Friday, August 07, 2020

Boxes

I was trying to create a mental image of what is happening in my little world.  The Corona pandemic has put us in boxes. Some are big boxes and some are tiny boxes.  The boxes I leap into have high walls even if they are larger than the box I just left.  No matter how high I leap to bravely land in the next box, I cannot see the horizon or even check out the box thoroughly before I land like the timid house mouse I have become.  I will not be able to see the horizon for a year or more.

Hubby and I ate out TWICE this week.  The first venue was a card table on a patio of the restaurant at least ten feet from any other table.  The second venue was a picnic table on the lawn of the restaurant also far from other tables and with canvas on the side to prevent those on either side from sending their breath our way.  Disposable menus, masked staff, and one-way doors in and out were the rule.  I felt reasonably safe.  I have reached the time in my life where I feel this venture is a bit necessary or I will accept being a hermit permanently.  We used alcohol gel on hands before touching utensils and glasses and then washed when we got home and tried not to touch our faces.  I did eat the french fries with a fork and then used my fingers toward the end.

I live in Trump country and most of the people I encounter think this is all too much carefulness (nonsense), which means I have to be even MORE careful.  I will NEVER understand how science became the enemy.

My daughter and her family drove down to the Carolinas to spend a week with friends and a week in a rental house on the beach last week.  She left the dog for us to watch.  Below nice and clean after I gave him a bath in the sink.


When daughter and family return on Sunday to get the dog I will be cautious about making the visit short and not inviting them inside for refreshment.  If they are OK in 14 days, I may drive up for a visit....maybe.  My daughter said she felt safer in a house that they rented...not sharing an elevator, not sharing a hallway, not needing a restaurant or sharing a swimming pool with anyone but the family they are close to.  She was in a much larger box for 10 days that I have encountered...but still a box!

Regarding Isaias., my daughter's vacation was denied only one day due to rain.  They were able to pool swim and beach walk and it has certainly been a wonderful trip for them.  Here in our area, we also had no trees down and missed the three tornadoes that were just miles away!  No flooding, but one leak in the roof above the upstairs bathroom!  Now not sure if that was wind-driven and not a problem or if we need to inspect the roof.


As an update from my last post, my friend from Scotland who IM's me weekly through FB revealed that he is indeed a "trans."  I thought our messages had been somewhat odd and while I playfully teased him about wearing red spangles, I am so glad I did not mess up and embarrass him or me by saying something stupid!  I asked a mutual friend and she told me he came out a little over a year ago.  I am sure he is terrified of his decision...especially in conservative Glasgow!  I then immediately Googled information on this, because I have not a clue how not to say something unknowingly mean or non-constructive.  I feel painfully for him as he is in his 40s and alone.  So hoping he lives a good and full life.

Planning on staying in the "home" box in the coming week, although I may go out food shopping.  I can order it in, but sometimes my list misses stuff as I start to cook---like my cornmeal.  Where in the heck did that go?

Hope all of my readers are finding their boxes well-cushioned and full of views of green grass and views of summer and a tiny window in the cardboard to see the future.

20 comments:

  1. We are being refinanced,yet again, and today is the day the inspector calls on us. I need to tidy up the box here.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the image of the pandemic box. How true. Other than walks, we are alone in a box too. The grandkids are with their father for a few weeks. We miss the .

    ReplyDelete
  3. While my box is roomy and comfortable and with beauty, it is, in fact, still a box. With my recovery, trips to medical facilities have been unfun escapes. My poor Tom is feeling listless and needs something more than taking care of me and avoiding jobs outside. As I can handle it, we will venture out a bit farther, but still safely. I'm hoping take out pizza today will help.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Tabor, hope at least you and your husband's restaurant meals weren't interrupted by humidity/bugs. And that your storm damage is minimal.

    This covid crap is getting really, really old - and i cannot help but to wonder where this is all going...have an idea, can ya spell Nimrod-rides-again! Anyway, take care.

    ReplyDelete
  5. There are numerous myths of destruction followed by rebirth. I am thinking that is the way of the world in my more rational moments.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Our box is one size and has stayed the same throughout. It's DH, myself, and grandson. We don't do take-out, don't visit or have visitors, kids came by for our birthdays and brought us a cake but stayed outside while we talked on doorstep (6 feet apart and masked). We Skyped with them yesterday and wondered if we will have to do Thanksgiving by Skype or Zoom. How long can this go on? Do we take the risk of getting together with them (we miss them) - but DIL works with Covid patients and DH just had radiation treatment. What is the answer? So far we have followed the guidelines to the letter...

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's not as bad here, since we can exercise and have lots of places to walk. I see the same people every day, my coffee shop friends masked and distanced, as we sit in our lawn chairs on the concrete median on the street outside. I go walking with one or two friends, always the same ones, once or twice a week. I have been binge-watching some shows which take up way too much time out of the day, but what else do I have to do with myself? It is getting old, but what choice do we have?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Turning into a hermit beginning to enjoy solitariness, but the natural is beautiful and green.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happiness to your friend. I feel we all need to learn more how to be sensitive without going so far we are being silly.

    For anyone I see wearing nail polish, I look to see what earrings they're wearing. A quirk of old age? I immediately evaluate whether the colors are good for them. It has spilled over to myself looking with a judging eye at my summer toe polish color. Is it the pandemic that changes our way of seeing things? Somewhat. You have boxes. I have nail polish and earrings.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It seems we are more than ever forced into boxes whether we want them or not. One of the women whose RV blog I read identifies herself as tran. It doesn't seem to make much difference to the friends she travels with or her family. Lucky when it can be that way.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Our next worry here is the return to school next month with full classes though lots of restrictions. We're not doing too badly overall, but we also know that the virus lurks. We shall see.

    ReplyDelete
  12. that's a pretty big leak but seems to me considering the shape that it might have been wind driven. my sister and daughter and I ventured out to an estate sale yesterday...masks required. it was a huge house and not many people when we went so we felt safe enough and finally had some entertainment besides books or TV.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Like Linda Reeder says, our box is roomy and comfortable but it is, in fact, still a box. Btw, Handsome dog!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm awfully glad you are back and noting.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I envy your daughter and her family their chance for fresh sea air! Sounds wonderful. I keep getting invited to b'day parties, showers etc...What is wrong with people? I guess it is good practice for me to say "No".

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes, i see the future for me, a mask always when i venture out. In this world, i have lung and heart issues and cannot afford even a cold, much less something worse, so i will continue to be careful and let people who object know it is my decision to make and because of my own health.

    ReplyDelete
  17. My box allows me to view the sunshine, green growth outdoors while staying cool Indoors in the heat of our summer. Coincidentally, as the virus emerged i have had to cope with unrelated infections. This limited my mobility and activity I'm only now beginning to recoup from. I’ll be expanding some outings in the future but have not felt unduly confined considering, and have not been chomping at the bit to go more given how I felt otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  18. BTW: That's a beautiful vase in the previous entry. Boxes....mine got fractionally larger today when I was able to get back in the pool.

    ReplyDelete
  19. "I live in Trump country and most of the people I encounter think this is all too much carefulness (nonsense), which means I have to be even MORE careful. I will NEVER understand how science became the enemy."
    I completely understand this. Out at the lake, my husband and I are the pariahs. The ones who don't believe science is an opinion. I've decided I will not explain myself anymore -- why they can't come in my house, why i won't stand next to them. I endure their Trump flags. They can leave me to my hammock (box) -- in peace. Meanwhile, I'll look for the beauty in the world. And seek solace in those who still think, and ask questions. Whew! I said it! My best to you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. My small abode is my little sanctuary...I'm always a hermit, by choice...so little has changed for me. I keep to myself...just me and my two furry mates.

    I love the little dog...what a little beauty he is. It would be very difficult not to fall in love with him. :)

    Take good care, Tabor...I hope all remains well with you and your loved ones. :)

    ReplyDelete

Take your time...take a deep breath...then hit me with your best shot.