DAY 23

I started off the day with a Zoom meeting with some friends. What a blessing it is to have resources like Zoom and Facetime so that we can stay connected to each other! Seeing the faces of those we love makes it slightly less unbearable to be secluded in isolation.

After my meeting I worked on an application for a paycheck protection program being offered to businesses affected by the forced shutdown. I spent a good part of the day reading through the requirements and gathering documents. Here again the wonders of technology are so helpful. I could download reports from our payroll service, access my business computer from home to look up company information, and when I have everything gathered together I can upload it all to the bank website. We cannot open our store, but we are offering curbside pickup and water testing, and are scheduling pool openings for the future. This loan program will allow us to pay our employees even though we will not be fully operational for a few weeks (hopefully not months). 

We delivered the cupcakes and presents to the Birthday Boy. College Boy even came out of his room and joined us. We spent some time in the front yard talking and playing with his new puppy. He opened his presents and ran around the yard with his dog and his cousins. He told me about the report he is working on for school that has to be turned in tomorrow, and that he is sick of being stuck in the house. I told him that he will never forget this birthday. Before we left I took a calculated risk. I put on a face mask, gave him one to put on, and slathered hand sanitizer on our hands. Then I gave him a big hug. F**k it, it's his birthday.