Day One: Out in the World
When does Day One begin, anyway? On Wednesday of this week my company announced that we would all begin working from home until May 31st. I went in to the office on Thursday and worked a regular (busy) day but took everything home with me, including my plants. Friday I stayed home on a vacation day. I am experiencing Commute Burnout and the irony of beginning my non-commuting work from home status by staying at home was not lost on me.
The corona virus crashed into our psyche like a bull in a china shop. We as a society tried to ignore it as an "other peoples' problem" until the stock market tanked and reminded us that we are them. Yes, we've been washing our hands and using hand sanitizer (even though it feels like rubbing our hands with snot) and keeping our distance from people. As much as possible. Except for that darned commute.
Simultaneously, as Covid19 began its impact on my week, I was experiencing one of my worst allergy attacks in years. My throat and sinuses were itching and running and there were the socially scary sneezes. My work trash filled with tissues and I felt the need to reassure everyone around me that I was not sick. I tried my best to keep my distance from people, not blow my nose in front of anyone and sneeze into a tissue then throw it away immediately.
Maybe Thursday was Day One. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work and was quite shocked to see the empty shelves. It was as if someone scooped them into their baskets, clearing out all the toilet paper, eggs, and rice. The line was 13 carts deep and excruciatingly slow. There is no sympathy for the profiteer who tried to corner the market to gouge prices but got stuck with the goods.
Friday my allergy attack felt like it was turning into a cold. Still no fever or cough to indicate the corona virus. But the potential for a sinus infection loomed large. This morning my throat felt inflamed or swollen and I worry that it will drop into my chest. That's where corona lives. I put up a Do Not Enter sign by downing Emergence C and taking my dog for a walk.
There were so many people out and about in the neighborhood. There were lots of kids playing outside as kids should do. We met a woman with a puppy abut the same age as mine and they played together. In fact my dog is zonked out right now. The woman talked about how a puppy is a lot more work than she expected and that she's 70. I immediately wondered it if was possible for me to pass the corona virus to her from my dog. Not that I have it, but it's a new worry in these times. Are we supposed to avoid older people to protect them? I kept my distance. I didn't sneeze. I don't have the virus. (That I know of. Yet?)
New times and new norms. Will we be able to return to handshakes when this is over?
The corona virus crashed into our psyche like a bull in a china shop. We as a society tried to ignore it as an "other peoples' problem" until the stock market tanked and reminded us that we are them. Yes, we've been washing our hands and using hand sanitizer (even though it feels like rubbing our hands with snot) and keeping our distance from people. As much as possible. Except for that darned commute.
Simultaneously, as Covid19 began its impact on my week, I was experiencing one of my worst allergy attacks in years. My throat and sinuses were itching and running and there were the socially scary sneezes. My work trash filled with tissues and I felt the need to reassure everyone around me that I was not sick. I tried my best to keep my distance from people, not blow my nose in front of anyone and sneeze into a tissue then throw it away immediately.
Maybe Thursday was Day One. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work and was quite shocked to see the empty shelves. It was as if someone scooped them into their baskets, clearing out all the toilet paper, eggs, and rice. The line was 13 carts deep and excruciatingly slow. There is no sympathy for the profiteer who tried to corner the market to gouge prices but got stuck with the goods.
Friday my allergy attack felt like it was turning into a cold. Still no fever or cough to indicate the corona virus. But the potential for a sinus infection loomed large. This morning my throat felt inflamed or swollen and I worry that it will drop into my chest. That's where corona lives. I put up a Do Not Enter sign by downing Emergence C and taking my dog for a walk.
There were so many people out and about in the neighborhood. There were lots of kids playing outside as kids should do. We met a woman with a puppy abut the same age as mine and they played together. In fact my dog is zonked out right now. The woman talked about how a puppy is a lot more work than she expected and that she's 70. I immediately wondered it if was possible for me to pass the corona virus to her from my dog. Not that I have it, but it's a new worry in these times. Are we supposed to avoid older people to protect them? I kept my distance. I didn't sneeze. I don't have the virus. (That I know of. Yet?)
New times and new norms. Will we be able to return to handshakes when this is over?
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