My CORONA VIRUS JOURNAL

Well, didn't the world change dramatically at the beginning of March when
almost everything across the country closed down - restaurants, schools,
libraries, shops, etc.- because of the outbreak of the microscopic killer
corona virus?

Everyone was told to stay at home, keep at least 6' away from each other,
(a process called social distancing), and wear a mask over the nose and
mouth and plastic gloves......at all times.

Jeannine now works fully from home, connecting first with her teachers as they
communicate with their kids, and then with her coach colleagues throughout
the day on the internet (an internet activity called Google Hangout).

I fill up my time reading with Bertie and Fifi, our two pussy cats, and cutting
out the very upsetting coronavirusheadlines in the NYT…………...then sticking
them into a home-made Journal and filling in the spaces with my doodles. 

Fills some of my time and keeps my brain active……………somewhat.....

      April 22nd

 It's now 41 days of staying at home....................with Jeannine, Bertie and Fifi, I'm glad to say, and,thankfully, in Eldorado, a small community 8 miles from Santa Fe, a semi desert area riddled with super trails.

       Here's the daily routine:

       Wide awake usually at 4 in the morning, my mind wanders around, hopefully  focusing on childhood memories, and certainly not on the killer  coronavirus.........I fall asleep and wake again around 5ish..............it's gray outside...........I nod off again and wake up after 6..........I get out of bed and open the curtains, eager to watch the slow sunrise, waiting for its rays to hit the top of a tree just outside the bedroom window.

Brekkie (made, of course, by Jeannine) at 7ish, particularly enjoying the cup or two of hot tea, then back to bed for a half  hour's cuddle with Bertie and Fifi.

8.30, time to get up...................and get ready for the day ahead.

Jeannine starts her computer and interacts with her teachers as they conduct lessons with their kids......

I go outside, collect rainwater from one of the water tanks, and water the new plants in the front garden, and the two new young trees at the back. 

Then, I collect the NYT from then mailbox, make a cuppa, read the headlines, and begin to work on my Coronavirus journal.

Around 9.30, I'm ready for a hike.......about two miles where I see no human but plenty of ants, grasshoppers, lizards and the occasional black beetle.

Lunch around 11.30, followed by another nap, usually with Bertie.

1.30, up and more journaling, (today I had to make another journal as the one I'm writing in daily has no more pages left!) and, weather (especially the wind) permitting, another longish walk around the loop (or a slow ride in the car, out in the countryside).

Back home after 3, more time to fill, so more journaling.

Dinner at 6, then CNN to hear and shed tears when I hear the sad/bad news of the day, and bed at 8.15ish...........oh, a beer and two glasses of white wine are part of the TV time.

Another day...................another page in the journal............what will tomorrow hold? More pleasant news, I hope.............please Corona Virus.................you've done your worst, now push OFF!

 

                  My CORONA VIRUS JOURNAL

Everything, well, almost everything, closed down at the beginning of March (shops, restaurants, colleges, etc.) as the nasty killer virus began to spread.………….and because schools closed down, too, Jeannine is home, and having to connect daily with her teachers through the internet.

I fill up my time taking a daily walk and then reading and cutting out the very upsetting coronavirus headlines in the NYT…………...sticking them into a home-made Journal. 

There are pictures of a few of the pages above. Working on my home made journal fills some of my time and keeps my brain active……………but, I must admit, seeing and reading the recurring articles in the NYT is SO upsetting, so I have to add color to each page that contains depressing headlines…….

Millions and millions of human beings affected in one way or another…………..when will there be a cure????

OK, filled up that journal and started another................

 

                  My CORONA VIRUS JOURNAL

Everything, well, almost everything, closed down at the beginning of March (shops, restaurants, colleges, etc.) as the nasty killer virus began to spread.………….and because schools closed down, too, Jeannine is home, and having to connect daily with her teachers through the internet.

I fill up my time taking a daily walk and then reading and cutting out the very upsetting coronavirus headlines in the NYT…………...sticking them into a home-made Journal. 

There are pictures of a few of the pages above. Working on my home made journal fills some of my time and keeps my brain active……………but, I must admit, seeing and reading the recurring articles in the NYT is SO upsetting, so I have to add color to each page that contains depressing headlines…….

Millions and millions of human beings affected in one way or another…………..when will there be a cure????

Now a month has passed.................here's another blog on how I fill my time, remembering....

THIS I REMEMBER

The coronavirus has locked the entire population, well, nearly everyone, that is,  indoors..............but, fortunately, as I live in an area that is not surrounded by other homes, I can take a walk each day, out in the semi desert, on any one of several trails. I see no one, except the beautiful trees, yucca and cacti, all wanting a spring drink.

When I get home, I'm journaling, that is, using New York Times headlines in a home-made journal, and filling the pages with arty crafty doodles.

I'm also remembering a lot - which is somewhat of a contradiction as my memory is getting worse.
But, hey, to fill the time, I'm going to make brief notes of what's in my head each day as I take my morning walk.

Today it's my Dad.

.................................I remember my mum cooking Cornish Pasties, (yummy - crispy pastry wrapped around a variety of vegetables) wrapping one up, giving it to me, and I'd run down to the bus stop outside the railway station. My dad, a bus driver, wouls come right on time, and the passengers disembarked. I then gave my dad his pastie, he'd give me a big smile, then turn the corner into the station yard. He'd go into the snack bar, eat his pasty, dring a couple of cups of tea, then load up the bus with new passengers, and drive them to St. Ives. I think, though I'm not sure, this was a Friday routine, the day of the week when Mum always cooked her delicious pasties.

..........................I remembered this morning, when I was thinking about the super fish and chips Jeannine cooked and I ate last evening, sitting with my Mum by Dad's bed in hospital............years ago........
'Hazel,' he muttered, "I'd really love some cold shrimp to suck and chew."

I rushed down the street to the Fishmongers and bought a pound of locally caught and baked shrimp.

Ten minutes later, Dad was chomping the shrimp, his eyes full of smiles.......................bless him.

He passed away that weekend........

Hey, hey, Arthur Charles..............I still have the wishing rock that I found when walking with you and Mum on the beach, Monday, July 14th, 1947.............my 5th birtday!

And I remember the walk to the tin mine in Botallack...............

                              when you spotted a fox!!!

3 weeks of staying at home

21 days of staying at home....................with Jeannine, Bertie and Fifi, I'm glad to say.

Here's the daily routine:

Wide awake at 4 in the morning, my mind wanders around, usually focusing on childhood memories..........I fall asleep and wake again around 5ish..............its gray outside...........I nof off again and wake up after 6..........I get out of bed and open the curtains, wanting to watch the slow sunrise, waiting for its rays to hit the top of a tree just outside the bedroom window.

Brekkie at 7ish, particularly enjoying the cup or two of hot tea, then back to bed for an hour's cuddle with Bertie and Fifi.

8.30, time to get up...................

I go outside, collect rainwater from one of the water tanks, and water the front garden and the two new young trees at the back. Then, I collect the NYT, read the headlines, and bwegin to work on my Coronavirus journal.

Lunch around 11.30, followed by another nap, usuall with Bertie.

1.30, up and more journaling, and, weather permitting, a longish walk around the loop, hoping to see a beetle or two...........

Back home after 3, more journaling.
Dinner at 6, then CNN to hear the sad/bad news of the day, and bed at 8.15ish...........oh, a beer and two glasses of white wine are part of the TV time.

Another day...................what will tomorrow hold?