…These days, everyone’s talking about and hopefully practicing “Social Distancing”. Since it’s something we should all be doing, we thought a challenge focused on DISTANCE might be an appropriate reminder of its importance.
~~~
I hope that sometime in the not so distant future we never need to hear the term “Social Distance” again. Which ought to be called “Physical Distance” – a more accurate description. A time of anxiety…and often loneliness. For me and most everyone I know.
I am very thankful for the connections that social media and FaceTime and Zoom and Skype offer us. However…I increasingly miss actual three dimensional flesh and blood face to face conversation. A rectangular screen is no substitute for a big bear hug. One little hand holding yours. Catching up with friends over lunch at a favorite restaurant.
At times it feels like I briefly stepped into a nightmare I had as a child…where I got off the school bus in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Panicked, I ran up and down empty streets from house to house unable to recognize any as my own. Until I woke up, heart racing, groggy, straining my eyes in the dark until I finally realized it was just a dream.
However…now for very good reasons…we do what we have to do. Distancing ourselves.
I know that someday I will wake up from this surreal existence. In the meantime, I try to remember how beautiful distance can actually be…
Inspired by V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #89: Imaginary
The word this week is imaginary. Respond in which ever way the muse moves you. Looking forward to your responses.
~~~
March 27, 2020
My life is surreal enough as it is right now. Fear is everywhere. The enemy…invisible.
Not just in my own little universe. Throughout the world…women, men and children are dipping their collective toes into unfamiliar murky waters. Trying to figure out this new “normal” as Stay Safe replaces Have Fun or Have a Nice Day.
Breaking News assaults us nightly. No escaping it if you want to stay informed.
This morning I went out to get gas for my car. Not that I am going too far, but a full tank of gas is one thing I can actually do. Alone.
Imagine my surprise when I glanced at the prices. WTH? I haven’t seen gas selling below $2/gallon in…forever it seems.
Although these days a month ago feels like forever.
Never in my wildest dreams (which aren’t all that wild, but you get my drift) would I have ever imagined panic buying of toilet paper. This morning I asked a neighbor if she needed anything at the store (yes, I had to run in and out for salad and bananas).
She thought a moment and then…”macaroni…and toilet paper?”
As if the second request would be a total miracle.
It turns out miracles do happen. Limit of one package per customer. My neighbor is rejoicing. I do what I can.
Now I have a full tank of cheap gas. In case I want to drive around the block. The governor just closed all state beaches, so I can’t drive to one of my favorite spots. Well, I could drive there, but I’m not allowed to walk the beach.
Apparently people were recently congregating too close together on the sand. Ruining it for those of us who would find some momentary peace and comfort walking six feet apart in the fresh air.
Imagine what would happen if I just went down there anyway.
Would I get arrested? I’ve never been arrested.
Imagine the report: Senior Citizen arrested for walking on the beach. Even though she was minding her own business and was six feet away from the nearest human.
Maybe worth it?
Nah…I think I’ll pass.
Hampton Beach, NH
These days my imagination continues to expand in epic proportions. Taking on a life of its own. Sometimes that’s not helpful…when it wakes me up at 3am.
This won’t last forever, I keep telling myself.
And then a sweet reminder…
How young children can cope in a world they don’t understand…
My daughter and my 3 ½ year old grandson took a walk yesterday. They live in Washington, DC. Their neighborhood…complete with sidewalks. Lined with trees.
She texted a photo and the story behind it…which she often does – and for which I am most grateful…
…On their walk my grandson carried a stick…
“a special sprayer he was using to spray the germs away….”
He also announced:
Mama, I will keep you safe from the germs. If you get covered in germs I will spray them all off of you. Then the germs will be all gone and we can go to parks, fields, schools, and go visit Grandma and Grampa.
Inspired by V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #88: Domino Effect
The dominos are falling. Where is this all leading? What happens when the dust settles? Thoughts? Examples? Interpretations?
~~~
First it was hand sanitizer and wipes. Then toilet paper. Next…paper towels. Then Kleenex. One after another. Disappearing from store shelves. Worried moms…dads…kids…everyone actually…buying what they can…just in case. The unknown is a scary place.
The fear is palpable. The carts full. We are all in uncharted territory. I must believe this will pass…in time. We will someday look back and learn.
Yesterday was likely my last visit to the grocery store for the foreseeable future.
This is what happened:
Do you remember when the Berlin Wall fell?
I was leaning back against the shelves on one side of the paper products aisle. Finishing up taking a few pictures with my phone.
A man – probably in his 50s – had stopped his shopping cart in front of me to talk. His voice was tinged with a faint accent. He wore a camouflage patterned sweatshirt and jeans. Short clipped dark hair. Slightly balding. Medium height. Stocky.
I was trying to document the (almost) entire aisle of empty shelves. Which are usually crammed with assorted packages of toilet paper, facial tissues and paper towels.
Shelves now empty as panicked customers buy out the inventory day after day – sometimes within an hour of being even partially restocked. The virus is coming.
Shoppers quite frequently start random conversations with me in the grocery store. More often than not.
But this seemed more off the beaten track than usual – immediately capturing my attention as I answered…
Um…yes, I do.
Well this reminds me of it.
It does?
It was like this in East Germany.
You mean people buying up supplies when it happened?
No, this is how it always was in East Germany then. Empty shelves. I saw it. That’s communism.
Did you live in East Germany?
No, but I was there when the wall came down.
Wow.
The two of us paused and looked over at the empty shelves. We were alone in the aisle.
Is it upsetting for you to see this? I asked.
No…but what’s with all the panic about buying toilet paper?
I think people are worried about being quarantined. A friend of a friend of mine bought 120 rolls. For just herself.
That’s BS. All you need is enough for 14 days. But…he glanced at the empty shelves again…what if you ran out…
Well, there’s always napkins. I pointed to the few remaining packages of dinner napkins.
He nods. True.
There’s also no chicken left, I added. Shifting to perhaps a more important priority when stocking up for survival while stuck at home. If, of course, you are fortunate enough to have a home. And enough money to buy food…never mind extra food.
He nodded…No hamburger either! Ridiculous.
Shaking his head, he announced…Well…ya know…I really like guns. And people don’t like that I keep so many extra boxes of ammo stocked in my house. But I don’t care what they think.
Ahh…well we all do what we gotta do I guess.
Yes we do.
He began pushing his cart away to finish shopping.
Have a good day!
You too!
Hand sanitizer. Toilet paper. Paper towels. Tissues. Guns. Ammunition. We all are trying to prepare for an unseen enemy in our own ways.
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 