March 20

Just finished Day 6 of self isolation.  On Monday, I baked buns.  On Tuesday, I baked cookies.  On Wednesday, I finished my income tax return.  On Thursday, I culled through my filing cabinet and pitched out a lot of paper recycling.  Today, I made a big batch of chicken noodle soup and I cleaned the oven.  Throughout the week, I have been spring cleaning, meditating, reading, watching movies and getting lots of sleep.  I try not to watch too much Covid 19 news for my own mental health.  I discontinued my cable TV several months ago so I only have Youtube and Netflix.  My latest ambition has been to travel the world on Youtube.  Today, I was in Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Philippines, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, and Somaliland.  My plan for next week is to start Spanish lessons and practice guitar. Self isolating does not come easy for me because I like to socialize; however, I am making the best of the situation.  I have had to settle on FaceTime conversations with my Luv Bug.  I spend a lot of time checking in with friends and relatives via telephone and FaceTime.  I phone my mother every day to check up on her.  I think I mentioned in a previous blog that she had breast cancer last summer.  She had a lumpectomy in August.  Last Thursday, she received the results of her recent CT scan.  Unfortunately, she found out that the breast cancer returned and now she has lung cancer as well.  She is in no pain and putting on a brave face, but I fear she is in for some tough times.  Obviously, her apartment high rise is under quarantine.  She spends her day baking, cleaning, and knitting.  My girls are doing well.  Haley is doing my grocery shopping.  The girls have been getting together for walks and doing like everyone else, making the best of these surreal times.  All in all, I am grateful that I don't have to go to work or go anywhere really.  The main takeaway I have at this moment is: it's best to overreact rather than under react.  I applaud the efforts of our politicians at every level.  They are doing their best.  Of course, I applaud the efforts of everyone who are frontline workers from doctors and nurses to grocery store clerks and utilities workers.  We are all in this together.  Let's be kind, considerate, and supportive.