May 6, 2020
We have been in Quarantine for over six weeks so I will talk about how that has gone for our family. The phrase we are all very tired of hearing....."We are all in this together" is true and could not be further from the truth.
We have been quite lucky actually. Our son is living at home this year so his expenses are very low and we know he is safe but....he just got his Real Estate license and will be working at Keller Williams - just as soon as our governor permits that business to resume. So he is basically unemployed and on hold!
Our income is from Social Security and Pensions so that has remained the same - but we just received the stimulus payout on Monday and J continues to wait to hear from EDD regarding the possibility of Unemployment.
We keep supplies on hand to run the house such as toilet paper and paper towels and food in the freezer for several weeks so we don't have to go out during a storm and drive on icy roads - so it was easy to start making a weekly list. We go to Freddies once a week - when they open - wearing masks and gloves and carefully process our purchases and clean up when we return to minimize our risk. We have never found masks or gloves for sale since this started but my daughter was kind enough to send some and we learned to make some cute bandana masks that work as well as any I suppose!??
We had to cancel my daughter's visit on 4/19 for a week. We were planning to visit the tulip farm several times and the waterfalls out along the Columbia Gorge - especially Multnomah for breakfast!
We had to cancel our 3 week trip to New Orleans, up the Natchez Trace along the Mississippi River for three weeks and back home out of Memphis. Maybe next year?
Every day we take a morning and an afternoon walk, in the neighborhood, a nearby park or nature preserve or even to a closed department store parking lot to walk a large or small circle around the car. It has been very important to us to get out and see the sky, blooming trees and flowers so that we don't feel trapped at home.
Every day we take our temperatures. Early in the quarantine I got tonsillitis and took advantage of an on line visit with a doctor follow up video call - no contact - and it was amazing - got my prescriptions and was fine in a week!
We read, watch movies, TV and Youtube and joke around until we totally get on each other's nerves!
I did my own roots and mani-pedi - not nearly as good as my team - but good enough for staying at home!
We also bought flowers of various types and colors to plant in our porch pots. And.....tomato plants for the back deck. The porch garden has brought such joy to us and to the neighbors as they take daily walks as well as adding the daily chore of caring for them!
We have cooked and baked and eaten way too many snacks and each one of us has gained a few pounds and then had to work to get back to our individual fighting weights. Joe jumps rope several times a day and the boys ordered in some work out equipment for the garage which I make sure I stay clear of!!!
We have ordered pick up from BJs and La Hacienda and have no contact pizza delivered weekly - with wings, of course!
I feel that we have stayed healthy during this time by following the stay home and stay alive plan, social distancing, personal hygiene, eating well, sleeping a lot and my constant attention to keeping my home clean, clean, clean and hopefully virus free.
We are anxious to get out and somewhat stressed about the "new normal" and can't wait to spend some time with friends and family.
There is talk about Oregon staying shut until mid July and then the next day they announce some businesses will open Friday but only if they can demonstrate that testing (which is not available) is complete. This has been a time of confusion, mixed messages and changing facts but at the end of the day WE HAVE OUR HEALTH.
Our prayers go out to those who have suffered illness and or loss. Our thanks go out to those brave folks on the front lines helping us through this pandemic known as Covid 19.
Gabi, Joe and John (JJ)
