I was checking in with my neighbor the other day, and when I mentioned how eerie this whole pandemic is, his response was: "I don't know; there isn't much traffic." OK, despite the fact that there is never much traffic around here (except if you're trying to go see James Taylor at Tanglewood on July 4,) he did have a point. There is even less traffic than normal.
And the traffic was very light driving back and forth to Washington DC to see Simon. And Margaret and Andrew. We made it back to Pittsfield in a record 6 hours and 15 minutes. Probably had something to do with the fact that we only stopped once, for gas, bathroom and coffee all in one sequence.
But, there are other silver linings.
a) We have a new best friend: Zoom. While our face-to-face social interactions with friends have wound down to zero, we are taking advantage of Zoom, and with our stimulus check, we even found a little cash to upgrade so we can keep talking past 40 minutes. So, we went to Easter mass on Zoom. I've reconnected with Lawrenceville friends, one who I haven't seen since 1993. And we had Easter family time together, at least for a while, with Brazil and Oakland and Washington DC. Zoom is also helping me take a couple of classes through the lifelong learning program.
b) Did someone say stimulus check? Yes, we did get ours, and it was direct deposited so we didn't have to see you-know-who's name written on our check. Bonus.
c) Our tv viewing habits have changed, to look more like our reading habits. We start a show (like Homeland new season) and someone recommends another show, so we start that one (like Victoria) and then someone else recommends another one (like Unorthodox.) So, like our bedstands that have half-read books piled up, our Netflix and Amazon queues for "Continue Watching" are getting longer. I forgot to mention Narcos and Ken Burns baseball. What's in your queue, besides 90 day fiancé?
d) We are trying to plan our meals better and use what's in the cupboard more. So, instead of popping in at the store to get half and half, and then Swiss cheese the next day, we wait and get them both at the same time. Novel, right?
e) I don't feel so guilty about mindless, addictive cell phone games like solitaire and bridge. I'm getting even better at cribbage, Johnny.
f) Mary's cleaning out closets, with a focus on sewing drawers, baskets and boxes. She's found a number of projects that Grandma was working on, including the sewing basket pictured here that you all will recognize.
g) And then there's outdoor spring clean-up, guitar playing, Gabon virtual projects, hiking (or extreme social distancing, as my walk to the beaver pond recently) and I can't leave out naps.
h) We appreciate those who work hard at stores and take-out and essential food production services more. I even said thank you to the hardware store check-out clerk the other day. Who does that, except in coronavirus times?
i) And we can't say enough about all those health care people now, including the nurses in our family. I understand Tina is working in the in-take section at the hospital so is having to do some triage for infected people. (I hope I have that right, even though I wish it were wrong. Stay safe.)
j) we are reuniting with our kitty, who's unaccustomed to seeing us around so much. And thank you Timmy for watching kitty while we were gone.
k) we're trying out new fashions, at least in facemasks (Margaret photo).
It's not all silver linings, we know. We heard that Johanna has delayed wedding plans; that some are out of work; that Mountain Springs may not happen this year. We have not heard, though, that anyone in the family has been sick, thankfully. I'm sure I'm not alone to worry with every little tickle in the throat, allergic sneeze or asthma cough.
Stay safe everyone, and healthy - and far away, or at least six feet.
Love from up here.
