Three On Thursday
It was a year ago this week that everything changed, an anniversary I’m sure many of you are acutely aware of. It was a year ago tomorrow that we closed the library . . . for a deep cleaning over the weekend . . . and didn’t open the doors to the public again until August. There are lessons from this past year that I’m still learning, changes that I’m still adjusting to, awareness around issues that I’m still unpacking. For today, though, I have 3 things distinctly remember about those early pandemic days.
- How few cars were on the road. I remember driving to the library about a week after we closed so that I could do some paperwork and the roads were just . . . empty . . . while every driveway I passed was full of cars. It felt like everyone was just at home.
- How my small circle of friends created a grocery story chat group. We didn’t really plan for this to happen but we all just started texting each other any time one of us ventured to the store to get supplies. We’d ask, what do you need? and then try and get it. Truthfully, Dale and I probably benefitted the most from this as our friends regularly dropped off milk. Otherwise I got very good at planning meals ahead and stocking up on non-perishables.
- How much I missed Jackie and worried that he would forget us. I really struggled with this, thinking that all the work I had put into my relationship with him was going to fall by the wayside without regular visits. Dale reassured me it wouldn’t happen and eventually we got Facebook portals and Facetimed with him and it helped me a lot to cope. I went from Friday, March 13th until Wednesday, May 13th without seeing him in person. When Dale was hit by the car it changed everything and our social distancing went right out the window because I needed all the help I could get at that point.
Are there things that have stuck with you from one year ago? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
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Oh, what a year (and it’s not over yet). My SiL and I were sharing photos last weekend and I came upon a bunch that I took at a local pub when eight members of our family went to celebrate John’s sister’s birthday. It felt like this had happened years ago, but the dates on the pictures were Feb. 29, 2020. It was the last normal thing we did, and if I had known that I would definitely have had more than one beer and celebrated a whole lot more.
A Boston paper asked people to check the last photo on their phone before COVID shut us down, and I knew exactly what mine was. we had invited friends over for dinner, and I snapped a photo of us laughing together. 10 days later, the husband sickened enough to be hospitalized, and died within 24 hours, our first local COVID death. It was shocking.
It was interesting to me how quickly you could figure out your tribe. Who was willing to wear a mask to protect others, offer to grab something at the store for you (or tell you when they found TP!). We also realized we definitely have to remodel before DH retires so we have more space. Ha, ha!
Our “lock down” started earlier here in PA – we had already been Safer at Home for a month by this time. I can’t believe that we were still going to grocery stores and Costco – maskless!! And how little there was in the stores…no cleaning supplies, no toilet paper or paper towels, and we had restrictions on how much meat you could purchase. And here we are today… more than 500k of our fellow citizens gone.
One thing that really struck me in those early days . . . was how many people were cleaning out their garages! As I walked in my neighborhood, it seemed like EVERYONE was busy emptying out their garage and sweeping. We must have the most organized garages in the country now! I also remember how shocking it was that big events were being canceled — events that seemed too big and too “institutionalized” to BE canceled. It was all so incredible. Now it’s just . . . routine.
XO
I just went back to look at my post from a year ago, which was written and posted that morning, before I was sent home from work midday for a “trial” of working from home. There’s a photo in that post that I took on my desk at work. I am really thankful that while life has changed dramatically since that day, everyone I love is still here. It’s been hard to be apart, but I know it’s been even harder for so many people who have lost loved ones.
The quiet freeway was especially eerie. I am especially grateful that you have this place where I can bring my weekly gratitude list.
I certainly remember the things that you describe and many other specifics. What sticks with me most is how unmoored I felt as the world as I knew it was gone. And I remember how kind the people in my neighborhood were to check on my husband and I and offer help. People, in general, are at their best when things are at their worst.
I definitely remember those first few eerie weeks … the center of town was desolate, no cars, no people. I remember being excited when I found flour, or chicken breasts, or whatever was the ‘hot commodity’ that particular week, and being thrilled when one of the tribe messaged and said they were going somewhere did we need anything. I also remember thinking that we’d be all set within a few weeks or a month, and then the world would go back to normal … ha! Jokes on all of us. I do hope that the helpfulness, the giving of grace, and the kindness don’t go back to normal, I like the new version.
What a thought-provoking post. It has stirred up a lot of feelings–from the camaraderie I felt when we first went into lockdown to the agita when it wasn’t just two-weeks, to the weariness now that it has been a year.
oh that grocery store thing is a great idea … even post-pandemic! (sometimes the only thing we need is milk. or lettuce.) is Facebook portal like FaceTime? if yes, I cannot imagine having made it through March, let alone another month and a half without it (it’s still the main way we connect with Katie’s family). and I’m so glad y’all had bubbles-aplenty for help when Dale and YOU! needed help.
On March 14th last year, 2 friends and I were out for a Birthday lunch. Then on the 16th, I was at work when they told us to take our computer and work home to try out as we may be working from home for a few weeks. Hmm, still working from home. I have been in the office twice. Once in the Spring to drop off paperwork (I had work mailed to my house and ran out of room to store it) and then to pick up my docking station and monitor as it was driving me crazy working on my small laptop. I did bring home the plants I left there in late Spring and somehow they survived with no water. At the beginning my sister did all the grocery shopping for my parents and I and we ate up some of what was in the freezer. Eventually we went back to the stores but I reverted back to curbside pickup. My father, in his 90’s went to a smaller grocery store that wasn’t super crowded.
As a runner, I used to be so glad when there were no cars on the road. It’s hard to believe it has been a whole year!
March 13, 2020 was the last day I went in to my office. We were told that morning that we were doing a fulltime telework test on the following Monday . . . and I have not been back since. I wish I had known I wasn’t going to be back for so long or I would have prepared better! I am very thankful that our agency started using Microsoft Teams in early 2020. I love being able to see everyone in meetings and do one-on-one chats. I appreciate so much more the work friends I stay in touch with, and doubly appreciate that I have not seen the Nutjob who stalked me to the point that I developed PTSD at the sight of him!
We hadn’t stocked up on groceries, and I remember going to the grocery store to pick up something for dinner. The entire meat case was empty with the exception of one package of Italian sausage. It was surreal.
The no traffic was pretty eerie. I’m glad that a year later the shelves of the grocery stores are not bare. I worried a lot about people going hungry. You guys for sure had quite the year.