Ho Hum

It started on March 21, 2020. The shelter in place order was iterated by the Governor of Illinois and we took it to heart. We stayed home. We got masks from someone, I think I remember a doctor’s office before shutting down. Ordered more online.

Church friends phoned asking if we needed anything from the grocery store. We did, just a few incidentals. They bought them and delivered them the next day to our door. A blessing. And, it gave us time to consider how we were going to get groceries at all.

We settled on Target’s online shopping number. They did a quick pivot to make local deliveries, especially to elders. We did this for 6 or 7 weeks. Then the shelter in place order was modified and we ventured out again.

We had been picking up fast food orders at drive-thru lanes, had ordered from delivery outlets, and picked up curbside restaurant orders. We also frequented the drive-thru lane at Walgreens. Local stores set aside special shopping hours for elders. All much appreciated, and all made the new routines possible.

Now we are venturing into the stores fully masked and sanitizing hands once home. Watchful eyes on supplies kept us writing lists for the next adventure to Target, Family Foods, or Walgreens!

When we started it was cold, dreary, late winter rains and even more snow. Then the cold yielded to warming spring days. Green sprouted from trees and bushes. Lawns turned green from winter’s brown. Blue skies returned with very hot temps.

When once we worried about weather and what accommodations we needed to make to it (heavier or lighter coats, umbrellas or snow boots), we now didn’t have to worry at all. We had nowhere to go that was demanded. Ergo we watched the weather from the security of our apartment windows. I recalled long ago commutes of 40 minute train rides in each direction, and the daily 5 mile roundtrip walk to and from rail stations. Kept me thin but man did I spend money on shoes and slacks! Salt destroys everything!

We note more and more the absence of masks among the public. Diners outdoors arrive and leave maskless. Outdoor bars provide seating close together and again, no masks in view. The virus ramps up its spread. People are concerned with trends, but do little to adapt to them.

Newscasts tout the pandemic’s journey across the nation and back again. Health experts warn of surges and rising death count. All to little avail. We elders have no choice but to remain in place. Our lives have adjusted to include frequent phone calls, steady line of emails, and an increasing Zoom presence. We are becoming adept at camera shoots.

The strange has become ho hum. We are used to this now. Part of me is OK with it. Another part still aches for outdoor air and social mixing. I can do this for many more months if called upon. We are busy indoors and happy with it. Last night we slept nearly a full 8 hours. I can’t remember when that last happened.

I wonder if this has anything to do with aging or retirement. Or both? Certainly it no longer pertains to COVID-19.

July 15, 2020