A Pandemic? Who would have ever dreamed something like this could happen? That a virus would come along and virtually shut down the entire planet? But it happened!
The first cases of the Corona Virus, also known as Covid-19, were diagnosed in January/February of this year (2020), but most people weren't aware of the seriousness of it until early March. The news media started reporting a deadly illness coming out of China that causes severe shortness of breath, high fevers, cold shivers, body aches and pains, loss of taste and smell, and numerous other symptoms that seem to change from day to day. We started checking our temperature every day and making sure we could easily take deep breaths. The newscasts were filled with warnings and all they talked about was the virus. There is fear that hospitals will be over-run, that everyone is going to die, that there isn't any medication to combat this horrific disease.
We are warned to stay in our homes, we're told we can't visit any family members who live outside our own four walls. We can't celebrate holidays or birthdays. Cancel everything. People are going crazy, stocking up on toilet paper and stuffing their freezers to over-capacity. The shelves in the stores are virtually empty. Hand sanitizer becomes a necessity. And anti-bacterial soap. And we're told to wash our hands every 20 minutes and keep them lathered up and rubbing together for two minutes while we sing "Happy Birthday" in our heads. Our skin becomes red, raw and sore.
Business's are closing, playhouses have cancelled performances, movie theatres are locked up, restaurants are closed, employees are being laid off or if the job allows, working from home. Sports venues are closed, all games are cancelled. Amusement parks stop operating, even Disneyland. Outside places like parks and zoos are off-limits. The school year is cut short and the kids are sent home. No more classes, no more teachers. Churches are closed. The streets and freeways are wide open because everyone is sequestered at home. Driveways and neighborhoods are filled with parked cars because no one is going anywhere. The world has gone mad.
Three weeks. They told us to stay home for three weeks to "flatten the curve". OK, we can handle three weeks at home. Out came the "to do" lists. Cleaning closets, going through paperwork, catching up on little home projects. If we have to stay home for three weeks, we'll make good use of our time. Some things got done, but it didn't take long to get weary of "being productive".
We're told to wear masks, at least two layers of fabric, any time we go outside, and only to go out if we absolutely have to. Masks become the new "fashion accessory" - ladies start sewing masks like crazy - a whole new industry evolves. We need a mask to match every outfit.
We're told we can take walks in our own neighborhoods, as long as we have our masks on. Suddenly the neighborhood looks like it did back in the 50's and 60's - neighbors out walking their dogs, kids riding bikes and scooters, people sitting on front porches and waving as neighbors pass by. Don't get close to anyone, but you can wave. Just keep that mask on. Families are eating around the dinner table together again, talking to each other, dusting off the board games and jigsaw puzzles. That's probably the best thing that happened - people who live under the same roof were rediscovering each other. But for those who live alone, the solitude and silence could either be welcome and peaceful, or lonely and depressing.
Three weeks come and go. Nothing changed. "They" need more time. The grocery stores are open, but we're told to only purchase the items we need for right now, don't stock up on anything. Only take one. Toilet paper is the new currency. Truckers, grocery store workers, doctors and nurses are finally recognized as heroes. They are working while the rest of us are hunkered down. Some restaurants are open for "take out" only. Door Dash and Grub Hub are making a fortune. We're all going stir-crazy. We miss our friends, our family, our church. We're binge-watching Net-Flix and Prime Video. We stop getting dressed, sweats is the new fashion statement.
Church services go online, we're now attending Sunday service from our sofas in our PJ's. We're grateful for technology in a way we've never appreciated it before. It's our lifeline, the only way we can connect with our friends and family without leaving our homes. We discover Zoom. We connect with our Small Group and start doing Bible study from our little Zoom boxes. And we think . . . why not do this with Red Hats as well?
We are SO disappointed, how could any of this be happening? All those amazing and exciting Red Hat events we planned are, one by one, being cancelled or postponed. No plays. No craft days. No outings of any kind. But we are NOT ladies who take things lying down. We will find a way! And we did . . .
We started having Zoom Game Days. We got creative. We found ways to play Scattergories, Red Hat Bingo, and other games from our little Zoom boxes. We had scavenger hunts, we filled in the blanks for Mad-Libs, we drew funny pictures, we chatted and laughed, we stayed connected. And we made it through. The three weeks turned into three months, then six months, and now it's September and we're still locked down. We don't know how much longer this will last. All we can do is do the best we can and stay positive.
Thank you all so much for being patient, for getting through this last seven months the best way you could. Here's a few pics (not good ones for sure) that I took during our Zoom Game Days.
March . . .
April . . .
May . . .
June . . .
We continued with our Zoom Game Days through September, but the photos were coming out so terrible, I stopped taking them. You're welcome.
Keep praying for all those who have been affected by this horrific virus. Stay well, stay positive, and soon we'll be together again IN PERSON and we'll be able to go out and do things again. Soon. Please let it be soon!
