Quarantine: What will change after this?
Well, the inevitable has happened. We’ve seen this coming for at least a month. And now it’s finally happened. Everything has stopped. COVID-19, the coronavirus, has shut down our little part of the world. Yes, the grocery stores are open. But restaurants are only allowed to serve food via drive-thru, carryout, and delivery. Of course, we can go outside whenever we want, but we really can’t go anywhere else. We’re under quarantine.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining about it. Well, I’m not complaining that much, anyway. I know this needs to be done. Our community probably should have pulled the trigger far earlier than we did. But we’re here now. Schools are closed until at least a month from now. And that’s OK. I get it. I even agree with it. Because I understand how important it is to 1.) flatten the curve, 2.) do what I can to keep our family healthy, and 3.) help protect our most vulnerable from this disease. Even if the shutdown hadn’t happened, I imagine we’d be practicing social distancing anyway.
Working and learning from home
I’m working from home and am providing support for a pretty amazing project we’ve put together. We call it Museum from Home. You should check it out. I think it’s some pretty cool stuff and a helpful resource for families who are also confined to their houses.
Aiden’s home for an extended amount of time. Taylor sent everyone home for spring break a week early and it appears that he’ll be completing his semester through virtual classes. But he’s not the only one who’ll be attempting to learn from home. The girls’ schools will be virtual through May 1. Or longer. The situation is so fluid. It’s hard to pin down what’s happening from one hour to the next. And it’s next to impossible to try to predict what things will be like a few days from now. We really have no idea what things will be like a month from now.
We’ve got the technology to have lessons and homework from school. The girls have even been able to have virtual face to face conversations with their teachers and classmates. Technology has made this a truly remarkable time and it has certainly helped ease some burdens of this unprecedented moment.
But…if I’m really honest, this move into the undiscovered country does feel a little bit like the Wild Wild West. Everyone’s kind of making it up as we go along. Again, not a complaint. I get it. I’m making things up as I go along, too. This kind of pandemic only happens in movies. Right? So it’s not like we should have had this kind of response written out in any Disaster Plan Manual.
Even so, we’re all in this together.*
Quarantine reminds us that teachers are superheroes!
I’ve known this for years. I’ve worked with teachers. I have many teachers in my family. Shoot, I even live with a teacher. It’s without a shadow of a doubt that I can tell you that teachers are real life superheroes. That’s not hyperbole. That’s fact.
Some people didn’t realize that. So they scoffed during Red for Ed days and said that teachers were just complaining about money. If you really think educators’ complaints boil down to their salary, you haven’t been paying attention.
I hope you’re paying attention now.
Because we’re all in this together.
Has quarantine given us a new normal? I hope so.
I can’t help but think that the news surrounding the coronavirus has brought out the worst in people. Maybe things will be better when things start to settle down.
I really hope that’s the case. Because I saw plenty of eye rolling, hand-wringing, down-talking, pearl clutching, and out and out rudeness in the United States during this pandemic preamble.
Our “me first” attitude has been put on display for all to see as there have been runs on toilet paper and masks and hand sanitizer. There are some who have tested positive for the virus, yet refuse to isolate themselves. And don’t get me started on the beaches that 1.) remained open longer than they should have, and 2.) were full of people who were happy to announce that they didn’t give a rat’s behind about catching or spreading the coronavirus.
America’s rugged individualism was put on display for all to see. And it wasn’t pretty.
But we’re all in this together. We have to be. Even though we’re under quarantine, our lives are still connected. We’re intertwined.
Maybe we need to listen to George Bailey again. It’s a Wonderful Life is one of our family’s favorite Christmas movies. But there’s a message embedded in the film that isn’t just about the Christmas spirit.
Glimmers of hope during this quarantine.
All is not lost, though. There’s a pretty strong glimmer of hope.
People are rallying about local small businesses. They’re in a world of hurt with these long-term closures. I’ve seen people go out of their way to bring home lunch from a locally owned restaurant. They’re seeking out ways to support local enterprises. It’s all great. Once this is over, I hope these businesses have been able to stay afloat.
I also hope we’ll continue to go out of our way to support local businesses long after the quarantine is over. We keep saying that small business is the backbone of the US economy. It’s time we did more than just give a not to them on Small Business Saturday.
I’ve also seen glimmers of hope in the way we treat our most vulnerable. Many have chosen to quarantine and self-isolate so they don’t accidentally expose others who are immunocompromised. We’re looking out for our parents and grandparents and other older community members. All of a sudden, our elderly aren’t considered a burden anymore. They’re important members of our community. I hope that continues long after we’re no longer quarantined.
Because we’re all in this together.
Times of panic require times of grace.
As I mentioned earlier, we’re really just winging it when it comes to facing this pandemic. We’re making informed decisions. But we’re really just winging it. I think everyone realizes that. I hope everyone realizes that, anyway.
In the light of all of us just winging it and making it up as we go along (while making informed decisions),maybe we can extend a little bit of extra grace to each other during this time of uncertainty.
Some people are scared. Others are already emotionally spent. Most of us are getting a little stir crazy and cabin feverish. We can do this, though. We can flatten the curve. Keep looking out for your neighbor. Eat local. Buy local. Don’t go overboard. Support our first responders and health care workers. Listen to the experts.
Times will be trying. We’re going to get on each other’s nerves. Things won’t go as planned. Technology will mess up at the most inopportune moments. Stay calm in the mist of the uncertainty and chaos and fear. Because we’ve got this. We can do this, ya’ll.
We’re all in this together.
P.S.
Keep washing your hands. Can we all agree that this is something everyone should’ve already been doing? Wash your daggum hands!
Endnotes
*You’re singing this now. Aren’t you? I know. You love me for that. It could be worse. You could be listening to the soundtrack that’s stuck in my head. I’ll spare you the details. For now. You’re welcome.
**You can see (and download) all of their PSA posters here.
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Thanks, awesome read!