Positives in a Scary New Reality

It is insanely weird to me to think that just a week ago my largest stressor was preparing for my IEP meetings (4 of which are done, 5 of which are postponed until...?), and now I am taking inventory on food supplies and carefully list-keeping expiration dates on meats to see what needs to be frozen, and also peeling baby potatoes that went a bit green that ordinarily I'd have chucked, but now I'm like, WHAT IF THERE ARE NO MORE POTATOES? SAVE THE POTATOES!

My depression-era Grandma would have been proud if she'd lived to see this new reality. 

I am officially home; there is no school for students for the foreseeable future. I uploaded all my extension materials to my Google Classroom and printed all the packets (which my TA compiled to mail out, since I did not feel comfortable going in for the few hours today to print/copy/whatever, but I did print everything to my classroom printer so she didn't have to go to the copy room, which may have been a bit like the Cornucopia in the Hunger Games, I imagine).

See, I have asthma that triggers hard whenever I have any respiratory infection, and we now have local transmission in our community, and so I AM NEVER LEAVING THE HOUSE TO GO IN PUBLIC AGAIN. A walk, yes. Anywhere there are peoples? NO. Not gonna lie, so happy that we live in a less-populated area and I have this privilege of going outside and not worrying about social distancing. Also, Bryce is now working from home, so we don't have to worry about his exposure from this point forward, either. We are officially hermits, now that our county is officially in an outbreak.

We started with one case on Wednesday, which was travel related. Then Friday night we had a confirmed second case that was unrelated to travel and a local public school employee. She became symptomatic around 3/4 AND... now we have 11 cases. That we know about. Because it's a time machine, and what we have now is what happened 1-2 weeks ago. It's probably going to do the whole exponential thing it's doing everywhere, but the fact that it was a school employee freaks everyone out because our schools and sports and music communities are so interconnected, and we have teachers in our district who are parents in that district, and it's just a web of contagion.

Everything is closing -- schools, libraries, gyms, restaurants/bars (except for takeout), rec centers...it seems like the list just keeps going. Now we can't be anywhere with more than 10 people. A few days ago it was 50. (Of course now it matters not as I won't be anywhere with more than 2 + a cat.)

But I am not freaking out. No no no. Breathe deep. Think of some positives.

POSITIVES:
- Our school district rallied and did a food drive that will provide boxes and totes of food to our families who may not otherwise have those stores of nonperishable foods, and received $5000 in donations to buy food supplies for families, and the Food Service department packed 1000 bag lunches/breakfasts for delivery. Before Friday I had the chance to bring two full bags of groceries to the drop off, so I feel like I got to be a part of that effort too. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy (and relieved that hopefully none of our kids go hungry during this time).

- I have an insane amount of books to keep me company during this time. Like, for some reason, I did a whole crazy book hoarding thing for two months between the indie stores in Vermont and our local indie store in Palmyra, NY, and I could probably be fine THROUGH THE SUMMER.

- My Pilates studio closed temporarily, but they are doing virtual classes and so I can continue working my flexibility and balance and strength and support their local business. Between that, the walking, and limited food choices moving forward, maybe I will get in the best shape of my life!

- I have a zillion puzzles, some I haven't even done yet ever, and so that will take up some time. I'm obsessive and have a hard time stopping once I start, but now all I have is time, so have at it!

- This is a time for creativity-- writing, cardmaking, all kinds of stuff. I have a paint-by-number canvas thing that Bryce bought me during the hysterectomy stay-home-time, and I never did it, so now's the time, cheerful pink zinnia painting! (That goodness it's by number, because I suck at drawing/painting from scratch). Also, plenty of time for blogging!

- I feel like even though the news is all End of Times feeling, there's also stories of people coming together. Mr. Rogers' helpers are everywhere. It helps me feel less scared.


I hope you and yours are safe, and I hope you have what you need to hole up and ride out this crazy situation. It's so weird to say "pandemic" and not be making some weird stupid joke or talking about a YA novel. SO much thanks and love to the medical professionals who have to go out there and do their work on the ground level of this thing, risking their own health to take care of others. I appreciate you.

Want to read more #Microblog Mondays? Go here and enjoy!