I knew, we all knew, it was coming. Just how bad it might be? Totally another story.
For several weeks, the media went from sharing random news releases to one major shitstorm concerning outbreaks and assorted factual, and less objective, network-opinionated, coverage.
Most of us took the impending virus onslaught in a cautionary stride, focused more on hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer. In fact, I did a screen shot of a joke that I found a tad amusing.
Most of us still scurried about, sans any masks, and convinced ourselves that we probably had COVID-19, in some form, earlier in the year. We looked at other communities and the rate of infections there, figuring that would never happen here! Reality quickly set in once states and local governments set forth their mandates closing various businesses and issuing stay-at-home orders.
My final day of employment was March 21st and, as I put the key in the door of the salon, I made a few mental notes of what to do next. At the top of that list was a stop at the supermarket where a certain amount of hysteria was already in place as I rolled into the parking lot. I thought to myself about how long this modified quarantine might last, two maybe three weeks at best? I shopped accordingly and headed home, ready to shield my family from the rest of the world, mostly from… “the virus”!
And…I started cooking. Somehow, when I combine my anxiety and energy in the kitchen, good things usually happen. I hit the ground running, ready for almost anything during what I thought would be just a brief time off from work. As my, world famous, meatballs sizzled quietly on the stove, I snapped a photo to share on social media. I remember thinking to myself that this unexpected “vacation” wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Who doesn’t enjoy some free time at home to delve into unfinished tasks?
That…was two months ago. Almost nine weeks. Sixty-three days as of this post. I won’t break it down any further into hours, minutes and seconds.
I’m certain you get the picture.
From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop: Show us the last picture you took BEFORE quarantine. Write about that moment/day.
I cheated here because, other than the sarcastic Meme, I didn’t have any opportunity to take photos leading up to the “quarantine”…I worked right up to the last moment. Frankly, even while those big fat meatballs were lounging in the saute pan, I was one of “those” not taking this virus situation that seriously. Hell, I’ve been through power outages, hurricanes, major snowstorms…how bad could this pandemic be?
Enough said.
