for me, but the entire family. Perhaps I’m a gigantic failure, but I’d like to know now you fare trying to get teenagers to cut down on screen time even without COVID in play. I feel I don’t have a leg to stand on based upon my habits. Now I feel more guilty, because I’m setting such a bad example.
Masking
Maybe I’ve lost oxygen to my brain from wearing all those different masks – both homemade and purchased. My neighbor went into a spree of mask-making, offering up cloth masks in cheerful prints. I do not feel cheerful, and my sons will not wear prints. I’m conflicted with all the different information coming out daily about what masks are best. I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on masks! And zit cream, as they make me break out.
Walking the Dog
I look like a uni-bomber when I take my dog out for a walk, wearing one of my many assorted masks, sunglasses, and a hat. It takes me forever to get ready, while the poor dog is dancing around and trying to control his bladder – because it’s already way later than usual for his excursion due to my non-schedule. And okay, it’s terrifying to take the dog for a walk these days because the news is telling me breathing the very air is risky. I asked my son to do it and he accused me of sending him out to his death.
What the Future Holds
There’s many more weird things I can discuss, these are only the tip of the iceberg. Despite promises to the contrary and the government scrambling to offer reassurance, I suspect this nasty virus, along with others that are awakening, are here to stay. What does this mean as time marches on? Certainly we can’t hide in our houses and not see our friends, family, and co-workers indefinitely. What will my kids, and yours, have to look forward to in their future? How will this pause in their development affect them? That sends my heart into an icy freeze.
I hope the next time I write about this, there is more light and less fear. Stay safe, everyone. Breathe – if you are six feet away from someone and wearing a mask.
