A Spring Evening View in Michigan
We have anguished over the decision of when would be the best time to travel from our winter home in southern Florida to our summer home in southern Michigan. After talking with a friend who drove from Florida to Michigan a week ago, we decided that we could do it safely and we are ready. I have begun the process of packing up half-finished quilt projects to finish up north, have put away my sewing machine, and am starting to sort through and organize the small piles of papers and books, some to leave here and some to take with us. I’ve even begun the difficult task of deciding what clothes to leave and which to take north. There is a sense of peace in making order and getting ready to leave in a week.
My life seems to be characterized by a huge and constant sense of disconnect. I watch the news on TV throughout the day and see how communities are being devastated by the virus and people are loosing loved ones. I see the suffering of health care workers who aren’t able to physically protect themselves because PPE is in such short supply while at the same time have to help people die who are separated from families. Health care workers trained to save lives have to live with the knowledge that refrigerated trailers are sitting outside holding the overflow bodies, the bodies of someone’s loved one that can’t be claimed. I watch journalists trying to bring us facts of sickness and death in nursing homes around the country and wonder how they deal with the weeks of emotional battering they have endured from looking for and making sense of human suffering without having a melt-down on camera.
And I feel a disconnect as I live my life with just some frustrating inconveniences, that’s all, just some inconveniences like not being able to go to our favorite restaurants or getting together with friends to play cards and laugh and eat snacks. Inconveniences like not being able to get a hair cut, exercise at the gym, or go to my favorite fabric stores. I go outside and see blue skies, spend a little time in the pool talking with friends as I exercise at a safe distance from others, and no one I know is in immediate danger unless they choose to put themselves there. None of my inconveniences are life threatening, in fact they are only inconveniences to me because I want to do certain things – going without isn’t a matter of life and death. I think about how my life with all its inconveniences is a thousand time better than most of the world’s population on their best days. There is a disconnect, a lack of congruence, between my daily lived existence and the carnage that the COVID-19 virus is causing across our world. I sometimes feel like I can’t get my head around what is happening.
But I know that I am getting my head around it because I am in a constant state of fear, of fight or flight. I am so in tune to social distancing that watching commercials on TV causes anxiety because the people on the screen are way too close. I feel the dread of contagion, of death. This reaction makes me laugh, but I know my fear is no laughing matter. It is real and appropriate because I am old, my husband is old, and most of my friends are old, even our children are getting old. If we get sick there is a greater likelihood of dying than of recovering. Usually I don’t embrace fear because I make decision that keep me safe, but with this virus I am keeping my fear active because I need it to stay safe while a virus that isn’t understood or controlled is knocking at my door. I need to keep fear close and active so that I don’t do something stupid that will lead to panic. Only when our government produces more testing and tracking and isolating of those who are carriers will I start to let my fear relax.
In the mean time I am going to continue to socially isolate myself and take precautionary measures even if government officials decide to put the economy ahead of saving human lives. I have so much to say about this but most of it isn’t nice or appropriate to say out loud. So right now I will think about safely getting some necessary provisions and get out some of the quilt squares I have packed to take home. I want to cut them down an inch so that they are better proportioned for the wall hanging they are destined to become.
Please, please stay safe and put aside your own needs if getting those needs met endanger others. It won’t be forever and in the grand scheme of things even two years isn’t much over your whole lifetime. If I can live with inconveniences for a year or two at my age, so can you. And all of us, together, can become creative in helping those who have lost incomes make it through. Jim and I will be using our government check to support our local food bank. What can you do to help yourself and others? We can do this, together, but at a safe distance!
A New Day: Living Life Almost Gracefully 
This is such a thoughtful treatise on how it feels right now for the regular people – those of us not on the front lines of this crisis. Your words feel like they came out of my heart. I particularly appreciate this: “Usually I don’t embrace fear because I make decisions that keep me safe, but with this virus I am keeping my fear active because I need it to stay safe while a virus that isn’t understood or controlled is knocking at my door.” Thank you for voicing a very important concept, fear as a protective agent.
LikeLike
I am so glad that my words helped you understand your own feelings a little better. Although we can be very different in the conclusions we come to, our underlying emotions are the same. And that gives me the courage to face each new day. I’m not alone. Thanks for your kind words, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!!
LikeLike
Safe travels Pat!
LikeLike
Thanks, Nora.
LikeLike
Pat, do take care coming north. Here in MA we have yet to hit the crest. In our community things are relatively goo, unlike the overwhelm other communities face. The advice here remains to simply stay home, so Jennie shops every two weeks, and we see family occasionally as long as they have not been out and about for more than groceries for two weeks. My favorite small bakery is still open somehow, so perhaps this week we can get Portuguese pastries which I have been craving.
Most of my clients are at home, but some are necessary workers and face real threat. They remind me that I am necessary as well, which reminds me that we are all necessary even as we are not all in equal immediate danger.
The growing sense here is that we will be in some sort of reduced contact state for a long time. It is good to have the capacity to reach out and at least write or see one another.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed your comment, Michael. We have thought this through and think this may be the safest time – we really don’t want to spend the whole summer here. It is already beastly hot and humid. We also know how to travel without having contact with many people. and will wear masks when we leave the car. I just heard that Georgia is partially opening on Friday – barbers, tatto parlors, nail salons, massage – as long as they keep social distance. I do need a hair cut but haven’t figured out how to get one while maintaining 6 ft. distance. 🙂 I really feel sorry for people who are caught between fear for their safety but needing to work to feed their families. Thanks for caring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our furnace went out so our repair person was here and just left. He did not wear a mask but was mostly in the basement. I had on a mask when he was here earlier but do not when he came up a few minutes ago. We were having dinner and he had to pass through the kitchen on his way out. We had a brief conversation re the bill as he stood about four feet from the table. Of course he has been working as an essential worker, so who knows.. we both felt a twinge of unease. We live in strange times. It would be ironic if we were to become ill under these circumstances. Ultimately, there is no absolute safety. Be well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My bug-guy was here a few days ago. I live in Texas and get the house sprayed quarterly. He wore a mask, and I did too, and we were never in the same room together. He is glad to have work, but angry at the cavalier attitude of politicians (including our local mayor) who value profits over the safety of employees and customers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe we can create a different politics? Hope so. Here in MA we are home for at least three more weeks. Keeping everyone financially afloat is the challenge, as is dealing with the continuing virus.
LikeLike
There is a commentary in the Naples paper this morning that suggests everyone who has an income commit to tithe some % of their income during this pandemic. 70% of the population wants the stay-home order to last longer. And a very large percentage of people over 65 want it. I believe we need to stay closed and at home but also know that I need to help support those who have lost jobs or are working at lower wages. We have been talking about how we are going to disburse the money we are giving to help others.
LikeLike
Hi Sharon – I agree with your bug-guy. It really makes me angry.
LikeLike
Your words share the feelings most of us are having, Pat. When I start to push against the ‘inconveniences,’ I realize I have NOTHING to complain about, when so many are suffering far, far worse at this time. We are truly blessed and sharing those blessings makes good sense. Safe travels.
LikeLike
Yes, these are strange and scary times. I think it wise also to remain on high alert, also. There are so many unknowns to navigate.
Have a safe trip to your summer abode.
Stay safe. Stay well.
LikeLike
Thanks, Sandy. And you do what you need to do to stay safe & well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are in hibernation mode. But with spring on the way, at least it will be possible to get outdoors more often!
LikeLiked by 1 person
💕 Be safe and keep smiling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another insightful post…have a safe journey to your northern home…Me…I’m staying put and isolated from the crowds…Peace be with you.
LikeLike
Thanks, I’ll take the peace blessing with gratitude. I suggest you don’t go to any Trump rallies. 🙂
LikeLike