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Coronavirus reflections

What do you say about an epidemic that has changed so much of life? I look back to two and a half months ago and at the time it seemed that the virus was like a flu. A bad flu, yes. But was it going to affect our lives? I didn't have a clue about how much. 

 On March 18th I wrote about how my trip to Ireland had been cancelled and there was a shortage of toilet paper and ground beef in the stores. But we hadn't yet been given the "stay at home" order and many businesses were still open. That changed on March 31st when Governor Ducey said that only essential businesses would be able to stay open. There was some confusion at first as to what an "essential" business was but it eventually came down to groceries, pharmacies, hardware stores and doctor's offices of course. The big hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot were allowed to remain open which meant that their garden centers could remain open.

 Something that proved a boon for Richard as he planted our garden in the backyard 



Neither of us are very knowledgeable about keeping plants alive in the desert though. Richard loves to watch gardening shows but they are all about European or English gardens. Very different from here! So maintaining the garden has devolved onto me and every morning after I walk Mitzi I go out and check the moisture in the soil with my trust meter and water those that need it.

I am also in the process of trying to ensure the roses don't die. In the bottom photo, the rose bush had just been planted with several blooms. Those blooms matured and died and for awhile it looked like the whole plant was going to die. But I learned from my rose bush losses last year and I have been spraying fungicide like crazy and ensuring that the roses get plenty of water. Right now it looks like I am winning the battle.

I have been mainly staying at home since March 31st and I get up early every Tuesday morning and go "senior shopping" at Safeway. No more Saturday shopping for me, I avoid the crowds and, since two weeks ago, I wear a mask. We've been advised to do so although it's not mandatory. I hadn't seen Laurie and the family for a few weeks either but as of today, the governor has said we can go out "carefully." They've said the same thing in England. Everyone is quite nervous because the virus is far from over but the economy of most countries is tanking. Governments feel, and there's been a lot of agitation in the United States in agreement with this, that things have to reopen or we will slide into a worse economic depression than we are already in.

So our restaurants here in Sierra Vista are opening for dining in--with social distancing in place. I will be able to get my hair cut in a week. Mitzi may be able to go to PetSmart for her bath & beauty treatment soon although it's booked solid right now.

Traveling anywhere is still problematic. Within the United States, there are differences from state to state as to what is open and what is not. It's too early to consider getting away for a few days, much as we would love to. The border between the United States and Canada is closed for casual travel. Canada wants to keep the border closed for another month. Given that the U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, I can't blame them. And as for traveling overseas, yes, technically I could fly over but I would have to self-isolate for two weeks. And I don't know quite what that means, nor do the UK or Irish gov'ts. Does it mean I couldn't go to a grocery store? Probably, because my friends in Vancouver were confined to their homes when they went back to Canada from a trip to South America. Friends of theirs delivered groceries to them.

So, while I would still like to think that I will be able to go to Ireland in September, the reality is right now, who knows? Give it another month, things will become clearer.

In the meantime, I will continue to transcribe any cemetery files I receive from Ireland Genealogy Projects, work on my own transcription project in FamilySearch, read books, watch Father Brown, walk Mitzi, etc., etc.... And pray for people who have it much harder than I have. My life hasn't been badly impacted, I so wish the same could be true for other people.



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