So, what do we do now? Sit home and wait for the government to send us checks? While I really like that idea – I was a supporter of Andrew Yang’s guaranteed monthly income – I feel, as many Americans do, that I should be doing something. I’ve done some inside painting, and put some wallpaper up in the bathroom. (An accent wall – too much HGTV). The last of the snow has finally gone, but not much is coming up in the gardens yet. The clean-up crew came through with their blowers last week. I’m not sure if it’s too early to see what’s still alive or if the blowers took out everything and I’ll have to replant. Typically, I’d be making plans to hit the nurseries about now – it’s still a little early yet to plant or set out containers. But we can dream. Plants and planting are the opposite of social distancing – they want to be close, personal, and friendly. A few sturdy daffodils and tulips came up a while ago, in the warm spell, and then were covered in snow. Now, they’re out there looking terrified – “Do I keep going and bloom or don’t I?”
A dear friend sent me a series of webinars with the title, “Spring Isn’t Cancelled”, which of course has inspired this writing. They look really interesting and have a key ingredient – they’re short! I’m getting too old for long and detailed. Maybe those are just the thing to kick start my activity. Yesterday was a perfect day – a rainy and dreary day, fire going in the fireplace, a good book. Yep, that works for me. But you don’t want too many of those in a row. After a while, walking to the kitchen strains the muscles. Putting on the mask and gloves is too much effort – I’ll just sit awhile and go back to my book. I bought a pile of frozen dinners, and we’ve had them once or twice, but I don’t want that to become the new normal. Keep cooking, you lazy . . . . . . .
The schools around us have extended home schooling into May, and now there’s serious talk of keeping it that way until next fall. Makes sense – coming back before the epidemic has passed is a recipe for disaster, and many schools in the Northeast aren’t equipped to operate in the warm summer months. Most schools and households seem to have adapted to structured, online learning, and we don’t want to go through this all again. Our niece Charlotte, grade two, schedules her morning recess coincidently during “Price Is Right”, one of her favorite tv shows – a win-win. She was greatly alarmed the other day when breaking news interrupted a spin of the Great Wheel. That’s just unacceptable. Even Bernie Sanders could wait until the showdown finishes.
Retirement translated into “ I could put off home projects that I’d been meaning to do.” Now that I have to stay in, there’s no excuse. As I mentioned above, did a mini-renovation of a bathroom, and our bedroom is coming up next. I thought that we’d be saving a bundle because I wasn’t going to the stores every day. Not so much – the Amazon delivery folks pop in every couple of days to leave a parcel on the front porch. I faithfully wipe them down as I bring them in, because Herself II, the Lady Elizabeth, demands it. The Amazon people are beginning to get the picture too, because three separate orders came Friday in the same box. When we see that Walmart’s profits are plummeting, it’s because I haven’t been there in a month. I feel so badly for the greeters – there’s nobody for them to greet. And I put gas in the car for the first time since mid-March, which explains why gas is now cheaper than bottled water and toilet paper.
In a rather disappointing development, I dropped a package off at the Post Office a day or two ago. I often use the self-service postal machine because it gives me a blood pressure buzz when the touch screen doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, which is every time I use it. There were a mother and son using it when I arrived and two others waiting. While we distanced ourselves as best we could, I was the only one (other than the postal worker that popped out from the back) wearing a facemask and gloves. Really, people? Did you not get the memo, or are you watching the news? EVERYWHERE YOU GO!!! Pay attention. It’s not that hard. My mask is beautifully crafted, made by my sister-in-law, in a most dignified pattern we call Lord Grantham. When I see people, I’m reminded of the masks with the long, pointed noses that emerged for breathing protection during the Black Plague and stayed fashionable for centuries after. Maybe facemasks will become emblems of fashion for everyone, not just bank robbers.
Let’s fondly remember the rites of spring past that may or may not happen this year. Spring cleaning – still on. Getting the barbeque ready – still on, possibly. I didn’t bother to refill the gas tank last fall because, well, I can do that in the spring. Cleaning the porch and deck and setting out the furniture – that I can do. The old cushions will have to do. I ordered a new power washer, which will be delivered, so outside cleaning might happen too. New planting – that can wait, at least for a while. The stuff I put in last year should come back. The Red Sox won’t be starting any time soon, but no matter – they traded away one of their best players and their star pitcher needs surgery. Just hose off Fenway Park and leave it empty for a while longer. The Patriots won’t be quite so exciting either once play resumes, with Tom Brady gone. That’s another “wait and see what happens”. My in-laws will probably open the cottage at the lake at some point, but will we go over for July 4th? Who knows. We’ve had Easter in empty churches. Coming up next will be Memorial Day parades in cars or on fire trucks with facemasks – no people lining the streets, marching bands, veterans out in force. Just photos of last year.
So, as we prepare for the new normal, I’ll continue to grocery shop at 6 AM, listen for delivery trucks (and check the front porch each night before I go to bed), watch my hands turn into the Dead Sea scrolls, buy toilet paper and tissues by the case, get the mail looking like I just stepped out of surgery. I’ve just disinfected everything in the house from light switches, appliances, phones and tv remotes, everything. As I think about it, here’s possibility. Let’s even the score for all this pain and suffering. We’ll send to China a couple of Trumps and throw in a Pence or Giuliani for good measure. That’ll serve them right. I’m thinking . . . . it might work.
I'm Thinking...No! 