I've decided to chronicle our experience with the Covid-19 pandemic here on the blog. I'm sure I'll have some photo posts to mix in but not like usual because as of late my posts have been a log of the places we go and the events we attend. And there will be none of that for the forseeable future.
It's been quite a week.
One week ago we were driving home from a lovely mini-vacay in NY when we saw the reports of the first confirmed Ohio cases of Covid-19. Things have happened fast since then. It feels like every few hours there's another pivot, another change to our normal lives. One week ago it really seemed like maybe this crazy disease we'd be hearing about might have a few little flare ups but then disappear, like things usually do... But this was not the case.
Here's a recap of the week so far:
Monday-- first cases reported. Turns out one is right in Cleveland Heights and another was exposed to two SHS students who were then put on home isolation. Other than that life continued as normal, with a high prevalence of hand-washing memes.
Tuesday-- lots of news from Italy where the disease is exploding and normal life is shutting down. Made a point of enjoying my WSC rehearsal because as I looked around at all the older adults in our choir I realized maybe we shouldn't be singing near one another... As more news emerges, people begin buying up large quantities of hand sanitizer, bleach and of all things, toilet paper.
Wednesday-- WSC rehearsals, concert and benefit cancelled. Colleges and universities ordered to switch to online learning for at least 3 weeks. Students sent home. Rumours afoot of cancelling K-12 schools. Think to myself, that's crazy, but decide to accelerate my schedule of end--of-quarter tests and Alternate Assessments. Work through all my plan periods to make this happen. And stop at Trader Joe's to buy up some things on my way home. Gut feelings, you know? Suggest to Nat we make a Costco run. But not go overboard like all those crazy people are doing...
Thursday-- There is talk during the day of preparing and training for online instruction. We continue to press hard to finish tests and keep up with teaching.
Thursday, 2:30pm-- Governor DeWine cancels K-12 school beginning 3/16 for 3 weeks. What?? We are reeling. By 4:00 when I stop at Trader Joe's the shelves have been emptied of all pantry foods. The news from Italy continues to be worse and worse. A 7% mortality rate and not enough ventilators to save everyone. Yet, that's Italy. Not here. Everywhere there is talk of "social distance" but we think, meh, we can still get together with our friends who are healthy, and go places to hang out...Ivy and I head to the library to stock up on books, though, just in case. We come home with 20 novels between the two of us.
Thursday evening- Friday-- the closures roll in. Art Museum, Lake Farmpark, the library system...
Friday-- we meet to discuss how to provide services from a distance while schools are closed. We scramble to finish work and move the close of 3rd quarter to Monday. We plan lessons. I was able to get my home instruction folders home with almost all of my students by the end of the day. At this point we were still under the impression that we would be teaching one more day on Monday.
Saturday-- Gatherings over 100 are prohibited. We break isolation to meet the new pastor at church, where chairs were separated 5 feet and one person opened the door and everyone was just a little strained. We broke isolation again to go see Melinda and Will, where the adults proceeded to scroll through Facebook for updates for most of the time we were together. The underlying awareness that this was probably the last time we'd see each other for a while made it hard to be truly present.
Sunday-- One more gathering-- a socially distant church service. Pretty sure that this will be the last one for a while. Tried to enjoy it all. Beautiful sunshine, time for a run and playing outside--- a wonderful joyful normal day except....
Bars and restaurants are ordered to close by 9pm that night. At 7:00 we receive an email that school is cancelled for Monday and staff only are to report to finish preparing for online instruction.
Stayed up late working on a "school day schedule" for Jack and Ivy while they are home.
Today-- surreal morning of normal work and small talk with staff as though it was just a professional day. Brought home my candy and disinfecting wipes and some games and workbooks for our kids and allll the paperwork to keep instruction going as by noon the word on the street is that schools may be closed for at least 8 weeks... Spent ALL the money on the way home buying up pantry foods and pet supplies. Got home midday to help the kids through their first afternoon on our schedule. So many big feelings in our house. Anxiety from the adults doesn't help. Nat and I noted we go through a major transition every time we are off school for a break... but this is way more than our normal "We need to get used to one another." Most summer breaks don't start with the fear of a potentially deadly disease lurking on literally every surface, and EVERY activity and cultural institution made unavailable. Today brought closures to movie theaters, gyms, and water parks/ play places, and recommendations to not gather in groups larger than 10.
Thank heavens for springlike weather and archery. Being outdoors may be the only thing to save us! Reports from the field after Day 1 off school include descriptions of abject refusal to get off of phones, temper tantrums because the chocolate chip cookies were the small ones, and great kicking and flailing when a cornbag was not the correct temperature. The struggle is real. But mixed in to the day was the chance to eat two meals together, read a book for a while and enjoy a sunshiny afternoon with a family walk to clean up trash and throw the ball for the dog in our local park. We opted to not let Ivy touch the playground, which caused some more feelings... but we still enjoyed ourselves a lot, and watched several families peacefully enjoying the park too, walking littles on bikes and practicing lacrosse. In "normal" times we would not have been outdoors together on this perfect Monday afternoon. Maybe there will be silver linings to this shut-down of America. If we can get a handle on this virus before it kills all of our grandparents, that is.
More tomorrow! I'm not sure how much I'll have to report but I will be trying to keep a log of the events in this new, crazy world.
Back to my regularly scheduled programming of obsessively scrolling Facebook and planning my next list of items to stock up on. Be safe and well and STAY HOME, dear ones.
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