3/29/2020 of COVID-19 Home Life

Chel Owens

I’m not certain what time I awoke this morning. We’d all stayed up late watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We tend to save shows we don’t want the children repeating for times when they’re out of school.

A Twofacebook friend posted a re-posted snippet from a doctor in NY or somesuch. It was an amusing bit despite the message, because the author introduced horrible traits of COVID-19 with specific, sometimes humorous examples. I could not find the darned thing in searching for it this evening; sorry. One of my friend’s commenters suggested the article was in error because the author said COVID is airborne and WHO says it is not.

Two interesting articles: WHO’s statement, and a story about a choir group infecting each other despite washing hands and not hugging.

Last week marked my birthday and one of my children’s. Our traditions usually include the birthday person choosing his dinner and cake, apart from suggesting presents he’d like. I also prepare and present the birthday person with breakfast in bed. Since all of those activities required food, I placed an online order with our local shop …then discovered they were three days out in being able to prepare it.

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It’s supposed to be a motherboard cake.

Another child’s birthday approaches this Saturday, so I just finished an online order for his requests. Yes, the store is now booked out till Friday. I intend to dilute the remaining milk with some of our (expired) powdered variety.

My order is for fresh items we can’t store, like bananas, and some cake decorations.

Like most of you, I find my irregular drives to be surreal experiences. Yesterday’s post office run took me past empty restaurant parking lots that advertised drive-up or delivery options STILL AVAILABLE. Twofacebook friends lament cancelled concerts or Spring Break trips. I receive the occasional e-mail update about this dentist now closing, or this doctor or this specialist I haven’t been to in five years anyway. It’s good to know I can’t go, if I miss them.

Despite the doom and gloom, I feel an overwhelming level of community support and love. There are still idiots, naturally. There are selfish acts and short-sighted people. Overall, however, we’re sticking it out for the greater good.

woman about to reach camera

Photo by Wesley Souza on Pexels.com

Utah’s governor issued a ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe‘ directive. Our Salt Lake County Mayor issued a ‘can smack you if you break these new suggestions’ directive. Our county has the highest number of cases, but we’re also the most populous and densely-packed area in little ol’ Utah.

I’m realizing that the long-term plan is for us all to be exposed at some point, but in a spread out manner. We can’t turn off the world forever.

But that world keeps turning. I keep turning on it, in my tiny corner and in my tiny world. So, I hold my boys when the panic hits. I hold a handful of chocolate chips sometimes, too. I tell my mother I love her. I tell my relatives with anxiety to not panic. I tell my relative doing his medical residency that we’ll pray for him. And, like everyone else, I wonder when we’ll return to whatever normal might be.

 

©2020 Chelsea Owens

37 thoughts on “3/29/2020 of COVID-19 Home Life”

  5. Our youngest Grandson was one year old and our daughter brought him to bifold doors (I live 45 minutes away). I left his gifts and disinfectant on the garden table. He walked crablike; his first excited steps, hands and mouth too the cold glass as he tried to reach Lilly. Did I bother that I cleaned all windows the day before, or that Our rescue pup Lilly followed him on the inside. Smudged nose & tongues left wet messages as she tried to get to gorgeous George. Hand and lick prints stayed long after they had gone. We can find magic in these difficult times. Xx #LoveMyFamily

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    1. ❤:(❤
      My parents respect our decision to stay in, but do not necessarily agree. I think showing up without allowing contact might be too hard on them.

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  6. Love the motherboard cake. Happy birthday for last week, and birthdays for your children. These birthdays will be memorable for years to come and they’ll have stories to tell their grandchildren that will beggar their belief.

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  10. Tough times indeed. Awesome cake. Holy Grail is a classic. I imagine the boys enjoyed it. Even the rude bits are pretty mild for most schools today…sad. It is all-consuming, and I can’t help wonder what ‘post-covid’ life will be like, or when that will be. Hang in there!

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    1. Yes. Thanks! 🙂 Don’t worry- we edit the questionable bits. Yes; my 9-year-old keeps saying, “Nee!” True, judging by what my middle-schooler tells me is said in the halls… (You know, back when he was in the halls).

      I don’t know. You hang in there, too!

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  11. Happy belated birthday Chelsea, another year wiser. Monthy Python is a classic along with The Life of Brian. We had my sons 40th by facebook. Wishing you and your family well in these trying times.

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  13. I’d say your situation is fairly close to ours. I’m home all the time except for a daily walk. There are definitely fewer people out and about. One of the odd things to me is how distant some people have gotten. Many don’t make eye contact, nod, or even say hello. That feels totally weird to me. We had to put our dog down on Friday as his cancer spread so rapidly he was refusing to eat. Best dog I’ve ever owned in sixty-one years. Too much sadness all at one time I certainly haven’t felt like writing much of anything, although I have been reading a lot. I wasn’t aware you live in Utah until now. Much luck to you and your family from California (not a heavily populated area).

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    1. I’m so sorry about your dog, Pete. You’re mourning, then experiencing the social distancing -yes, you’re right about the avoiding eye contact and such. We all know we have to stay away, so I suppose that translates into all nonverbal communication being suppressed. 😦

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    1. I did a search for the pickup options of Wal-Mart and another grocer with similar results. I can always go in, but prefer not to.
      You’re absolutely right; we’ll keep on keeping on.

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