March 20, 2020
In two days the number of confirmed cases in the United States of Covid-19 has doubled, to over 13,000…and that is with limited testing.
In Virginia we now have 94 confirmed cases. Public schools in Maryland are closed through March 27th, the day of my beloved granddaughter Emma Rose’s 18th birthday…and I will not be there to celebrate with her.
Two of the Metro stops are closed, to discourage people from gathering under the cherry trees now in full bloom along the Tidal Basin and always a spring-time draw to tourists and to locals alike.
I stand under my pear tree, a foam of white against the blue sky.
March 22, 2020
Yesterday a man in his 60s died from Covid-19—the first death from the virus in Fairfax County where I live.
One expert called the novel coronavirus “the scythe of death” for those over seventy. I am reminded of Foucault’s pendulum that used to hang in the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History; it inexorably swung back and forth, knocking over the pegs on the floor. Sweep, sweep, sweep. But younger people are dying, too.
March 26, 2020
On Tuesday the governor of Virginia closed schools to the end of the school year and closed non-essential businesses. Restaurants and kindred businesses can sell carry-out food, but otherwise are closed. All indoor recreation sites are closed. Gatherings over ten people are banned, and we must keep six feet away from one another when we are out. Not everyone is heeding these rules.
Across the country many states are taking the same actions. The man in the White House a week ago encouraged us to stay home, but now he says he thinks we should all go back to work and resume our normal lives very soon, that it would be wonderful to see all the churches packed on Easter Sunday.
My own church is taking hold of Zoom technology to hold meetings and on-line worship. Last night over fifty of us used computers, iPads, and smart phones to join together in singing favorite hymns. Because of the time delay all of our mics were muted, only the music director could be heard singing, but at the end she unmuted our mics for a chorus of “good-bye, good-night, I love you.” Good-bye, good-night, I love you.
It has been eight days since I left my hilltop or seen anyone.
In Italy my friend Heather has been confined to her small apartment for the past 19 days. Over 7,500 Italians have died of Covid-19, now surpassing the death toll in China where the virus first appeared. In the United States over 1,000 have died, and the U.S. Surgeon General warned this week that it is going to get much worse.
There now are over 61,000 confirmed cases in the US, with limited testing.
March 27, 2020
This evening there are over 101,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the US. The Army is building field hospitals in convention centers in New York City and Chicago.
This evening via Zoom I wished my granddaughter Emma Rose a happy 18th birthday. Good-night, I love you.
Glad to hear you are still doing well! And now you are providing yet another service in your chronicle of this mindbending experience we are all sharing…separately.
Thank you for your observations and commentaries.
Stay healthy!
❤️
Hi Willow, I do feel a duty to serve as a witness. We have never experienced anything like this before. Stay well!
Hi, Kristin! Thank you for your post. Yes, it is a scary time.
I am sheltering in place as well. I do walk the dogs.
That’s it so far. Our governor is talking right now, and she is issuing a stay at home order starting on Monday, For the entire state of Kansas.
On a lighter note, I did watch last night the video about the Inn At Little Washington. I’ve managed to go there only twice, because it is so ungodly expensive to eat there. Have you ever been there? At one point, and perhaps still, it’s a Michelin five star restaurant. I probably was there maybe in 2010? It was shown on PBS last night. Not sure when it might show in your neck of the woods, if you are interested.
Hang in there, my dear friend, it’s hard to be isolated so much. But we will get through this. Much love to you. Elaine
Thanks for the message, Elaine. Yes, it is a frightening time, I try not to think about this terrible covid-19 very much because it can be paralyzing. I try to keep busy with my projects and playing my dulcimer. The Inn is closed right now, very sad; I never have gone there, but Melinda and her husband have. Stay safe, stay well!