July Already?

The other day it was March 21, a Saturday, and the beginning of the stay-at-home reoutine. Today is Wednesday, July 1, 2020. The pandemic raged during the ‘shutdown’ and we made ourselves busy at home. We are retired but busy. We volunteer a lot but able to do that from home via computer, Zoom, email and phone. Oh, and phone texting.


As paperwork caught up, daily routines settled in. Soon bedtimes were adjusted; 9:30 or 10 pm in place of 8:30 or 9 pm. Rising time moved from 4:30 or 5 am to 5:30 am.


Computer time spanned 5:30 am to 10 am. Shower, shave, dress and breakfast shortly thereafter. Then a nap in front of the TV. Nap usually swallowed up an hour or so. Finally, afternoon arrived and a snack lunch ensued.


Then TV binge watching with time outs for household chores and writing more blog posts. Still the afternoons dragged on until dinner. We have been sharing our dinner time with neighbor Pam for many months. We are mutually immune to each other, so we have a family dinner nearly every night. Well, that sounds fancier than it is. We cook frozen thingies or order out with delivery or curbside pickup. Pam brings a dietary pre-prepared meal. Sometimes Rocky cooks up an Italian storm and we share that with Pam.


Following dinner is the news followed by Wheel of Fortune.


That’s it. As the nation begins re-opening from pandemic precautions, we will watch results of virus infections. If stable, we will begin venturing out. But not for a while.


Still, it doesn’t seem possible that June is gone and July is here. Time went by quickly. Retirement provides a steady but modest income to keep rent, car payment and daily expenses current. We have what we need, no frills. We are happy with that. Miss family, friends and colleagues, but we connect in other ways. Eating and writing have taken up much of our time. And naps have filled in the rest!


Not a bad life. We feel the pain for friends and family that are hurting with unemployment and cabin fever. We understand the angst, but we are blessedly free of it. Words of encouragement seem cheap at times like these, but we offer them anyway.


Better times lie ahead. Unless the virus returns exponentially, we should see the new normal very soon now. Well, not quite; an effective vaccine is needed for that.


Keep your fingers crossed. And your masks on!


July 1, 2020