Coronavirus Way of Life

You are here: Home » Coronavirus Way of Life

Christopher and Nico enjoying lunch during a simpler time. We wish we could do this now. January 18, 2020.

March 31, 2020

Things are not normal in the world today. My day to day activities have been taken away from me and yet it doesn’t feel that way.  I attribute that to the fact that I'm in law enforcement so I am required to work.  But as my State locks us all down and self-quarantine marches on into April, and maybe beyond, that lock down will be all too real.  I am afraid, but I am obligated to hold it together for my family’s sake they are depending on me.  Sadly, Coronavirus will no doubt alter our way of life long after this disease is gone.  I can only pray that most of us find a peaceful resolution at its conclusion.  

I feel bad for the people I took for granted in many industries that are affected by this pandemic.  So many people we know rely on the food and retail service industry but most of us took those industries and those associates, members, cast members, staff, help, loved ones, for granted.  We complained about how bad the service was and argued about the appropriate amount to tip our waiter or waitress but, that all feels ridiculous now. We destroyed their reputation on Yelp and disparaged them on social media.  However, allow me to enjoy some subpar meat and watered down wine if it means I can sit at a table, other than the one in my dining room, and allow me to throw my hard earned money at the server who is waiting on me hand and foot.  They will receive 4 stars if that means I can go out and forget about doing my own dishes.

Walking down the grocery aisles at the beginning of this disaster, I marveled at the empty food shelves. Living in South Florida and preparing for hurricanes has nothing on what’s happening today regarding the stock left on the shelves. But food choices bu American's are very prevalent if a corporation is looking to rid some brands. Oreo's are gone, except for those thin things they push, and Chips Ahoy cookies sit. Regular spaghetti is plentiful, right next to the bow tie pasta but darn it where is the rigatoni?  Lots of tuna fish sitting around.  I can't find a can of original baked beans but plenty of the other flavors left.   And vanilla coffee creamer is the bomb, obviously. There’s plenty of Gatorade but what I really needed was Caprisun. Can’t find Doritos but there’s plenty of corn chips. 

Comfort food will always be best.

There really is no way to prepare for this pandemic other than staying home.  But most of us are finding that hard to do.  Couch potato, anyone?  Not anymore we want to venture out and find toilet paper before it’s all gone.  I believe it is a way for us to be normal.  A sense of purpose and well duty (pardon the pun) every time we sit on the toilet and wipe our butts.  Psychologists suggest this is a way for People to settle our own mental state in search of some normalcy by searching for toilet paper. Many people may not give a sh!t about their assessment.  

My grandmother always sought some kind normalcy at the grocery store.  She would call me up on the telephone back in the day and asked me to take her grocery shopping.  This occurred almost nearly every day.  And almost all the time I gave her a hard time about it and yet I took her anyway.  I wish I could take her now.  That would offer me a little bit of normalcy.  I miss and love you grandma.

I think I will just walk aimlessly around my house, open the refrigerator door, stare at what’s inside, and then close it. 

I don’t fear my kids catching Coronavirus. If you ever had one of your kids in pre-school or pre-k, you’d understand why I would feel this way. They’d come home with every type of the flu at least monthly.  One would think their immune system is impervious to disease. Of course, though this is just mindless banter.  I do fear COVID-19 attacking my children.  When I get home from work I have to strip naked.  Throw my clothes in the washer ( this makes my wife happy) spray my shoes with Lysol and keep my wife and kids away until I shower.  Embracing reality and not my family.  It’s not like my parents 1960’s shows anymore. 

"Hi honey, I'm home."  <dog barks, sun is shining, family greets me at the door>

Speaking of my parents.  I worry about them.  My father is a baby boomer and is stubborn.  I can't smoke?  He would ask as he lights the cigarette anyway.  At least my mom is in isolation.  In fact, I probably won't see her until the year 2021.  

It would be a shame for them to lead a long healthy life only to be taken down by a disease that someone mistakenly gave them because they didn’t quarantine themselves. COVID-19 has a 14-day incubation period. That feels a little excessive but what does Coronavirus care?

I think I caught Coronavirus. Me, a pretty healthy, strong, 6’ 3”, 250 lbs. man was brought to my knees back in January because I couldn’t breathe. I was 1 day back from Spain after being there nearly a month.  I was laid out. If I didn’t spend so much money on my trip, I would have gone to the hospital one night due to my shortness of breath. But I was too cheap to spend $150 on an ER visit. How silly is that? I can’t breathe but I don’t want to spend the money. So, I crawled in bed. Got into a comfortable position. Called out sick from work and didn’t move. I had high fevers and chills and trouble breathing.  I suffered greatly. Thick mucus in my lungs that I could not clear out no matter how hard I tried to push it out.  It would cause me to throw up and become lightheaded.  I could not take a deep breath; I was scared but a part of me thought I was too strong for this and I can make it through.  When I came out the other side 7 days later, I still wasn’t 100% but I felt better enough to get out of bed, refreshed. But boy was I dumb.  I will seek medical help if I feel that way again.  So, should you.

Could any good come from this?  Maybe while us humans take a break from the environment by reducing our carbon footprint the earth is going to replenish and the Global Warming deniers will take notice and realize there may be some legitimate concerns. When wildlife sense less human activity in their habitat they can return to urban sprawl that us to be theirs. Like the dolphins in Venice. Icebergs may get a chance to reform.  Fish could have a moment to reproduce and fill our oceans.  Birds can repopulate areas they were chased away from.  We can only hope there is good in that.

People are scared because who knows where the Coronavirus will lead us and beyond?  For now, we can keep up good hygiene by washing our hands and not touching our face. Wash your hands thoroughly for a good 30 seconds, wash them every chance you can. Sing happy birthday to me at the top of your lungs.  You're quarantine.  People won't think your're crazy, yet.   And shelter in place when you don’t have to work or buy necessities.

Keep your loved ones close enough so that they know you love them.  Love them by being 6 feet away, maybe add another foot to the rule simply out of love.  It’s better to see them from a far then for them to be isolated from you on their death bed.  Love is enduring, love is fleeting, love is forever, you will hug them again.

Remember that when this is all over and you rush out your door.  Take this life lesson and appreciate the things we have because your day to day activities have been restored to you.  But remember those that were not so lucky and appreciate it even more.  Because we have seen how quickly Coronavirus has taken everything we enjoy away.  

Love, food, family, life was taken away from us in an instant.  I suppose this is the Coronavirus way of life, for now.   

Be safe everyone.  Like and share my blog if you enjoyed.  

Captain Imperfecto and family taking a drive around Lake Okeechobee while self quarantining in our SUV.  March 29, 2020

© copyright 2012- 2020 Captain Imperfecto, LLC. All rights reserved.  

  https://twitter.com/FusaCmee