I know some people are on a different day of isolation. With a distinct and rather serious lack of leadership on the federal level, and local government taking up the slack, we're all in different places, either because recommendations were different, or because we were all allowed to decide more clearly for ourselves. Several weeks ago I made what I called at the time a panic shopping trip, stocking up on shelf stables and some cleaning supplies. It took a week or two for that to seem even sane, then it went from barely sane almost straight to incredibly insightful. I've never been so sorry, yet so thankful.
When did our isolation start? Did it start when we bid our family goodbye for the last time two weeks ago? When schools closed on Thursday, or after our gathering with friends that night? When Jon officially started working from home on Monday? How about after our supposed very last trip to the grocery stores on Friday? Or was it this morning after the next very last trip to the stores when we realized we still needed a prescription, salt for the softener, and dog food. WHO FORGOT THE DOG FOOD??? (Actually, I ordered it over a week ago and promptly forgot to be concerned, but they ran out and canceled the order without warning me. Good thing I checked today, because we got the very last bag of his food on the local shelves this morning). How does one meaure isolation?
So I'll probably stop counting days of isolation. It is, after all, a state of mind, and for as long as I have these two people I enjoy (and the dog, DON'T FORGET THE DOG or his lunch!!!), and the ability to connect virtually, how could one really call this isolation? Today, after our last trip (the last trip!) into the peril of public, and after setting up Jon's new home office and our new basement pantry and carrying in 300 pounds of salt, all four of us (DOG, TOO) went for a long hike in the chilly sunshine. We saw a lot of other family walking, all of us carefully pressing to opposite sides of the path to create social distance (except the DOGS, they met in the middle for sure), and we laughed, and griped about the misbehaving dog (DOG). Then we came home, got cozy, built a Tinker Crate printing press, and watched an Agatha Christie show while making dinner together.
I hate this time. I love this time. I hate it. I love it.
