Arbitrary Steps

It's amazing what has changed in my life, and today's excitement is no exception: I get to go to the grocery store! To shield me from any infection my husband has been running all the errands alone, and reports back on what is happening in the outside world. Today I get to go with him to the grocery store!  (It's been around 6 weeks since I went anywhere but once to a doctors appointment, and once to grab take out food)

And it is all true. Just posting it here so in the future I don't forget what was going on: Today is Sunday, April 26, 2020. - We are at 40 days of social isolation. - The dollar is worth $5.32, the euro $5.77 and the pound $6.54. - Gas is $1.49 for regular & $1.79 for premium(only in Louisiana) - Louisiana currently has 26,140 COVID cases, 1,601 deaths. - US Postal Service - while the rest of the world quarantined, we continued to labor with honor, providing the essential service of connecting the world, and providing our constituents essential (and not so essential) packages. - Schools have been closed since mid March and are teaching remotely on-line. This will continue for the rest of the school year. - We have to stay away from each other more than a meter. There are lines / tapes inside the stores to keep people 6 feet apart. - Bars and restaurants only for home delivery & pick-up. - Parks, beaches and walk-in places are not accessible to the public...

My mind honestly can't quite wrap itself around the timeline. All reports are that this lockdown for the pandemic will last 6 months to 2 years, and my mind honestly cannot reconcile how to stay in one house and not leave for that long. We've been home for around 40 days, so I understand some of what is required. Trips out right now are for 2 reasons only; Doctors appointments or to get food, that's it. Going out ANYWHERE is a huge treat. It's not like I gallivanted across the countryside every day, but I did go out for coffee, or we'd peruse vintage shops for the fun of it. Now I find myself thinking "Well today we can go there" only to stop myself, no, that store and EVERY store is closed. There is ONE store open; our local farming supply store. Call me crazy but that doesn't strike me as exciting....maybe in 6 months it will be though. Most of the country is in the same boat, so at least I'm not going insane alone

One of the easiest transitions during this pandemic has been the loss of expectations. I no longer expect goods and services to be available, and I no longer request items from the store really.  This whole situation has made me happy with exactly what I have and over the MOON happy with anything extra. My husband and I now celebrate if our grocery store has certain items in stock, the rest is no longer a disappointment but rather acts to point out in stark terms just how lucky we are to have what we do. My dentist cancelled my appointment and rescheduled for 3 months from now, and I won't be shocked if that gets cancelled later too. I just assume that much of life will be cancelled for 6 months to a year. There is nothing anyone can do about it so I can cry, or I can set out to enjoy all we do have. I also am adamant on keeping ourselves as healthy as possible for the foreseeable future. My husband won't be climbing any ladders, I will religiously floss and excercize and hop...

...are spent sewing  

It seems as though everyone is posting about gaining  the "Cornovirus 15" because they are all home, bored and overeating.  I haven't, I'm maintaining exactly what I weigh. Over the last 3 years I have lost 95 pounds and had to replace all my clothing twice over. Here's one thing being on lock down has taught me that I discovered; The weight loss is for me, the clothes were for everyone else. I always thought that my love of clothing was something for myself that I alone enjoyed but it turns out I dressed for everyone else, however the actual weight loss is for myself to feel better. Funny how things become clear in a crisis ( as I sit here typing I am wearing slippers and fleece pants)

This sign is posted all over town, and I'm sure other towns have similar signs. It reminds me so much of the signs in history books from the 40's.

I feel reckless, and almost like I stepped back to High school and the cops are on their way. Why? Because I was handed an open container of booze in a parking lot by a woman I do not know. Actually our local Applebee's lets you do take out during this quarantine but with a twist: You can take out and pick up BOOZE! I ordered a Black Russian and hubby and I giggled at the simple weirdness of it all ( I drank it at home FYI)

I find myself feeling wanderlust. Now normally I am always home, the Pandemic hasn't changed that, but usually we'll find time to go to a local spot to eat or shop. With the state lockdown EVERYTHING is closed, heck most of the country is closed, but I want to break out. I watch travel videos, specifically my favorite type; Cheesy roadside tourist attractions. Museum of The Bizarre I want to travel and see all the weird and wonderful things, but alas I can't. Honestly the goverment says a month or two, scientists say 6 months to a year, and a few outliers say 2 years until life will get somewhere back to where it was. I am grateful to be safe and alive...but I miss the world in all it's dysfunctional insanity so I browse youtube videos and hope for better days

My husband does all the grocery shopping now, I stay home 24-7 complying with the "Stay at home" order issued by the government. Each week he gives me a rundown on what's still in stock and what is missing. Originally when they said the Pandemic was hitting and to stock up people rushed to clean out the stores, buying rice, beans, and every roll of toilet paper in the county. Now as time has gone on they are bored of the rice and beans and bottled water, so now they're cleaning out the junk food they normally eat. We stocked up weeks ago and don't eat junk, so it's slightly amusing to watch.

I find it so strange just how much everything about daily life has changed. A month or so ago we went to the grocery store and casually bought everything we wanted, not giving it a second thought. Now every time my husband comes home he excitedly tells me what he got, and what changed since his last visit to the store. Today he PROUDLY held up a pack of 4 rolls of toilet paper as if he had hunted, killed and brought it home victoriously! (truth be told I am oddly proud). His true score though? A pound of sugar! Baking is oddly relaxing but supplies are scarce, I managed to buy yeast packets to bake with but ran out of sugar. ( T.P was $13, a month ago it would have been $4. Not bad though, I bought some online for $38 just last week so I'm still quite impressed.) We are very careful not to take the last of anything, I worry about others not getting what they need too. What has changed day to day in just about a month: 1. Hubby used to go to the flea market everyday and hunt for...