june 24 (from my facebook post, the unlocking of italy ?? / day 52 ):
yes, i’m still counting the days. first of the strict lockdown (55), and now of what i call the unlocking (already another 52).
those who know me well know i just love to count things (haha). but more seriously, it’s been a way for me to try and make sense, on a daily basis, of this very different world we’re living in. life still feels very tentative and unsettling at this point. not only do i wear a mask and practice social distancing every time i go out, but meetups with my friends and other events (both scheduled and spontaneous) have become rare. and i think i will feel “locked in” until the day that i am free to travel between continents and see my sons again.
and so my count continues.
now another look back, to almost three months ago (and actually even further, to 2002 and 2013)
march 30 (from my facebook post, lockdown in italy day 21):
i’ve heard that some parents (worldwide) are feeling a bit overwhelmed, since their kids suddenly started doing school from home. i homeschooled for 19 years, so i thought i’d share my personal favorite ideas.
read to them.
let them play with legos. a lot.
discuss everything with them.
let them teach themselves.
amazing things will happen. really.
these pictures are from 2002, when we lived in anchorage alaska. my sons are now 22 and almost-27. and they’re both pretty great guys.
*******
edited to add a couple of lessons learned:
try not to lose your temper with them.
don’t force a 6yo to make an “initiative” box.
(just trust me on that second one ?)
march 31 (from my facebook post, lockdown in italy day 22):
with cousins gilberto and gabriella
induno olona, lombardia, 2013
~
a heaviness has descended over all of us right now. we are fearful and anxious, bewildered (even belligerent), sad and angry too. the world is suddenly unrecognizable and surreal. this virus has touched every aspect of our existence, from our livelihood and freedom to our health and life itself.
i’ve had to postpone my women’s retreats for the foreseeable future, and my younger son’s plans to spend the summer in italy (the first time he’s even expressed interest since we moved here almost 4 years ago) have obviously been cancelled.
i haven’t personally experienced the pain of losing a family member or friend to the disease (in italy or the u.s.), and i sincerely (and somewhat selfishly) hope i will not before this is all over. i wait and i watch and i worry though. and i cry for the other families whose losses are so unfathomable, so immense.
my dad’s first cousin, gabriella, lives only 40 miles from italy’s epicenter. she’s in the highest-risk age group but so far she’s okay, even driving herself to the store for groceries. i hope she remains safe and well. and i have so many dear friends in both countries, and family of course throughout the u.s.
the following poem is a mishmash sample of reactions around the world (mine included) from my facebook feed, that i began noting and recording around the 22nd of february.
the covid-19 timeline
from
not paying much attention
statistics on the flu
to
jokes and denial
treating it lightly
to
that’s horrible in italy
all old people though
to
it’s somewhere else, doesn’t affect me
there’s only 1 case in my area
to
no school, still daycare
less than 250 people, i can still go
to
we don’t need masks
we can still travel
to
define lockdown
this is too extreme
to
i have to cancel my trip?
who can i blame?
to
people here are sick, in the hospital
i know that person, this is scary
to
how will i pay my bills?
we need masks
to
we’re running out of beds and respirators
OMG it’s happening HERE!
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