Hello friends. Today is the twenty-fifth day of my mandatory leave from my work site due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and Jim and I just returned from a neighborhood walk. There was a letter that needed to be mailed and rather than placing it in the mail receptacle right outside our door, we opted for some fresh air, sunshine and exercise and walked to the local post office. Don't worry, I live in a suburban area and going for a walk means not encountering crowds.
Today was a stressful day. It didn't start out that way. In fact when I woke up I was excited because I had purchased an Easter greeting card and a lovely bouquet of fragrant pink lilies and roses as an Easter gift for my mother. I wrote about my mom here on the blog on Day 11.
Mom lives in a skilled nursing home just a few blocks from where I live and even though I have not been allowed to visit as of March 11th, due to the coronavirus epidemic, I have been allowed to hand off items I want given to my mom to someone at the door and I did just that with the flowers and greeting card this morning.
Then, this afternoon, I got a call from one of the facility administrators. Mom is fine, but I was informed that someone who was working at the home tested positive for the coronavirus. If you've followed the news at all here in the United States, the coronavirus first occurred in the US in a nursing home in Washington state. My heart sank and I almost couldn't speak. Our family has already talked about this possibility but until I got the call I had no idea how I would feel.
I was assured that the person that was infected was last in the home on March 21st and that proper guidelines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, have been and continue to be followed and that everything is being done to prevent illness.
And yet, I worry.
I understand that in the grand scheme of things that getting news that someone is not infected (at least not infected at this point in time) with this horrible virus is nothing compared to all the death and grief happening right at this moment all over the world.
As my sister Joyce said today when we talked on the phone after getting this news, no one is untouched by this tragedy. I think what hurts the most about this situation is how each one of us wonders in the back of our minds will it be me, or will it be my husband, my wife, my boyfriend, my girlfriend, my sister, my brother, my son, my daughter, my aunt, my uncle, my grandparent, my friend, my neighbor, or my coworker that will die? Will I get that phone call? And the emotional toll it is taking on each one of us day by day is unbearable.
Let's cherish every moment we have.
