It began with a vague sense of confusion. You heard something on the news, then someone mentioned what they had heard. You pushed it aside, a virus out of China, perhaps the avian flu returning once again.
You heard stories about people hoarding toilet paper. What ??? Toilet paper? Then you stopped by Sam’s Club one afternoon and witnessed crowds of shoppers filling up their carts like it was the Friday before Super Bowl Sunday. The meat cases were stripped bare. No rotisserie chickens, no paper products. What the hell was going on ?
The news marched on, getting more intense every day. Facebook posts exploded with jokes about toilet paper and working from home. Cases rose in the US, and reality began to set in. Restaurants and bars closed, then movie theaters. Eerie video played on the news of empty streets in Manhattan. What was that Stephen King novel from back in the 70’s ? The Stand ? Zoom calls and distance learning became the new normal and even television shows started programming from home.
The wave of television ads began. “We are here for you in this difficult time” “We know now more than ever that our customers are our top priority” “ Can’t pay for your medications ? AstraZeneca can help” “ We are offering this special deal during these challenging times” Ummm…. No , that “Special Deal “ of being able to finance a car with no money down and payments up to 96 months was there last year. What you are doing is capitalizing on fear.
I have, since the pandemic began done some things that I would be embarrassed to admit pre Covid. I tend to forget what day it is. I eat leftover pizza for breakfast, consume an entire jumbo box of Mike & Ikes along with a bag of potato chips while watching Law & Order SVU. Once, during a Zoom call, I reached into my desk drawer for a lip balm and ended up coating my lips with a glue stick. I made the conscious decision to run up to the Dollar General wearing my pajama pants, four layers of assorted tank tops, tee shirts and cardigan, with a lovely pair of muddy garden boots. I also reached for a sponge when I was washing my face, and mistakenly rubbed a Mr. Clean Power Eraser all over my face. My face burned for hours, but I have to tell you, it was the best $2 dermabrasion treatment you can buy.
Last, I made a Bath & Body Works run to stock up on hand sanitizer, soap and candles. For weeks, I used a new fragrance of hand soap called “Champagne Toast”. It was just yesterday that I thought to myself : Oh….THAT kind of toast….a celebration” I had being imaging a brunch item & wondered if it came topped with powdered sugar.
My mind is fried. The simplest things often take more focus than I have to give. The battle to keep up a positive attitude is real. Now we move into the phase where reports of domestic violence are increasing dramatically, and kids who are food insecure because they used to rely on the free breakfast and lunch at their schools. Don’t get me started on the poor teachers and what hell they are going through.
I hope, as everyone does, that this will end soon. But How ? When it does, will I recognize it ? Normality feels light years away.
The View from my Back Porch 