Grandparents in Covid-times

 After having Covid last Spring, Dave has a persistent "crackling" in lungs and wheezing.  We'll be seeing a pulmonologist this week, but this is more about the mental/emotional state of elderly grandparents.  I remember when we were on lock-down friends with young grandchildren fretted that their young grandchildren would forget them, but it hadn't occurred to many that we could forget our grandchildren.

With our young grandchildren, I started reading books to them on YouTube.  They became so accustomed to seeing me on the television that they would greet me and even wish me a happy birthday.  But, I wasn't seeing them since this was all on YouTube. Our daughter even said at Thanksgiving, "We see you almost every day and forget that you can't see us, too."

Most of our grandchildren were in their pre-teens-early teens when covid lockdown hit.  We missed seeing our family as everyone did, but we hadn't counted on them maturing into adults in the three years we didn't see them.  Having spent a career teaching teenagers, I wasn't surprised at their social distance to us when we saw them---no longer the screaming and running to greet us, but heads buried into phones or going to another room to "be teenagers".  What I hadn't counted on was Dave literally not knowing who they were.

This year, we moved to Kansas City to be closer to our family but the grandsons had grown up so much that Dave was constantly asking, "Who is that?"  He knew these young men were relatives but he thought they might be nephews.  When our grandson Brett (22) came to take Dave to a social gathering here at McCrite, I cautioned him that Grandpa might introduce him as his nephew.  I suggested it might be better if Brett just introduced himself, "I'm Dave's grandson, Brett." 

For Christmas this year, the family gave us Aura which electronically flashes photos every 30 seconds or so.  The family can all contribute photos remotely.  Dave fully recognizes the grandchildren's photos from 10 years ago, but not those after Covid, but he's learning.  Our daughters have uploaded photos all ages and stages of their children (and some photos of their childhood, as well).  Dave no longer watches hours of "Major Crimes" but watches the Aura as the photos flash by. We are able to see the "grands" before, during and after covid-times.  Several of the "grands" have even uploaded their photos with school activities and sports.  Davis is going to Spain for this semester and promises to keep us updated through the app.

Although the photos are generated randomly, I have the setting "on" for "Photo match" which displays photos side by side "creating moments of delight by pairing related photos" which explains pairings like this (Left is my brother and his wife.  Right is our grandson with me)

And this one with Libby, me and my (former) car Olivia. Libby is the current owner of Olivia.

So, we may still be struggling with the physical aspects of covid, but we are healing from the emotional toll it took.

Covid 2022

 After getting Covid 19 in January despite limiting our exposure to others and wearing a mask, I have been

firm about people wearing a mask in my house. Dave had had a home health nurse coming to check his vitals and his skin tears.  She wore a mask, and we wore KN95 masks.  I sat in another room while she attended to Dave but opening the door for her coming and going was enough to give me Covid 19. I had been vaccinated and boosted (3 months earlier), celebrated Christmas without family, wore a mask and still got it.  Thankfully I wasn't terribly sick and could still help Dave.

I've gone for a year cleaning my own house because I haven't been able to find anyone who would wear a mask while cleaning.  When Dave's grab bar in the bathroom was pulled out of the wall, I had to find a handyman who could install it---a handyman who would wear a mask. . . . I finally found one, but had to listen to his covid denial.

He told me about his mother who was in pain and couldn't get a knee replacement because of covid limiting surgery. I said nothing. He told me about his father-in-law who was in the hospital with covid, died of a heart attack, and they put that he died of covid on his death certificate. Therefore all of the covid deaths were lies---people were dying of other things not covid. I said nothing.

He told me that he was super healthy, never wore a mask and hadn't got covid. .. .but, then, he told me something that I felt I needed to respond to.  He had a very strong immune system. . ...I looked him in the eye and said, "I had a very strong immune system and never got sick until it got out of control.  I have auto-immune disease: Reynaud's Syndrome, Sjögren's Sydrome, Alopecia areata AND auto-immune hepatitis---my immune system is so strong it is rejecting my liver.  In order to live, I must take medicine which weakens my immune system.  Be very careful."  He looked at me with shock in his eyes. He left a little shaken, I think.

I don't always have a chance to respond to negative looks at me wearing a mask in public. I've thought about making "calling cards" saying "I've been wearing a mask in public since 2016".  After an hour long consultation with an infectious disease specialist, we developed a strategy to "cope" with my medically induced condition.  The difference between 2016 and 2022  is cold and flu had a season and I had some "normal" from April to November. "Normal" was still wearing a a mask in elevators, waiting rooms, and church but being able to take it off once I could determine it was a "safe" place with no one coughing or sniffling.   

During cold and flu season, I stayed home and isolated only shopping at 5 AM or on-line.  Covid, though, hasn't developed a "season" so I have to be cautious year around, now.  I'm still not eating in restaurants, going to church or going maskless in public, but thanks to quality masks and the vaccine, I am able to see family, friends, go to medical facilities without too much anxiety. I don't pray for a cure. . . .I just pray for a season.

Watch out world---here we come (until mid December)!

I now have the Covid Booster #3.  Because of medicines I take for auto-immune disease, I never felt like I was fully immunized.  My sister-in-law (Debbie), a liver transplant, is part of a Johns Hopkin's study of people taking immune suppressing drugs.  She got her third shot in August and further testing showed that she was fully immunized, at last.  So, I patiently waited for my turn to get the booster, confident that I, too, will be fully immunized.

Debbie and my brother Jim are so confident of her immunization they are now on a cruise.  After almost two weeks of having the booster, I am feeling more confident that I can  get out, too, but I'm not quite ready for a cruise.  I am ready to get out of the house, though, and explore some places that I haven't seen in more than 3 years:  Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Art Museum, the Butterfly House, Kohl's Department Store, Costco.

Our self-imposed isolation began in December 2018.  Since my diagnosis with auto-immune disease, I traditionally isolate from mid December until mid March.  But, in January 2019, my husband was diagnosed with lymphoma.  So, we never emerged in mid March 2019. . . .  Just as I was beginning to feel confident I could leave him at home alone to have lunch with my sister and cousin in late February 2020, Covid reared its ugly head. 

I took some baby steps in May and June 2021:  I had a pedicure, a hair cut, went to 2 thrift stores, CVS,  Dierberg's and Schnuck's.  We also went to the Doubletree to celebrate our 50th anniversary with our children and their families.  We watched our grandchildren play in the pool, had lunch in a cabana, had a catered dinner in our own hospitality room with some video entertainment put together by our daughters and spent the night at the hotel.  Did I feel safe?  NO!  The hotel was packed with two huge parties none of which wore masks.  I refused to get on an elevator with anyone other than family members.  We only spent one night at the hotel despite paying for two.  We were luckier than many of our friends, though, whose anniversary plans were totally destroyed by Covid.

So, I am ready to step out again for the next two months.  We are not ready to travel or eat in a restaurant.  But, we are ready to visit some much loved places and people.  So, while Jim and Deb are dining on fine cruise cuisine, we will still be eating at home, eating out-doors, getting take out.  While they are seeing the tropical sights in the Bahamas, we will be  enjoying the tropical Butterfly House.  While they are playing socially distanced Bingo, we will be attending socially distanced church one Saturday night.

Baby steps. . . .

Angel 2020

 

Angel heralding my joy for Christmas:

Trumpeting for all to gather

To celebrate Christ’s birth—

Elegantly swaying in the breeze

Waltzing in the wind.

Found one morning in a heap.

The wind knocked out of her.

Pieces scattered.

Rainy and cold, I try to help. . . .

The wind is too strong, too biting.

Brought into the garage, a refuge from the wind,

To re-assemble,

To warm my hands,

to gather my thoughts.

With pliers, zip ties, stakes,

She stands again, but. . . .

She’s changed. 

She has her battle scars, but

She also has changed her attitude.

She is sassy, challenging.

Blown over by the winds,

She leans a little—

her dance has changed , 

her wings outstretched—jazz wings.

Still playing her trumpet, but more Louis Armstrong 

And less Gabriel.

Stand back.

Keep your distance.

Dancing by myself.

Challenging the world,

But, dancing.

Celebrating Christ's birth

Alone,

But, dancing.

Covid Season

 Sun snuggling closer to earth,

Nights blanketing the day.

Another season passes

Leaves tumbling from the trees,

Hummingbirds  have packed their bags.

Another season passes

Wearing sweaters in the morning,

Needing another blanket at night.

Another season passes

Still isolating from the plague,

Missing family celebrations.

This season never passes.

Wanting to hug church friends,

Missing smiles on masked faces.

This season never passes.

Trips are cancelled,

Lunch with friends on Zoom.

This season never passes.

Leaders not leading,

Hospitals filling up again.

This season. . . . .please pass.

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

A year passes

A Puzzler's Life

 

Usually, I choose a puzzle with a photo that makes me happy—maybe a memory, maybe a pretty place or maybe photos of something that gives me pleasure like books, or buttons or sea shells.  Finding the pieces to recreate that happiness is just one of the goals. 

First, it’s more fun doing a puzzle with a helper—it teaches families to work together on a common goal. An unfinished puzzle on a table invites others to find that elusive piece. Today, my cleaning lady paused in her dusting and found a piece or two.

I love the challenge. I have done puzzles bought at garage sales with no guarantee that all of the pieces are there.  I’ve done puzzles upside down with just the blank side.  I’ve done puzzles with out a box and no picture to guide me.  I’ve also done double sided puzzles.  They’re each a challenge to be conquered.

While puzzles require a lot of concentration, it’s a great activity when you have just a few minutes—waiting for someone to get dressed or waiting for an appointment.  I started doing them again when Dave was having chemo. Puzzling calms me.  It keeps my anxiety at bay.

Jigsaw puzzles have brought me a lot of satisfaction during my life but especially during the winter months and during Covid 19.  While some may point out that they teach delayed satisfaction, I see each piece as bringing me satisfaction. So much time searching. . . searching.  Then, like magic the piece appears.  A little like the lost lamb. . . . .

What did you do during Covid 19, Great-grandmother?

 I've been an avid genealogist for over 40 years, but the family tree doesn't interest me as much as the

family stories which give me a tiny glimpse into the past.  One of my dad's cousins (David Long) once told me that his grandfather (Thomas Henry Long) talked about living during the Civil War.  The family was living in the stone house (on Stone House Road in Jefferson County) when soldiers stopped by their house.   I don't know why, I don't know which side, I don't know if they stayed, if they threatened them. That's all of the story. The stone house was originally built as a stage coach stop  between De Soto and Hillsboro so it could have had something to do with that.  It's hard to keep stories alive that are 3rd or 4th hand.  For more on the Old Stone House click here.

So, for my great grandchildren, this is a first hand account of living during Covid 19.  I feel bad for the families that have to juggle work and supervising their children's schooling.  I feel bad for the teachers having to revamp their entire teaching method for virtual learning.  I feel bad for the health care workers who are on the front lines for this virus.  I feel bad for my friends in senior living who are often confined to their rooms for quarantine.  I feel bad for the college students who are at the most social time of their lives but are virtual learning and having to stay in small groups.  I do not feel sorry for those who refuse to socially distance themselves, refuse to wear masks, demand in person learning and believe in the politicians who say it's not a big deal, that it is a hoax or it's up to the individual. It is worse in the United States than anywhere in the world because of the failure of our leadership at the state and national level.

I have auto-immune hepatitis and must take drugs to keep my body from rejecting my liver.  The drugs keep me alive but also make me get very sick if I catch anything.  For the past 5 years, I retreat into self-imposed isolation just before Christmas and come out again in March.  Sadly, this March began Covid 19 and I never got to "come out" again.  Instead, we pushed doctor's appointments to the summer because, "it will all be over by the summer." This is August and it's worse than it was in March.  We have had to go to some doctor's appointments and testing but we have had some virtually via the computer or telephone.  In addition to being immune-suppressed, we are both in our 70's which makes it likely that we would not get a "mild case" according to authorities.

I haven't been in a store since early March when I went to Schnucks grocery to shop at 5 AM.  We have everything delivered.  I order our groceries on-line and they are delivered to the door by Instacart.  Other items are delivered by Amazon also to our front door.  We had begun meal delivery service several years ago---the groceries are delivered with menus for me to fix the meals (Hello Fresh and Blue Apron).  Most of our prescription medicines are also delivered.  

Our daughters Rebecca, Rachel and Leah take turns coming to town to help out with chores or shopping that can't be delivered.  They also helped me get Dave (great-grandpa) to the doctor before we had the ramp and lift into the van for his wheel chairs.  I miss not seeing our family members probably the most---no family reunions, no family gatherings, no meet-ups in Columbia, MO, no celebrations for graduations or birthdays.  I am very grateful that I got to at least see all of the grandchildren this summer even if I couldn't hug them or be with them without a mask.

The second thing I miss is going to church where most of our friends are.  I'm very thankful for zoom for small groups, Bible Study, Coffee Klatch, meetings, writing group.  There have been several occasions where people have gotten together "safely" but I had to pass---"getting together safely" is not  possible for me. For many the jazz evening and the drive-in worship  services were healing, but for me it just tears open the wounds.  I am so social that it would break my heart to see people and not be able to hug them, talk to them, see them smile. Several have begun walking together and hiking, but it's still too risky for me. We have worship on Sunday which we watch on the television and can "chat" in a box on the screen.  And that will have to do for now.

The third thing I miss is traveling.  We have been on 19 cruises and I had one scheduled for November 2020 which I've already cancelled.  We have been on a Baltic cruise, a Mediterranean cruise, a trans-Atlantic cruise, a Panama Canal cruise and an Alaskan cruise in addition to the Caribbean and Mexico.  They worked so well after Dave's accident in 2001.  Lately, we rarely got off the ship since he was in a wheel chair, but I could be social while he read on the balcony. I had meals prepared for me and served. and often help with the wheel chair.  In recent years, we often travelled with my brother Jim and his wife Deb or with one of the daughters and families.  Our favorites were the Disney cruises because I felt safer from germs---smaller ships, smaller elevators, fewer people and lots of great help from the staff.

The fourth thing I miss is just shopping---mostly thrift stores where I loved the hunt for a bargain, a collectible or a shirt at a fraction of the cost retail.  But, I also just miss walking up and down the aisles of Target, Ace Hardware or CVS drug store.

So, what am I doing with my time?  Dave needs a lot of help.  We have purchased ramps and motorized wheel chairs, but he still needs help.  I was very sick a few weeks ago with a digestive virus and couldn't come downstairs for almost 24 hours---I was too weak and didn't want him to catch it.  He only ate a granola bar and nuts---never fixed a meal although plenty of food was in the refrigerator.  He was able to get out of bed, into his wheelchair to get to the recliner in the family room.  But, no coffee, no breakfast, no daily pills. 

And what does Dave do with his time?  First, he is quiet and introverted and doesn't need people as much as I do.   He reads the newspaper, spy novels, works crossword puzzles and Sudoko.  He has chores he can do while sitting:  folding laundry, putting silverware in the drawer, paying bills, putting the dirty dishes on the island for me to grab and put in the dishwasher. He also drives to pick up our prescriptions from CVS pharmacy.  I try to have him drive several times a week to keep him sharp.  In the evening we like to watch television---mostly British mysteries from PBS or Acorn streaming service.

I still volunteer for church:  sending cards to shut-ins for the Deacons, selling items on Ebay donated by church members, maintaining the church blog, administrating our church Facebook and Twitter pages, and participating in small group and a Bible study.  I also make phone calls to those who need to hear from church friends.  We reach out to different people each week.  So unlike some, I am not bored.

I also enjoy puzzles:  jigsaw puzzles, Words with Friends and Acrostic puzzles.  As a former reading and English teacher, reading novels are one of the ways I unwind.   According to Good Reads, I've read 22 books in 8 months.  My favorites were Circe, The Dutch House, Before We Were Yours,  All the Ways We Say Goodbye, and a new series by Victoria Thompson which takes place in New York City in the early 1900's. And, of course, there's always genealogy.  My goal was once to trace my ancestry to the "old country" which I now realize is pretty unattainable with all of my mother's family being here in the 1600's.  My new goal is to trace all lines to 5 greats.  As a former teacher, attainable goals are important!

My exercise schedule had taken a real set back 2 years ago when our health club Wellbridge closed.  I never found another club even close to what we had.  We had settled for going to many places to get the services we got there.  Dave went to his personal trainer's house, I went to JCA for pilates, Ballwin Pointe for Zumba, Lifetime Fitness for spa, and Anytime Fitness for Stretch.   Then Covid 19 shut everything down.  My only exercise is Stretch on Zoom 2-3 times a week.  Dave's personal trainer moved to another location and we just started back with her after home health care for several months.

All in all, we have fared better than many.  Because so many were out of work, we have had a lot of work done to our house.  We have had landscaping, a new patio put in, new handrails out the back.  The house has been power washed and the sunroom painted. We had a ramp put in the garage and a new step to the sunroom (to help my knees).  We will be READY to go places and see people when Covid-19 isolation is over.  I am hoping some virtual programs will still be around:  church worship, exercise, doctor's visits because I don't think I'll ever feel comfortable in large groups and waiting rooms.  I am very thankful for the development of these virtual programs, but look forward to the day when I can again hug family and friends and see the smiles on their faces even if I have to remain masked.

Battles

Like a knight going to battle,

Each piece to protect me from the enemy,

Each piece to equip me for the fight.

Teeth in.

Hearing aids in.

Glasses on.

Bandage on knee.

Mask on.

I am ready for my day.

I am ready for my life.

Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash

One Day At A Time

To worry about the future,
"How long can we stay in our 2 -story house?"

means less satisfaction and joy today.

To worry about the future,
"what will happen if I get sick?"
paralyzes me from living life today.

To worry about the future,
"what if we have to isolate for a year?"
 challenges my faith that God knows the way.

We have had many challenges—brain injury, heart infection, cancer, pain.

When the challenges tried to bury me, I knew what to do.

Standing eye to eye, I have confronted life’s obstacles;
I have made compromises.

“You can slow me down, you can block my way,  

I must live my life . . ..with God’s grace and guidance. . .. 

One day at a time.”

Moments of Joy

Watching the children next door
     chasing their new puppy around the yard every day.

Memes on facebook:
     “ . . .here I am laying on the couch, being a hero”.

A wave from the Rich and Charlie's delivery man
      as I pick up dinner on the door step.

Leisurely reading a library book
        with no due date in sight.

Unexpected notes and gifts in the mail—
      loved ones thinking of us.

Saying “YES” to a chocolate chip cookie
       on my Panera delivery order.

A snake, guitar strumming, snapchat faces: 
      Zooming with teen-age grandchildren.

Video collage of of church members
      waving anything green on Palm Sunday Processional.

Calling the shut-ins and hearing Martin’s excitement
     that his grandson would play football with Tampa Bay.

Rachel’s banner  on the front page of the newspaper.

      “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise”.

Seeing old, familiar faces

      in my Face Time exercise class.

 One banana and a 2 lb can of Van Camps Pork and Beans
     on my grocery delivery.

In this Time of Pandemic.

Releasing anxiety, tension:

Moments of Joy.

Finding Moments of Joy in a Pandemic

It is sometimes hard to find joy in a pandemic:  the daily death toll, our isolation, the news from the East Coast, but finding what is good helps my mental attitude.

Facebook can be such a double-edged sword, but it’s an opportunity to interact with friends and family and often is  the source of inspiration.  One person commented that there is something awesome about everyone in the world coming together to fight this common enemy—covid-19.  Another commented that by all of us staying home, the earth is beginning to heal with the air becoming clean again. I also like looking back at the memories Facebook offers:  seeing photos of my grandchildren 10 years ago—their faces radiating joy and innocence at an Easter picnic.

All of that brings me momentary joy.  But each moment of joy releases anxiety.   So, I decided to write about those small moments of joy which help me mentally and spiritually.

-my daughters and I texting funny memes back and forth like “I’d like to cancel my 3 month trial subscription of 2020.  I’m not impressed.”  OR “My mother always told me I wouldn’t amount to anything lying around on the couch.  . . but here I am saving the world.”

-calling Martin, an elderly church member to see how he is doing and getting more joy from him than I could have possibly given by calling him: he was so happy that Pastor Dave had called him earlier to celebrate Martin’s grandson signing with Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The joy in his voice brought me joy, too.

-watching the children next door playfully chase their new puppy around the yard.

-the wave from the Panera delivery man at his car when I pick up dinner on the door step.

-leisurely reading a library book knowing there is no due date in sight

-watching the video collage of church members participating in the Palm Sunday “processional” from their homes—waving scarves, house plants, tree branches when palms were unavailable.

-receiving unexpected gifts and cards in the mail and responding by “passing it on” with treats sent to my siblings.

-texts from a neighbor asking if we are all right or if we need anything.

-saying “yes” to a Panera’s chocolate chip cookie on our supper delivery. 

-zooming with 16 of my family and just enjoying the craziness of Anna playing with her snake, Davis playing his guitar, Libby discovering the white board function, Rachel changing her back ground to hearts and Roman replacing his handsome face with creepy photos while Rebecca and Jason eat dinner on their deck, Kyle sits on his dock and the Warrens try to squeeze 6 of them into the cameras on 2 devices.

-our daughter’s banner making the front page of their local newspaper “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise”

-taking my stretch class through FaceTime and seeing old familiar faces in the class, too.

-hearing Dave laugh at his favorite show “Major Crimes” which is funnier than the title implies.

We have always lived our life focusing on the positive, what we CAN do, what we CAN eat—not on the negative.  The past 20 years have prepared us for this moment: facing a very scary enemy and yet finding joy.

Self-Isolation

With the corona virus, we are hearing a lot about self-quarantining and how to adjust "life".  I've been living this "life" for about 4 years when I was diagnosed with auto-immune hepatitis.  Because my body is trying to reject my own liver, I needed to take drugs to lower my immunity level.  This means I'm more likely to get sick, now.  It also means inactive germs lurking in my system could become active again----germs like tuberculosis (I test positive because I came in contact with TB twice).  It also means skin cancers will accelerate in growth.  These last items freaked me out so much that my doctor sent me to an infectious disease specialist.

She was wonderful and talked with me about an hour helping me develop a plan.  The big "take-away" was "keep a social distance of 6 feet to people during the cold and flu season---3 feet the rest of the year".  She assured me I'd probably be fine in small groups or with family.  But, large, close crowds might require me to wear a mask.

So, I wear a mask in large, close crowds: getting on a cruise ship, elevators, Target check out, and anytime I'm walking into a new situation (it's easier to take a mask off than it is to suddenly put one on).  I discovered early on I needed to curtail fitness classes where it was difficult for me to get 6 feet away from people---yoga mat type classes.  I'd find the perfect place in the back on the edge and someone would always come in late and squeeze their mat next to mine.  It's difficult to do yoga with a mask or with the anxiety of someone coughing within my 6 feet border.

There's a lot of talk about masks not being necessary for healthy people----that they are meant for the sick.  Although I wear one often when I'm healthy, it achieves one goal---it keeps people away from me.  If I'm on an elevator with a mask, they wait for another car.  If I am in a waiting room, they find another chair.  And, yes, I have discreetly coughed on occasion for those not taking the hint.  I also find the best possible seat in a waiting room or church, set my purse in one chair and my coat in another---giving me a little "social space".

Also, I wear gloves that can be washed.  I even bought several pairs of white cotton gloves that I wear in the summer for "passing the peace" at church.  I tried elbow  and fist bumps but people were confused and it was just awkward.  So, I finally gave in and bought white and black gloves that are light weight and washable---I keep them rolled up in my purse.  Now, with the corona virus, the church is trying to offer other ways to  "pass the peace" including touching your heart or just a wave.  So, now I won't be "the weirdo"

This year I've also, changed non-essential doctor's appointments to be at the beginning or end of flu season not in the middle of it.  Corona virus is going to skew that a bit and  I may have to postpone them a little longer.  There are some doctors who have large spacious waiting rooms, but some try to squeeze as many people as possible in a small space---I try not to go to them.  One oral surgeon has a room so small, I am less than three feet away away from people sitting across from me (mask time even in the summer).

Shopping is a bit of a challenge.  Of course I order on line, but sometimes I just need to go to a store, so I go very early in the morning or late in the evening when the store is less likely to be crowded.  Google sometimes has a section which shows the busiest times to shop---the above graphic is for Schnucks Town and Country which is my most frequently visited grocery store.  I  often don't have the selection, have to weave in and out of workers stocking the shelves and once at Target, I had to use self-check out (with a cart full of groceries, I threw a fit and they did open a line for me).

Use your shopping cart to maintain a distance.  You can keep 6' away from the person in front of you, but what about the people behind?  Walk in front of your cart letting it be a barrier between you and that person.

Church is also one of my most frequent "activity".  I have to stay away during the worst of times.  This year I was able to attend through January because I monitor the flu through our county web-site.  Although Type B was active in January, there's another chart that shows what age group that impacts.  As this chart shows, B was active in children and their parents not the grandparents.

We can still participate in church in small ways:  we can listen to the sermon and some discussions on line, we can interact with our friends on Facebook, I still can send cards to the elderly, sell items on ebay, edit the church blog so I feel like I'm still a part of the church community.  Large church dinners are a big no, but small group bringing take out over is great.

We can do things outside---take a drive, walk in a park, pull weeds, get our prescriptions at the drive-through, do grocery pick up, talk to neighbors in the back yard, drop off a load of items to Goodwill.  None of these demand close contact in closed spaces.  We catch up on a lot of movies watching them on TV not in a theater.  We "eat out" by bringing it in.  Last year our daughters even had our anniversary dinner delivered by one of the delivery services.  They were stymied on how to get the cake to us from Nothing But Bundt until one of their friends came to the rescue and delivered it.

Of course there are phone calls, Facetime, text messaging that keeps us social and up to date with friends and family.  I play Words with Friends which keeps my brain active and includes socialization, also.

This year, the self-isolation will be extended.  It won't be hard to extend it because I know it's very important for both of us to stay healthy.  As of last year, we are both immune suppressed.  But, I may have to curtail my weekly library visit---it's hard to de-contaminate books.  So, back to Kindle, it will be.  I decided to write this blog because it might help others "self-quarantine" themselves if they need to during this out-break.