Checking In

Well. How’s everyone doing? <crickets chirping> Yeah. I know the feeling.

These are strange, strange times. Here in my part of Vermont we are experiencing much the same as the rest of the country… the world? Except it’s snowing right now. Just to remind us that winter isn’t quite over. Our stores are closed, but you can place orders and they will leave a package outside for you. A few restaurants are doing take-out, but I suspect that may end once they have used up the food they have in their freezers. A local bakery is hoping folks will order directly from them since some of the places that sold their goods are closed. The grocery store is, indeed, out of toilet paper, and has purchasing limits placed on several items.

There’s an odd mix of human interactions. Almost jolly camraderie waving to one another from our cars, but crossing the street when there is someone walking your way… and a friend suffering taunts when he wears his mask out his front door. I’m answering my phone more than I have in the last 5 years, even talking with a friend who only lives a block away that I usually would just walk over to have tea with.

Since I have a home office, there hasn’t been a drastic change in my work environment, but work has definitely slowed down. Amazon isn’t buying books for a few weeks, so a publisher I work for is having to make some financial decisions. A customer I do database work for is based on legislatures being in session, and many are shutting down, which has reduced my hours a bit. I’m not overly concerned yet, but as a self-employed person there is that moment of wishing temporary unemployment was an option.

Health-wise? I am cautious. I have chronic asthma that has been under control for years. But reading about the effect Covid-19 has on healthy people’s lungs strikes a small amount of fear in me. Lots of hand-washing and feeling ever-so happy that the Porcupine and I stocked up groceries (and yes, toilet paper) at the very beginning of this hitting the US, which means there is very little pressure to go out for supplies.

As work slows down, I’ll be putting time in on some other things… a few Life-Shifts. An office space that is not at home. Paring down some belongings. Pulling out notes on book ideas, and drawing ideas, and logging in some time at my art desk. I’d like to update here more, and it seems like I’ll have time to do it.

Stay safe and be smart, everyone.