Life changes with the pandemic.

A global stressor. And global adjustment. An economic shocker. Billions staying home, halting activities, worrying about resources, learning about health, reaching out to loved ones through technology, staying closer and not traveling, watching their own kids, thinking about others. Here are a few things I have noticed:

· The realization of a new normal takes time. The shocks have aftershocks. Every day, I have this thought: “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING.”

· On bike rides, I notice people hanging out in cars. I imagine it is a parent who is had enough of the screaming kids and it is the only escape.

· Many are exasperated from explaining how to download an app, how to use FaceTime, how to use zoom or google hangout or Microsoft teams — to their (usually) older relatives and friends.

· March could not possibly have just been one month. April seemed slightly shorter. Time does not make sense. Articles and news from two weeks ago are completely outdated.

· Suddenly, the next-door app is actually helpful, and I am getting to know neighbors who have chicken coops and extra eggs to share.

· When I watch TV shows/movies from before and see people standing in groups, I want to yell, “6 feet apart” and also “wash that doorknob.”

· Jimmy Fallon‘s daughters are way funnier than the Jimmy Fallon‘s television show.

· When I encounter other people on the sidewalk, I am not being rude to cross to the other side of the street.

· Who knew grocery stores would be ground zero?

· Increased discussion of gardening, exchanging seeds, and finding places to get food direct. A “make your own sprouts” gift that was cast away in a thought of “I can’t take another project” is retrieved and the thought: “making food at home sounds pretty good right now.”

· I might not be paying as much attention at stop signs because there’s so little traffic.

· The skies are clearing as manufacturing is halted. It is unnatural to produce more than we need, move so fast and do so much. Mother Nature hit the pause button.

· I am not interested in articles or news from before COVID-19. Real life stories that do not consider this new normal are irritating.

· You might die your hair pink, sport a mullet or some other new style cuz who’s gonna see it and/or care?

· We cannot make plans. We cannot say what will happen. We are all in pause.

· I watch videos to see what the celebrity’s home looks like. You can tell when something was recorded before COVID-19 because there is no split screen (from zoom, skype etc.)

· Suddenly, I notice the sirens more. I think, is it another distressed case of COVID-19?

· Ordinary people and families singing parodies on Facebook go viral. Everyone is watching.

· Phishing attempts, hackers, and spammers abound, and I am more irritated instead of just deleting. We think people should not behave this way in a pandemic.

· After originally thinking it was ridiculous, I am now genuinely struggling to keep track of what day is.

· I am in trouble when I have to wear regular clothes again — yoga pants, t-shirts, etc. And what are all these shoes for?

· I look forward to the mailman coming every day more than I ever did before. I don’t interact with him. But I am so happy that he has brought me something.

· I pay more attention to how long food lasts. I wish I had spent last year’s tax return at Costco getting bins and food that would last into any catastrophe.

· I am very proud of my governor and feel a pride in my state that I have not necessarily felt before. Governors are stepping up.

· We are grateful for things we might not have noticed before. Living close to open space where you can get away from people. Immediate access to things like TP, flour, yeast, eggs, meat.

· I feel the need to pace out my grief at so many losses.

· We learn to record zoom meetings. We learn to do google hang outs. We learn to sew masks. We learn to order groceries online. We learn to get licenses renewed online. We learn to record or individual voices on an app to be combined with other choir members. We learn about epidemics, vaccines, human trials, government limitations and constitutional laws.

· Our brains are tired from all the learning. We forget things — basic things. (I couldn’t remember the word spatula. Or the name of the actress in ET — Drew Barrymore. I said we were getting 7 feet of snow instead of seven inches. I thought I said inches. I meant inches. I was questioned and dug in on my answer. Yes. Seven feet. That’s what I said. Wait. What did I say? Oh. Sorry. My brain isn’t working right now.”

· I’ve noticed online birthday parties. One or two online weddings. People having babies by themselves in their homes. Do we have online baby showers? Will we have online funerals? What does it mean to do these things alone? (And actually since I wrote this, I have witnessed two online funerals/memorials. ☹)

· The crisis will affect the rest of our lives. And I realize my four and six-year-old nieces won’t remember a time before this. It will obliterate their previous memories.

And it continues. What we thought might be a month could be much longer. With that there will be new realizations.