I didn’t finish either.
Note the date on the “stock up” one: March 13th. The day Spring Training was cancelled, and the day I knew we’d have to close.
A few nights before, doing our final trial runs...
Since then, I’ve sailed through the Five Stages of Grief, which are, if you don’t know or need a refresher:
My denial last a few hours. I remember sitting in Old Town Tavern, where I was waiting to meet the owner to discuss using his back patio as our Puzzle Ride meeting place. The screens flashed the immediate closure of Spring Training...and there I was, in the middle of the Cactus League hub. It would have an immediate financial impact on my business...and I was in shock.
The day my world stopped turning.
What little damage control I could muster soon gave way to anger....as I encountered this:
I had toilet tissue at home, so I didn’t buy any. Big mistake, as people like this were clearing shelves.
Over the weekend, my anger grew as I calculated what this would do to the economy as a whole....and I was stunned.
Did the good of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one?
And in this, to which are the many and which are the few?
Ever notice that this sounds a bit like Communism? 🧐😕Over the past ten years or so, I have become increasingly libertarian. Let me (and others) live our own lives, don’t restrict my freedom and liberty to do so. And yet....
More closures...and the end of our Scottsdale Season.
Panic, fear, reason, caution....everything quickly processed and BOOM.
Others had decided for me I cannot make a living in less than 24 hours.
This happened in the first week....and the only additional square I have check off?!?! 😎
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the reasoning. I understand the caution. I might agree with some of it.
But the collective hive mind made a decision for me, and my lifestyle, without my input.
I’m more upset about being told to stay home...
Look, I get it. I know why everything’s being done, etc. I also can be angry about loosing my civil liberties.
How people are not more upset?!?!
And I watch the entire world follow along...
And I just can’t...
But.
I’m no longer angry. I moved right into denial.
I simply could not believe the majority of the world thought sheltering in place was the correct response.
That lasted about a day, as I quickly realized they all did....
...with one major exception. #genzforthewin
Look, let’s get something straight here:
I don’t mind quarantining for pandemics. I get it. What I do not like is the knee-jerk, lightening fast response of the majority of the populace to become militant believers in what their government and media are feeding them.
So I moved into bargaining. Perhaps I could dig deeper, and I began reading scientific papers.
The one by the Imperial College stopped me cold; I quickly understood the government reaction.
Once I read that, I calmed down, and moved into acceptance.
It doesn’t mean I have to like it, or that I agree with it...but I understood the driving force.
Which meant when the author of said paper recanted a few key points a week or so later...
Anywise. Save your righteous indignation, I’m freaking social distancing and quarantining, etc. I’m following the rules.
So....my business is shut down for two months. I think we will survive. My daughter, the Princess, is furloughed, but is using this time to finish high school online (she’s been on track to, but doing school and working full time was sometimes a lot. This is letting her finish with ease.) My son, Manchild, got two weeks off with pay due to having a 3-day-not-coronavirus-but-we-don’t-know-bug. The Buckeye, who works at the same company but in a different capacity, was told he had to work from home due to association with Manchild. Which is actually very, very, very nice!
It also gives me the time to focus on the Center, and I have a proposal to them concerning it...
So. In the meantime...
The Buckeye had a great birthday, and reminded me how great a match we are by eating all the frosting I do not like.
It’s warm enough to enjoy evenings on the patio.
The Buckeye scored a package of toilet paper!
Epic picnics while social distancing can be capped off with too-frozen ice cream sandwiches. (I’d like to note that here in Arizona, we are NOT under shelter in place. We are encouraged to spend time outdoors, just away from other people. That day in the park we saw families together, and everyone kept away from everyone else.)
...and Hikes like my very favorite, Thumb Butte.
Yes, I went hiking yesterday. I’m sore today...it’s been a very long time. Remember the eye issues of the last blog? I’m still dealing with them, and they took me down hard. Being in pain daily for three months took a toll, and I didn’t hike at all due to sunshine being a factor in more pain. As my near vision returns in my left eye, I am realizing how much vision I lost over the last four months; I’m also very grateful for a return to better health.
And that said....now that I’ve processed this crazy quarantine and determined I’ll go along with it even though I really don’t think it’s necessary to destroy the economy over it....I’m going to try to exercise more.
The Commander as a 7 year old. This is how I suspect y’all are reacting to me saying I’ll start exercising again:)
Sigh. If at first you don’t succeed...
Dye your hair a different color, and try again!
