DAY 109

I was finally able to take our dog, Bella, to her regular groomer. Bella was not as happy as I was about this. She hates going to the groomer. As with the hair salon, you have to wait outside until there are no other customers in the lobby. Then you go in with your dog, take off their leash and put them in a crate. After that you leave and the groomer comes and gets them out of the crate. The process is reversed when you pick your dog up. Of course, you have to pay for the grooming. The front counter is surrounded by plexiglass, with a little slot cut out for the credit card machine.

Bella was happy to be back in the car and headed home with her new do and a pretty little scarf which she promptly pulled off her neck.

DAY 106

First we had a toilet paper shortage, then every other grocery item you could imagine, and now we are suffering from a coin shortage. I saw this sign in Walgreens and I thought it was some kind of joke. I said to the clerk, "they can just make more can't they?" He agreed. Now I have seen the same kind of sign in several other places. Evidently, because of our quarantine situation, people are not circulating coins in the way that they normally do. According to the Federal Reserve, "The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the supply chain and normal circulation patterns for U.S. coin." Unbelievable.

I also heard that people do not want to handle coins for fear of the virus. I have found myself being much more careful when handling money in our business. I used to lick my finger before counting large stacks of bills to get a better grip on them. I don't do that now. I bought some of those rubber finger covers but I hate them. They are awkward to use.

There seems to be no end to the ways that this virus is affecting every area of our lives. I can't wait to see what's next.

DAY 104

I have had my printer for about ten years. It decided to stop working a couple of weeks ago and nothing I tried fixed the situation. Time for a new printer. Should be easy, right? No, it has been very difficult to find a printer. Since so many people are working from home and buying printers to facilitate their work, there is now a printer shortage.

I finally settled on a printer that I felt would work for me among the few that were available online. I ordered it and had to wait a week and a half for it to be delivered. It came, I set it up, and the thing would not print. I ran the troubleshooter several times and still no luck. So, I put it all back in the box and took it to our local Best Buy to return it. After completing my return I went to the back of the store to see if they possibly had anything. The shelves were bare.

I got back online and finally settled on a color laser all in one machine. Way more printer than I need but it was the best choice I could find. This thing faxes, scans, has wifi capability and I think it will launch the space shuttle. It was delivered in a few days and works great. I am back in business.

DAY 102

I got a haircut today. What a welcome relief! I was a little reluctant to do it but felt very reassured when I entered the shop. Plexiglas barriers have been installed at the front desk. Decorative barriers separate the shampooing stations. Everyone in the shop wore a mask. And when I say everyone I mean only two other employees and one customer. After my shampoo, the chair and sink were sanitized immediately by someone other than my stylist. We chatted through our masks while she cut my hair, talking about how we have coped with the whole Covid-19 debacle. I felt safe and secure and definitely more like myself when I walked out the door.

A friend of mine went to get her hair done a week or so ago and had quite a different experience. Her stylist is of the opinion that the whole thing is a hoax and that she has no responsibility to try and protect anyone by wearing a mask or taking other precautions. Sadly, there are too many people who feel the same way. I don't know how they can ignore the 120,333 who have died in this country in the last three months. I've said it before and I will say it again, you can't fix stupid.

DAY 101

My daughter and daughter in law came to my house for the first time since quarantine started. They brought lunch from Panera and we sat out on the deck and ate. They stayed for a couple of hours. It was so nice to sit and talk with them in person, rather than on Facetime. We did not hug when they arrived or departed.

These normal family gatherings are what I miss the most. The isolation that we are living in is soul-crushing.

DAY 100

Father's Day 2016

Day 100, Father's Day. My dad died almost two years ago and I miss him so much. I'd give anything for one more day with him, but at the same time, I am thankful that he did not have to witness what we have experienced in the last few months. He had the kindest heart, and it would have been so hard for him to see how his loved ones have suffered trying to function during this crisis.

My husband, his brother, son, and one grandson went out fishing early this morning. They actually caught some fish, which is a minor miracle. They have a history if coming home empty-handed from their fishing trips. I met them at the city park in the afternoon and the guys cooked their fish on a grill. My aunt and a friend of hers joined us. We sat on the hill eating fish, potato salad, and coleslaw. There were very few people in the park, a few boats out on the lake and probably twenty people swimming. In spite of things reopening it seems that there is still an abundance of caution being practiced by most people. It was a great pleasure to spend time with family on a Sunday afternoon. These simple things have become so much more precious to me, and I hope to others.

DAY 99

I feel a great sense of hope at this moment. Hope that there really is a monumental change happening in our country, and in our collective souls. In spite of all that is going wrong in the world, it seems that people are waking up to what is really important. Conversations are happening that are deeper and more meaningful. People are looking inside and acknowledging the ways that they have helped to perpetuate the oppression of others. This virus has brought about a reckoning that I hope will endure long past the time it takes us to resume some semblance of normal lives.

And, that man in Washington can't draw the huge crowds that he thrives on.