And just like that our world changed!

Wednesday, May 06, 2020
Sunshine Coast Regional District, British Columbia, Canada
It all seemed surreal, people were unsure how to behave — how close is too close? … is it ok to greet people when you pass them at 6 feet; … is it okay to smear my hands in lotion because they’re getting so dried out or will that give the virus something to stick to? … can this 'thing' crawl? ... if I touch my face with unwashed hands why aren't they saying I should wash my face too? ...
So, while we all adapted and felt our way into this new way of interacting I started looking to how I could help, be useful, contribute. I’d been volunteering at the local Food Bank and was sure that was going to be busy so my first go-to was there … but I’m of that certain demographic, and I wasn’t allowed to help anymore. Well then! Now what?
So, when I was invited to join a committee/group that was putting together a plan for our own small community to support each other in a variety of ways, I said, Sure! It was Zoom meetings of course, but I could see after the third meeting that I really had nothing to contribute and dropped out of that.
What next? Masks … I'm on it! I hauled my sewing machine up from the basement, rummaged through old fabric, pillow cases and blouses that should have gone out the door with the cleaning I promised myself I’d do, and set to work making masks. I copied a design from the internet and that worked out okay but then saw more patterns that looked simpler — the pleated ones — and made a few of those. Now, I can sew but I’m no perfectionist seamstress so, after making about a dozen, each one a challenge because I kept changing the design, I decided that was enough of that idea. I gave some to friends and family who don’t sew any better than I do and moved on.
I had suggested that I could maybe FaceTime with my grandsons to read to them once in awhile, once Spring Break was over and school was actually formally suspended. Great! … but internet where they live sucks (frankly) so that didn’t work out very well. I made a few videos of myself reading stories and sent them by email, but it’s just not the same. 
All the while I was still doom-scrolling and tuning in to Dr. Henry. The whole crisis was so huge, so unimaginable. The news coming out of Italy and Spain; the calls to Canadians to ‘come home’; the airports jammed with travellers who were absolutely NOT distancing, potentially bringing the virus with them; the BC/Washington border wide open even though there was a huge outbreak in a Long Term Care facility not far from Seattle … all of it terrifying. 
But throughout all that, there were also the funny things that keeps you smiling and carrying on, like the guy in Brazil (I think) who made his own Treadmill with soap and water: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=o3sdnEqLTzQ
And the distraught Italian mom, fed-up with home schooling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_wvQHMGOI
… and these quips: 
  • Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
  • The garbage man left an AA pamphlet on the can. I left him a note the next week to Mind His Own Business
  • I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.
  • I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator
  • I leave some booze in every room so, every evening I can go bar hopping.
  • If you’re afraid you might go outside when you shouldn’t, shave your eyebrows — that’ll keep you inside for awhile.
  • Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.
  • Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.
  • My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.
  • Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.
  • My child just said "I hope I don't have the same teacher next year".... I'm offended.
  • Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under
And this tune from Anya Hinkle, a musician from North Carolina who was my instructor at a BlueGrass camp I attended in Saskatchewan in 2011:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJawK3mlUE
Enjoy!  … 

Photos & Videos

Comments

Wendy Hibberd
2020-05-08

Well I can relate to your experience through all this. Wanting to help others I offered to buy groceries for a family that retuned from away and was in quarantine. By the time I got out of the grocery store each time I was a nevous wreck! Didnt offer to do that for many others. I also made masks. Loved it. But Some I made were too thick. I only hope the recipients could breathe! Ha ha ha! Thanks for the quips, Judy.

Bet
2020-05-09

laughed out loud..thx

Anneke
2020-05-09

Haha, I, too, can relate to a lot of your stories. Judy! My first were too thick, also, as I read there should be three different kinds of materials used....woven and non-woven. Well, they totally fogged up my glasses all the time, at a time I was already unsteady with my bad knee. Such a relief to get to the car, ripping off the darned thing. Oh, maaan. It's a good life if ya don't weaken, haha. A....

2025-02-06

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