It’s like some weird dream.
In order to prevent the spread of the Corona virus, our national Center For Disease Control and Protection strongly suggests that all people stay home as much as possible, also known as Quarantine. If a gathering must happen, it shouldn’t exceed more than 10 people. Only very necessary businesses may operate.
Our society slowly becomes more and more isolated due to the world wide web. But take away our social gatherings and non essential businesses, and we see just how social we still are.
My husband and I went to Des Moines yesterday to ship something via UPS. I realize that city isn’t a huge metropolis, but on a Saturday in spring it is normally uncomfortably busy and crowded. Yesterday we sailed through traffic lights, easily found parking places, didn’t have to wait in lines. We saw very few other people running errands. (Which is good. Many are obeying the Quarantine.) Don’t get me wrong, for the most part I find this fabulous. But I also feel a little bit of eerie since current reality greatly differs from the norm.
An A-typical Home Life
The kids get their school assignments on line and do their school work at home. At times they tune into a virtual lecture and take notes. My husband and I both remote in to our work computer systems and phones, getting our work done from our laptops at home. Our WiFi gets heavy use, so if it appears bogged down on any given day, one of the high schoolers goes across the street to our church for the extra WiFi and quiet. For all this I am thankful.
Having three teenagers in the house, a lot of our entertainment comes from our smart phones. We do spend considerable time scrolling and watching and checking and looking up. But also, together we play board games, do puzzles, go for walks, watch movies, share funny memes, eat meals (anyone else gaining weight?) and play ping pong.
One Big Gift
Although this way of life feels strange, I don’t entirely mind it. I miss my coworkers and church family. I hate that my friend couldn’t have the masses attend her funeral. But a lot of good comes out of this lifestyle, especially in one area.
We’ve been given the gift of time.
Since all activities outside the house are cancelled, we have no where we have to be. And I LOVE that. Thinking about getting up in the morning and rushing out the door has always stressed me out. And thinking about an evening activity away from home gets me down. But that has always been part of life. I never had the opportunity to change it, so why despair about what is? But now that outside activities have disappeared, I know what it’s like to be without and I so enjoy it. This could do more harm than good when activities resume.
What Time Allows
Another good point of the quarantine, time with immediate family members. I can convince them to willfully participate in things they would normally never consider. “Would anyone like to go for a walk with me?” I hear some Yeses! “Today we are spring cleaning our bedrooms.” No one rolls on the floor in protest! “I am making a grocery store run.” I have requests to go along! Even when I explain I am going straight there and back, my 19 year old boy wants to accompany me! Thank you quarantine! The only thing I can’t talk them into is creating a family video to post to social media for entertainment. Evidently that’s too embarrassing for some members.
My family also doesn’t mind doing things all together! All five of us go on rides to the local nature preserve. If my husband mentions drive through ice cream afterward the teens beat us to the car. We all like to play this trivia game on the google dot too. The loser gets majorly laughed at. On Sunday mornings, we gather in the living room for a virtual church service. No one complains! And on weekend nights we have watch Disney movies all together. We take turns leading a random burst into song for the next 7 days.
A Few Other Improvements
Another improvement for me is my attitude toward cooking. I don’t hate cooking, but meals in general are always a little stressful due to lack of creativity and time. Now I have time to think of yummy meals, to create a grocery list, and get the required ingredients. I have time to start meals early and eat at an appropriate time. And for the first time in a long time, I enjoy satisfying my family with a good meal instead of resenting the fact that I have to come up with meals to feed them.
In a way I am connecting with friends and family now more than I did in normal life. I take the time to send that “thinking of you” text, make a phone call, and even mail a note. My 93 year old, out of state grandma recently received letters from my kids. I chatted by phone with my life long friend that I had been playing phone tag with for over a week. I checked in on my dad a few times by text since he has been sick. The interaction is enjoyable even though it can’t be in person, mostly because I appreciate the time to do it.
In This Quarantine Together
I realize that not everyone experiences positives during this quarantine . Some are losing income and even jobs. A few live truly alone with no house mates to talk with. Some are stuck at home with abusive family members. And those who receive motivation from social interaction may be truly down in the dumps over not seeing friends, family and the outside world in general.
My introvert status probably does make this quarantine a little easier for me. I feel I naturally have what it takes to make the best of it. I just didn’t know this kind of life was a possibility. The whole country being in the same boat also helps me personally. (No one cares that I wear my ugly white manufactured protective mask to the store!) We all have each other for support because we are all aware of the basic struggles that come with health and isolation. Some have more struggles than others, but we all know the reason behind the struggles. If I were somehow the only one isolated in my home, with everyone else living his or her normal interactive life, it would be much harder for me. I am comforted by the common bond we all share.
How Much Longer?
And so we continue on for what sounds like at least another 3 or 4 weeks. We deal with the siblings bickering, spouses getting on each other’s nerves, and the boring routine of staying home. But we also get more time to ponder the good parts of life and what we really want out of it.
And eventually, if we all work together and obey recommendations, we will receive a healthy, happy environment away from home. It will be complete with co workers, school events, sports, fun social gatherings, funerals, worship services, whatever you want! You may want to decide now which events are worth your time and which can be omitted in the future. Now is a great time to make plans not to be overwhelmed by your future schedule.
Hang in there! Look for the good in this weird dream. And make plans for your future ideal dream.
