Hang Onto Your Facemask!
I feel like since I now have some time on my hands, I should get back to this writing thing. It's been a strange past few weeks. And if anything has been an adventure, it has surely been this time.
I also feel like I need to document in some way the UNPRECEDENTED events going on around me. For those reading this now, you will most certainly know what I am referring to. (If you are reading this years from now, I am speaking of the pandemic known as COVID-19.) And let me assure you this is most certainly an unprecedented event, at least in my whole (insert-age-you-think-I am) years of life.
At first it seemed like some sort of invasion happening in a foreign land (China). Yes, it was in the news, yes it was affecting people's lives, even taking lives. But I wasn't affected by it. And then it was spreading. From the mainland to the outer parts to cruise ships and other countries (Italy was drowning in it before they even knew what hit them). Still, not in my world.
And then the announcement came of travel restrictions to the US. Then slowly, but surely, the invasion was advancing to me. Washington, California, New York, New Orleans have seen the biggest outbreaks thus far.
Then came the panic. Now, people were scared that valuable resources would not be available in the near future. And I kid you not, of all things, TOILET PAPER flying off the shelves. I get it...it's something we use a lot and not all that great of a thing to be out of in a crisis.
Our governor (in Ohio) then issued a decree that businesses would close (except essential business) and people should not meet in large gatherings (no more than 10) and schools became virtual. (As I am writing this, we are only 3 weeks into this upheaval and all this has occurred.) Social-distancing and hand-washing are now everyday words. In an attempt to "flatten the curve" (also an everyday mention) people are making sure to stand at least 6 feet away from each other (gives new meaning to "wouldn't touch them with a 6 foot pole") and have pockets of hand sanitizer available and hands garnering gloves and facemasks to keep the virus from spreading.
Now, there are graphs and charts showing how many have contracted the virus and how many have died due to the virus and how many are in recovery from the virus. All these things are being reported-the scary numbers and the stories of resources not being able to keep up-and, of course there is panic. This is a virus that is spreading even if the person doesn't show symptoms. But this virus is new. This virus is silently spreading among us with an unstoppable force (at least until a vaccine is created or enough people have had it to create herd immunity). It will most likely be lingering for several months to a year, coming in like waves, and receding until it has reached it's last victim.
But I have found in the past week a silent acceptance of normalcy within me. I guess because it came so quickly we had to adapt so quickly and now we are in the state of "this is what life will be like for a while." People have started using the internet as a way of communicating more than before (thank you, Facebook and Facetime, Zoom, Google Meetings and whatever other medium you use). You see people out and about (at the declared 6 ft apart) walking their dogs and talking to neighbors. Life is slowing down. People are spending more time with family. Unfinished "honey-do lists" are being completed with voracity. Books are being read and hobbies are being reacquainted with their enthusiasts.
It's amazing how something that has taken over our lives so quickly is actually causing us to SLOW down.
May we value this "adventure" and not take for granted the opportunities we have to reconnect and appreciate the slow down.
I also feel like I need to document in some way the UNPRECEDENTED events going on around me. For those reading this now, you will most certainly know what I am referring to. (If you are reading this years from now, I am speaking of the pandemic known as COVID-19.) And let me assure you this is most certainly an unprecedented event, at least in my whole (insert-age-you-think-I am) years of life.
At first it seemed like some sort of invasion happening in a foreign land (China). Yes, it was in the news, yes it was affecting people's lives, even taking lives. But I wasn't affected by it. And then it was spreading. From the mainland to the outer parts to cruise ships and other countries (Italy was drowning in it before they even knew what hit them). Still, not in my world.
And then the announcement came of travel restrictions to the US. Then slowly, but surely, the invasion was advancing to me. Washington, California, New York, New Orleans have seen the biggest outbreaks thus far.
Then came the panic. Now, people were scared that valuable resources would not be available in the near future. And I kid you not, of all things, TOILET PAPER flying off the shelves. I get it...it's something we use a lot and not all that great of a thing to be out of in a crisis.
Our governor (in Ohio) then issued a decree that businesses would close (except essential business) and people should not meet in large gatherings (no more than 10) and schools became virtual. (As I am writing this, we are only 3 weeks into this upheaval and all this has occurred.) Social-distancing and hand-washing are now everyday words. In an attempt to "flatten the curve" (also an everyday mention) people are making sure to stand at least 6 feet away from each other (gives new meaning to "wouldn't touch them with a 6 foot pole") and have pockets of hand sanitizer available and hands garnering gloves and facemasks to keep the virus from spreading.
Now, there are graphs and charts showing how many have contracted the virus and how many have died due to the virus and how many are in recovery from the virus. All these things are being reported-the scary numbers and the stories of resources not being able to keep up-and, of course there is panic. This is a virus that is spreading even if the person doesn't show symptoms. But this virus is new. This virus is silently spreading among us with an unstoppable force (at least until a vaccine is created or enough people have had it to create herd immunity). It will most likely be lingering for several months to a year, coming in like waves, and receding until it has reached it's last victim.
But I have found in the past week a silent acceptance of normalcy within me. I guess because it came so quickly we had to adapt so quickly and now we are in the state of "this is what life will be like for a while." People have started using the internet as a way of communicating more than before (thank you, Facebook and Facetime, Zoom, Google Meetings and whatever other medium you use). You see people out and about (at the declared 6 ft apart) walking their dogs and talking to neighbors. Life is slowing down. People are spending more time with family. Unfinished "honey-do lists" are being completed with voracity. Books are being read and hobbies are being reacquainted with their enthusiasts.
It's amazing how something that has taken over our lives so quickly is actually causing us to SLOW down.
May we value this "adventure" and not take for granted the opportunities we have to reconnect and appreciate the slow down.
Wow, Amy. I am just reading this. Not even sure how I got here, some kind of craft blog I was reading brought me to you. This has been the craziest year of my so many years on this earth. I have been through a lot in my lifetime but this has those events beat. I wish I could say the last almost year has slowed me down (I know it really hasn't slowed you down). I have found that helping others as much as I can in this almost impossible predicament and new found hobbies has kept me believing that God is in control. Oh just to let you know...save the date. We are having our Christmas party on July fourth 2021. God willing of course..Love you
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