Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Life under quarantine

My days of quarantine are not much different from my days before. I sit at my desk and write, as my deadline for this book has not shifted, in fact last week it was moved up by a month, as the editor wants to publish next spring. But these days, I have my husband home, the TV on giving updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, and my niece is in her bedroom, set up at her desk, video conferencing with the digital team at her job of two months. The way America works has changed overnight. We are among the fortunate, in that we are continuing to have work, and our paychecks continue to be deposited on schedule, at least for now. But gig workers, food prep workers, temp workers, so many people are in a world of hurt. And the grocery store owners, and those who stock the shelves, even though the coin is flowing in for them, still they have to be out among the masses, at risk every day. This is the case for my niece's father in Orlando. She worries for him, and also for her mother, who even though she can stay home, is very much among the vulnerable, having beaten back cancer just a year ago.

The shit show that is the president is now on blazing display, as he whines that governors need to do more, find their own ventilators, and all this for a crisis that two weeks ago he insisted was a hoax. Fuck him. The governors in this country are providing the real leadership now, and they're on their own. The no count president hasn't a clue what to do, that is if he cared to help at all, which he doesn't. A jewelry box maker in New Jersey was on the news this morning, saying his factory could easily be converted to making masks and other protective gear, he only needed the government to put in the order. Since last week, labs nationwide have stood ready to begin testing, if only the federal government would give them the go ahead. The corrupt self-dealing president declined the World Health Organization testing kits that would have allowed us to begin testing people in late January. Then he gave the contract to develop the test kits to his son-in-law's brother. The tests didn't work at first, and we lost even more time. Now we simply don’t have enough tests to determine the scale of the crisis. Only 13,000 people have been tested in the US since February began. They do that many tests in a day in South Korea.

Public schools in New York’s tri-state area are now closed for the foreseeable future, but meals are still being provided on a grab-and-go basis to kids whose only meals for the day were at school. Some have suggested that empty university dorms can be turned into makeshift hospitals should the need arise. One man wrote about his wife's symptoms, deep fatigue and tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, headache, occasional fever, coughing. They called 911 on the fourth day and the paramedics came at once. They didn't test his wife. They said she definitely had Covid-19, but they had stopped testing for it that morning because it was "so rife." So this woman, sick as she is, and her husband, who appears to now be getting ill as well, are not among the confirmed cases, which tells you that for every positively identified case, there are many uncounted more. As a doctor who is now sick himself said, "This thing has been spreading for a long time."

I feel symptoms myself now and then, a cough, a sneeze, a thickness in the heart and throat, shallow breath. They come when I'm in the throes of anxiety about my loved ones. And then it passes, and I feel fine, so I'm going to assume that in our little quarantined household, we are all okay, and may we all remain so. I do worry for my son, who as a firefighter and paramedic is on the front lines daily. "All is well," he just texted me in response to my texted query about whether he has protective gear. "I have gear. Worrying isn't going to change anything so don't bother with it." Easier said than done of course.

Meanwhile my daughter is working harder than ever from home, because she works for a non profit that feeds the hungry in New York, the number of whom has exponentially multiplied. She is the business partnerships manager, which means she encourages corporate concerns to make philanthropic donations to help the cause. "I'm so stressed," she told me on the phone just now. "Our sponsors want to help, but if we don't reach out and capture those donations, they'll go somewhere else." Yesterday, she raised $100,000 to feed those in need. One. Hundred. Thousand. "You are one of the lucky ones," I told her. "You have the privilege of contributing something of such immense value right now." Honestly? I'm in awe of both my children. May we all be saved.






10 comments:

  1. Your kids are so special and wonderful. They have great parents.

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  2. Our governor who also ran for president for about five minutes -ran on climate issues which did not make him attractive to the $$$ and usual BS in politics...has taken leadership to it's finest level here! We are shut down, the entire state, even though most of it is rural and not in danger. It is just another normal way to be for me. Staying home is something well practiced having been in a brace for so long. I got this. Husbands last day today in office, shutting down and I am so pleased! less worry. Stay well, Stay in, Do what you do so well, LOVE

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  3. Your kids are golden. Seriously.

    This is a very weird time. It's like a less immediately traumatic 9/11 -- the surreal atmosphere, the uncertainty.

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  4. I loved reading every word of this post.

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  5. Your children are truly inspiring human beings. I am so grateful for their presence on our earth... and you and your husband. You add to the sum of goodness. We are all in this together.

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  6. I love your babies just about as much as I love my own. You have every reason to be proud of the way you and your husband have raised them.
    May we all stay safe. May we all remember that all things must pass. Even this. Things will be changed but we will come out the other end.

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  7. I'm so glad to hear that corporations are wanting to help out at this time. Your kids (and their parents!) can be proud of their actions in times of crisis as well as times of calm.

    Be well, 37p.

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  8. May it be so, and I agree, your children are amazing.

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  9. Hurray for the kids! And your niece! I have a friend who is a paramedic, and her company doles out ONE mask a day. Her mom is an RN, and has supplied her with more. I've been at home for 13 days now - I have 3 underlying health conditions. I'm well stocked at present, and if food supplies run low, hell, I'll be on a diet. From what I see on television, grocery stores are mad houses right now. One of the silver linings of being at home: NO BRA for 13 days! Oh, Freedom! Stay well.

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  10. You and your husband did a good job raising your children. I'm glad you're all well. I would worry about a son who is a paramedic too, how could you not?

    I keep thinking if feel short of breath and then it's gone, or I could and I wonder. I think it's normal. I work in a cancer hospital and every staff member is convinced they have cancer at some time because we hear about it all day long. Same with COVID-19.

    As tRump, oh my fucking god that man is stupid and dangerous. I thought he was before but as always, when you think he can't get any lower, he steps up and goes even lower. Perhaps this will be the final straw. At least that way, something good could come out of this pandemic.

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