Living in the Time of COVID-19

 

Face masks or coverings are now mandatory in L.A.

 

All life changed eleven weeks ago because of coronavirus. On March 16, Angelenos were mandated to stay at home as all but “essential” businesses and services were shut down. Schools went online, live performance and sporting events were postponed, and amusement parks closed.

Still our lives remain relatively unaltered. Retired now for almost five years, we’re used to being at home, though there are many things we miss—like exercising at the gym, going to the theater and movies, eating at restaurants, and, of course, Disneyland. Our summer trip to Spain is canceled and it’s doubtful we’ll be taking the February 2021 Panama Canal cruise we booked several months ago.

We count our blessings every day, however. Two people we know had the virus, only one of whom survived, and know of another who tested positive but apparently is OK. Thankfully, our family members and dearest friends are all healthy and either retired or still working, so that’s a major silver lining.

Though we are coping well with the “new normal,” this entire experience has certainly been strange. Just leaving the house now triggers a mental checklist of items to bring along: ubiquitous face masks or coverings; our homemade spritzer of alcohol for disinfecting hands; and water bottles, so we’re not tempted by public fountains if we get thirsty. My backpack purse— which used to be more purse than backpack—now feels like a full-on backpack. Camping anyone?

Shopping for groceries was crazy, the first week of the shutdown, as people panicked and began hoarding food staples and paper products. We went from one crowded store to another looking for basic items, until one morning Tim called me from our local market, where he’d gone to get a cup of Starbuck’s.

“There are no lines!” he whispered conspiratorially into the phone.

“Is there food on the shelves?” I asked.

“No onions, but lots of other stuff.”

I ran right over. No onions, potatoes, broccoli, or carrots, but did get lots of fruit and Roma tomatoes. We were set for a while.

 

Empty shelves the first week of the shutdown

 

 Tim and the world's largest roll of toilet paper

The hoarding phenomenon is now a distant memory as markets tend to be pretty well-stocked with food and other essentials, though cleaning products and alcohol are still in drastically short supply. Many stores have signs on the floor directing customers to move all one way down each aisle to enable the preferred 6-foot safe “social distance.” We have also learned to shop first thing in the morning, otherwise we’ll have to wait on line outside stores that (thankfully!) limit the number of customers inside. Monday mornings before 8AM are best.

 

 Directional signs on market floors

Our days are fairly redundant: get up, exercise via YouTube zumba or walk 2-3 miles, work on projects around the house (e.g., organizing closets, cupboards, and old photographic slides), sometimes attend a virtual meeting or webinar on Zoom, read Facebook for two hours, and watch TV at night. And, of course, eat. Making dinner is now a daily highlight as we both enjoy cooking (and eating!). My personal goal is to throw away no food, leading to some interesting reuse of “left-overs.”

 

 With libraries now closed, our Little Free Library

has been very popular during the shutdown. Thanks to 

friends and neighbors for keeping it well-stocked.

 

Haircuts al fresco! Salons are closed, so my

hairdresser came over and cut our hair on the

back patio.

We’ve also started going on weekly “excursions” to change the scenery and just get out of the house. We drove to Santa Barbara to buy our favorite chicken take-out and did the same on a drive to San Diego for our favorite taquitos from El Indio. One night, we went to nearby Dockweiler Beach to see the bioluminescent waves caused by “red tide” algae and did a quick trip to Orange County to take pictures of our favorite artist SHAG’s murals on a new business park building. Yesterday we did take-out from The Original Farmer’s Market—very eerie being two of the only customers there.

 

 Gotta eat! Bought home 4 dozen uncooked taquitos for

us and two friends.

Amazing waves at Dockweiler Beach

 

SHAG mural

 

Mural #2

 

Eerie Farmer's Market

 

Ironically, as most of the world is stuck indoors, nature proceeds with its usual magnificent spring and early summer floral displays. We visited the L.A. County Arboretum last week and, of course, our own gardens were truly glorious this year.

 

 Backyard gardens

Our blooming Octopus Agave grew to 16 ft.

 

Five weeks ago, we started hosting a weekly “happy hour” for neighbors every Friday at 5PM. We provide the chairs. They provide the conversation and laughter. It’s been a wonderful release and just a terrific way to reconnect with our nearest friends. We hope the tradition continues long after the pandemic ends.

 

Setting up chairs for our Friday night happy hour