Two Years Later

Shortly after what I view as world lockdown began, March 11, 2020 (the date would no doubt vary from place to place and person to person), I began what I called "The Covid Journal." Thinking, like so many, that this change in our lifestyles would be short-lived, I chose a rather small journal I had bought two years before at Sennelier in Paris. I would record thoughts from this time in words and watercolor. It would all end neatly, when Covid and masks were a thing of the past. Not necessarily a happy ending, but an ending.

Gathering Our Inner Resources

There are times all during life when we need the inner resources to keep ourselves busy and productive all by ourselves.

         ~ Fred (Mister) Rogers 

How are you doing with Omicron? Are you hanging in there? Self-isolating and going out only when necessary? Living with abandon?

New Years, 2018. Those were the good old days! More abandon then!

Learning How to Hug Again

It's a great relief that in many areas things are opening up and people are getting more comfortable being together.

But I'm still apprehensive. I haven't touched a human being for almost three months. Don't get me wrong, Lizzie's great. But it's not quite the same.

Photo by Judy Winter

So I was pleased to see an article in the New York Times about how to hug safely in the world of Covid-19. They do recommend hugging with masks, unless the person you hug has been in your quarantine bubble. And they have wonderful illustrations on what is safe and what is not. This is not.

This is not OK, either. Know why?  When huggers are looking in the same direction, it's higher risk because each person’s exhaled breath is in the other person’s breathing zone.

So this would be really bad!

And this is certainly OK. With a stuffed toy or your pet. But you don't get that person-to-person feeling. (It would be a bad hug for a human!)

This hug is relatively safe (again, wear the mask!)

Here's a good approach (but you need the mask!)

And a very good example -- heads apart, over the shoulder. This is a safe, full-body hug because faces are in opposite directions and that prevents you from directly breathing each other’s exhaled particles. This photo was taken before the days of the mask. Wear a mask.

With grandchildren or littles, hugging at knee or waist level lowers risk is considered safe because direct exposure to droplets and aerosols is less because faces are far apart. But, if they aren't wearing a mask -- and lots of kids don't -- change clothes and wash your hands after hugging this way. Also, don't breathe down on the child -- look off to the side. (And did I mention, masks?!)

Want a kiss? Kiss a child or seated person on the top of the head, where the one doing the kissing is minimally exposed to the child’s exhaled breath. However, because the child could be exposed to the taller person’s breath, it's safest so kiss through a mask.

And you need to keep it short. This kiss is probably not a good idea, too close to the face.

Of course, if you are living in the came Corona-bubble, relax and hug all you want.

But if all else fails...

All I know is this is what I want.

And soon! (And actually, this one is pretty safe!) Happy Hugging!

Quick Check In

How are you doing? We are hanging in there. I've not been out for a week. This morning (Monday) I woke to this.

This, too, will pass. Probably sooner than the Coronavirus.

Michigan is officially going to Shelter In Place today. Our governor delayed as long as she could to keep as many businesses open as possible but with over 1,000 cases, she realized it was time.

For me, it doesn't change much. I'm happy to stay in as long as needed. Months, if I have to, to stay well.  But I'm really feeling for those who have lost their jobs and are trying to wrangle with the unemployment system, especially the independent workers who may fall through the cracks. Those on the front lines deserve our great thanks. Hats off to our health care professionals, grocery store staff, pharmacy staff (who are now doing home delivery), and others considered "essential services." They're working their tails off and more than appreciated by me.

Team Apple Market -- Best Little Grocery in Michigan!

So, life goes on in this altered state. I should be able to say I'm maximizing this time with worthy chores like cleaning the basement and scrubbing the floors. So far, I'm not. But I suspect this will all happen in due course. I have been cooking and whipped up some of Julia's French Onion soup. My favorite part is caramelizing the onions. Usually I make extra to use in other dishes but I didn't have enough onions so they all went into the soup.

It was delicious, especially with Rick's bread. (Easiest recipe in the world. Google Julia Child's French Onion Soup.)

I took inventory with what I could make from my fridge/freezer (just the fridge-top freezer) and I have quite a few options!

I beat Rick at Scrabble. (That rarely happens!)

I've been reading. A lot. A book post soon, but let me clue you into two current favorites. The first is a collection of short stories in the Bryant and May series by Christopher Fowler. These two exceedingly eccentric and aged detectives and their team are some of my favorite characters. I always learn so much about London through their longer books. These are just fun.

Now I'm into Anthony Horowitz's "The Magpie Murders." I'm about halfway through and thoroughly enjoying it!

Meanwhile, Lizzie doesn't know about Coronavirus either. But she's the best purr therapist anyone could ever have.

To be honest, I'm very anxious and on top of that, deeply concerned about my cousin who is in the hospital in Cleveland with complications following surgery last week. This morning I woke with tears in my eyes, on my face and they keep coming back. I think about those whose families are testing positive and worse, ill in the hospital. Friends around the world. Those in areas like Nashville who have already been hit so hard. Friends who will have challenges meeting mortgage or rent payments because they are out of work. Everyone is doing what they can. We're keeping on.

Peter Max painting

Stay well, my friends.

Be Prepared. I Am -- Are You?

Are you ready for Coronavirus? I know we shouldn't panic -- do we panic for the flu? But those of us "of an age" or with compromised immune systems or other issues may be a bit more on the edge. There has already been at least one confirmed death of Coronavirus as I write this, and that from a non-traveler or "community spread." It's time to take this seriously.

I know I am. Because of my lung issues and colonozed pseudomonas aeruginosa, I take this one personally. This disease is not my friend and I'm doing my best to be prepared. We all should because given how it seems to be transmitted, if it comes to your town or city, the last thing you want to do is be out in crowds hanging at the pharmacy or grocery with other sick people.

So, I'm preparing. I must have 40 books on the "to-read" pile, plenty of fleece for felting and lots of paint. I should buy more cat food, though. Lizzie takes a dim view when her food supplies get low.

Seriously, I've been reading articles on the virus like crazy and have found a couple that are particularly interesting. Features from NPR and Scientific American Frontiers were helpful. Now that we hear scientists are being gagged by our government to keep from talking honestly about this disease and its spread (and also hearing otherwise, to be fair), we may be relying on second-hand sources (whistleblowers, leaks, etc.) and not getting the whole story. Knowing what we can learn now is essential.

For current information, we check the Center for Disease Control (CDC) site. 

 Understand, I'm not talking about prepping for the apocalypse. We're talking about a couple of weeks when it might not be to your best advantage to leave the house.

It's very logical. Do you use prescription meds? Plan now to have whatever enough of whatever prescriptions you might normally take on hand so if you are quarantined or self-quarantine, you are set and won't have to head out and either infect someone with your germs or be infected by someone else's. And while you're stocking up, make sure you have adequate supplies of things like Tylenol or Advil and cough drops. You'll use them sooner or later.

The same goes for food. It never hurts to have canned goods or frozen foods at the ready that could get you through a spell. (Those of us who live in the frozen north know what it's like to hit the grocery store the night before a severe winter storm warning!)

The article talks about hand washing and masks and other ways to make sure your home is sanitized so you don't pick up or spread additional germs. Wiping down telephones, shared keyboards and other items just makes sense.

I'm pleased to say I think I'm pretty well set (though I may pick up a few extra boxes of Kleenex when I'm at the store! I'll always use that!) When I was cleaning cupboards before the kitchen re-do, I found enough tuna fish and pasta (penne, spaghetti, linguini, buccatini, ravioli -- yes, all of it; we eat a lot of pasta at Chez Gypsy). There was rice, canned tomatoes, soup, and lots of tea! It could last for weeks. (I'm only a little embarrassed to admit to that!)

And last summer I made tons of pasta sauce from the tomatoes I bought and there may even be a little pesto left, too. Note to self: Buy oatmeal.

 Everyone is telling us to keep calm and wash our hands. (With soap and warm water, as warm as you can take it. The virus doesn't hold up as well under heat. Ditto for drinking hot fluids. Like tea.)  That might not be enough but it's a good start.

I think the best gift I ever got from Rick was when he told me I didn't need to help him at his upcoming trade show in Massachusetts this month. All that hand shaking and being near loads of people from all over -- and who knows where they've been -- would have me a nervous wreck. Instead, he's dropping me off in Canada at my friend Suzanne's to celebrate Christmas, talk books and watch movies for a few days. There is one reported case in London where she lives, so I'm thinking we might not go out much!

As for Rick, I'm giving him some hand sanitizer to take with him -- and he'd better use it!

Wiping down counters with bleach wipes is always a good thing and hand sanitizer will be useful if you do have to be in crowds and can't easily wash hands (20 seconds, please or "Happy Birthday" twice).

I write this somewhat (but only somewhat) tongue in cheek. I know it's not too productive to get our knickers in a knot about this unless there is good reason. But then I think about the implications of someone like me getting this disease and the havoc it could wreak with those I love. It could do the same with you and yours.

Besides, I can't bear the thought of all the bad things they would say about me if Rick and the kids had to clean the basement if I croaked.

Good luck, everyone. Stay healthy.