staying in, week 4

Well, we've reached the end of week 4, which in the original timeline was supposed to be the end of all of the corona closures - but that's definitely not happening any time soon. We've received encouraging reports in our area that this time of social distancing is having a good effect on flattening that curve - and at the same time, we need to stay strong and stay home in order to keep it that way. The nature of the beast is that it takes weeks of these measures to see the results we need. So while it's exhausting to have no end in sight to this weirdness, it does help encourage me to have this reminder that we're doing the right thing here. So hang tight, everyone!

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Good things

Best show: The English Game on Netflix. Not sure if it's that great or if it's just that a period drama by the creator of Downton Abbey is just the kind of comforting thing I need right now, but I'm enjoying this one.

Best book: The Enneagram Made Easy. One of my 20 in 2020 intentions is to explore the Enneagram, and while I skimmed through enough of The Road Back to You to peg myself as a real 1, I just don't enjoy reading that type of non-fiction that much. But this book, with its inventory checklists, useful bullet point sections like "[number]s as a child" is fun to page through and made it easier to approach all of the types and actually remember what they're about (nine types is too much for a newbie to keep track of!). I'm much more interested in the topic now and am ready to check out Milleneagram next.

Favorite recipe: cutout cookies, of course! With our supply of Easter cookie cutters and sprinkles (I really am pretty well set up for a life of not leaving the house...), we got a 3-fer: a delicious holiday treat, a fun "spring break" thing for Hendrik to do, and even a little socially distant outing excuse, so we could deliver packages of them to a few porches.

Nicest cooking soundtrack: Cat Stevens. One of his songs is on the This Is Us playlist I mentioned last week and it got me into a deep dive. What a delight for my ears and my soul.

Best pickup: a mystery Easter goodies bag from a local toy store (where I could walk over to do a fast outdoor pickup) for Hendrik's Easter basket.

Best delivery: my Book-of-the-Month box with a selection that sounds like it will be the perfect escapist type read right now, Beach Read.

Best mood booster: a rogue almost 70-degree day! I read in the sun, played backyard soccer with Hendrik, and even got a little sunburnt. I'll take it!

Bummers

Saddest cancellation: school, for the remainder of the year. I figured it was coming, but it still bummed me out quite a bit to get the news at the end of last week. Sad for Hendrik to not see his friends, for him to not have the classroom experience he really enjoys, and admittedly rather sad for me to be looking at months of not having the house to myself. Wah wah.

What I miss the most: having a destination. I mean, I am a true homebody, but still. Sometimes when you go out for a walk you just want go SOMEWHERE, instead of just around the block.

Nagging minor worry (because these days I just fixate on the little ones as a coping mechanism to block out some of the major ones about death counts and such): that we're going to end up with outdoor restrictions for exercise and not be able to go for regular walks or bike rides. We'll see.

How long it's been since...
...I drove my car: 15 days? 16?
...I used cash: approximately 35 days
Okay, these things are probably good for the earth and the bank account, so not actually bummers, but still WEIRD.


How's life going for you? I hope you feel encouraged by some of the good little things, validated by being allowed to express some feelings and worries, and convinced that staying home is the right thing to do to make a difference!