April 3/20
Today I woke up with the urge to write again. So what should I write about? Obviously it isn’t going to be about physical travelling, at least not anything new, so I guess the Mind Travelling part of the website description will dominate for the next weeks, or months.
It’s been two weeks since we crossed the border back into Canada. The days seemed long, but the weeks have passed quickly. For Jim, I don’t think it is as irritating to be sitting most of the day, but I’ve always been physically active and my body hurts too much when I’m not.
The first week we had plenty of food in our fridge and cupboards, thanks to Jim’s daughter, who took my list that I’d sent her and made several shopping trips to find all but one of the items on it. They were in place when we arrived. After the second week I placed an order with our local grocery store and it was delivered the next day. It’s surprising how much food we go through when we eat at home three times a day, seven days a week! When I think of it, it’s been years since I’ve had to make that many meals in a row! It’s now time to shop again.
Our condo building is small, only six units, all on one floor. We share a small laundry room, so I was hesitant to use that common space until we’d done at least 14 days of quarantine, including our time on the road. Then I got caught up on the laundry. Everyone in here is keeping pretty much to themselves, so I didn’t need to worry about running into anyone.
Most of our days have been cloudy and rainy, which doesn’t help the emotional spirits, but the last few days we’ve had some sun and we’ve gotten out for short walks around our rural neighbourhood. Each time, we bring another load of things from the motorhome, which is parked within sight of our deck, in the parking lot of the Sports Dome that is now closed. It’s good to just say hello to neighbours from a distance, and share knowing smiles.
Besides making meals and doing laundry, I’ve tried to keep myself busy doing little household chores, like finally cleaning up my desk, and putting away things that were dropped onto my dresser. I’ve tried to encourage Jim to do the same, but he has never been so inclined, which can sometimes put a little strain on our relationship, especially now when we share an office and I’m spending more time in it. He spends a lot of time re-arranging new music and learning to play it on his ukulele. We both spend too much time (probably like most of us who aren’t risking our lives to treat the sick or keep essential services running) either on our computers/iPads or watching TV. I’ve been trying to think of how we could get in some pickleball practice.
Yesterday was a full sunny day for which I was grateful because it was also a day of hearing about sad local stories while sitting at my computer. A few days ago I’d seen an appeal to watch for an elderly lady who was lost just a few miles down the highway, in an area near where my Book Club friends live. Yesterday, I learned that it was one of their neighbours and police were out searching the woods and the lake, for the second day.
While following that by Messenger, I saw a GoFundMe request on Facebook asking for donations for the children of a young woman who had died, in my home town. When I looked further to see how she’d died, my heart broke to learn that it was a domestic “incident” that police believe to be a murder suicide. She leaves three small children behind. I don’t know her, but I have friends who do.
And then news of the virus hit closer to home. We now know someone who knows someone who has died from it. A friend of Jim’s sister was one of the many victims who succumbed to it in a small-city Nursing Home a couple of hours drive from here.
So far, our community is safe, but do I want to go out to the grocery store, or should I place an order for delivery again? After all, I am now in that “vulnerable” age bracket of being over 70 (less than a month ago). But I’ve always been healthy and seem to have a good immune system; so could that make me an unknown carrier? Our town is a Retirement Community so there are no doubt many others who are more vulnerable than I.
The really scary part is that nobody seems to really know enough about this virus.
One day, when all the cars were in the driveways and we were the only ones out, this rainbow gave us a sign of hope. The curve is flattening.
Mind Traveler 
Hi Judy, I am so happy to read that you are inspired to write again. I am so sorry to hear that the virus has hit “so close to home” as you said. There are lots of sad stories connected with the virus and there is sometimes too much information.So you just have to stop reading, watching, and listening to it all. Listening to music helps me. I am trying to move a bit more but am out of the routine of teaching my Essentrics classes. I have been going online to the Classical Stretch Facebook page to do the daily workouts with various instructors. You might want to check that out.
I’m here if you want to chat. It was lovely talking to you last week. Keep taking care and keep writing!
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Thanks, Christine. I still do my daily stretches. There isn’t a lot of room in our place for much, and it’s only in front of the TV, which is on a lot. 🙂 But I’m managing. Having something to do when I get up in the morning is the key, so doing this blog helps. It’s just such a sad and uncertain time that we all feel. Keep on doing what you’re doing! And stay safe.
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