Here we are, five months into a pandemic that is ripping this country to shreds. It feels as though the Trump Administration is following advice from a book called 101 Bad Ways to Deal with a Pandemic. Seems as though they’ve pretty much worked through the list. Deny science. Check. Inadequate testing. Check. Encourage people to not wear a mask. Check, check, check.
Nevertheless, despite the disastrous leadership, Clif and I, like many others, have adapted. We’ve figured out how to order most everything we need online. (Thank you, Instacart.) We’ve only gone to a store once since March, and when I hear tales about how too many people have decided that masks are for sissies, I’m not eager to go back.
In truth, I really enjoy having my groceries and other goods delivered, and I’m wondering if I’ll ever go back to in-store shopping. We shall see.
Because of our age and our health issues, Clif and I haven’t strayed too far from home. Every few weeks, he takes rubbish to the Transfer Station. I’ve delivered cards to a friend. We’ve talked about having people over for a socially-distanced cocktail hour on the patio, but we haven’t done it yet, and I’m not sure if we ever will.
Because as it turns out, Clif and I are doing just fine at home by ourselves. We each have our various projects, and we are busy and engaged every single day. We are two introverted elders who think home is best, and this makes it much easier for us to self-isolate. And, we have each other. I really do feel for those who are alone and for extroverts whose joy comes from being around other people.
We are also lucky to have technology. While I know it has its dark side, for us technology has made staying at home not only bearable but also fulfilling and creative.
Because of technology, every day I start out the morning traveling around the world as I check out what my blogging friends are doing. I go to New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, France, and to many places in the United States. Always, I am inspired and moved by what these wonderful friends write.
Clif and I belong to a virtual film club sponsored by our library, and every other week we get together to talk about a movie. What great discussions we have.
Our library also sponsors a virtual trivia night and book group. Clif and I are terrible at trivia, and last week we came in last. No matter. We still had fun. And book group is just as thought provoking as film club.
Once a month, I Zoom with friends from a media group I used to belong to.
Once a week, we Zoom with “the kids.”
Streaming services provide us with plenty of good entertainment—movies, docs, and television series.
NPR offers so many excellent Tiny Desk Concerts that I could listen for quite a while and not hear a repeat.
Naturally, if I were granted a magic wish, I would use it to dispel Covid-19, which has torn lives and economies apart. I might be a homebody, but I would rather not have to be compelled to stay home because of a killer virus.
Plus I miss my kids like crazy.
But I don’t have this power so all I can do is adjust to the situation.
I hope you all are adjusting, too.