Has It Been Six Years?

      It's hard to believe that it's been six years already since our lives were thrown off kilter by Covid. Those were some scary times as the virus swept across the globe despite best efforts to keep it contained. I keep a daily journal and recently read my entries from that time. My notes reminded me of the sadness and helplessness we felt at times, but also of the strength and togetherness we experienced as well. Following are some of my journal entries beginning in March of 2020:

     (March 3) The coronavirus is spreading but not in Michigan yet . . . (March 6) Twenty one people on the cruise ship The Grand Princess have tested positive for the coronavirus. Could have been us three months ago when we sailed aboard that ship . . . (March 7) No handshakes or communal wine at church today. More coronavirus fall-out . . . (March 9) Italy is totally quarantined . . .(March 11) The virus has arrived in Michigan. St. Pats Day parade canceled. Ma called asking for no family visits right now. . . (March 12) Schools in Michigan closed for three weeks. Huge lines at Meijer's grocery store . . . (March 13) Coronavirus, AKA Covid-19, has closed the recreation center, the library, even masses at our church. We're not even allowed to return the DVD we borrowed from the library . . .

     (March 16) Michigan bars and restaurants are closing . . . (March 17) "Are you joking?" the Meijer checkout clerk said when we asked for hand sanitizer after using their pen to sign a check. . . (March 19) The dentist called to cancel next week's appointment. The state's reported Covid cases have tripled since yesterday . . . (March 23) Ordered postage stamps on-line, a first for me. Governor Whitmer has ordered us to shelter in place . . . (March 24) Senior hour at Meijer was a madhouse. My hopes that they would have hard-to-find items didn't come to pass. No toilet paper, no hand sanitizer, not even any isopropyl alcohol . . . (March 26) Nearly 3,000 Covid cases in Michigan with 92 in Washtenaw County. . .(March 29) T.P. at Busch's Valuland. Score! Successfully skyped with family in St. Louis. Another score! Dad says neighbor came by flashing hand signs asking if they need anything.

     (April 2) On a bike ride today I saw this message etched with chalk on the sidewalk--"In this together." . . . (April 4) CDC advises masks now. I saw people wearing masks as they jogged or rode bicycles. . .  (April 7) Over 12,000 Covid deaths in U.S. . . . (April 9) Governor extended her stay-at-home order until April 30th. It would have expired Monday. Wendy and I constructed Covid face masks . . . (April 12) A different Easter. Pork tenderloin dinner for just Wendy and me. We dropped off the grandboys' Easter baskets. Skyped with our other son's family in St. Louis. . . (April 13) Andrea Bocelli's Music for Hope concert was very moving. I watched the replay this morning . . . (April 17) Trump tweeted, "Liberate Michigan." But we're still in lockdown . . . (April 18) We finally got the face masks that cousin Vickie made for us. She mailed them two weeks ago

     April 20 Sad moment on my walk yesterday when I saw a couple standing in the grass outside a local nursing home trying to talk through the glass window to the resident within . . . (April 23) First live sports event in over a month--the NFL draft. . . (April 24) . . . Getting our daily Tim Horton coffee is hit or miss. In Saline, they're open till 2 p.m. In one Tim Horton's in Ann Arbor, they're open till 3 p.m. and the other Tim Horton is closed altogether . . . (April 26) Masks are mandatory when shopping now . . . (April 29) Our church called today to see if we're doing okay . . . ((May 5) One-way aisles for shopping at Meijer. No chicken yet--the meat industry has been hobbled by plant closures-- but hand sanitizer is there now. . . (May 7) Governor Whitmer has extended the stay-home order until May 23. . . (May 22) City Diner has breakfast take-out. Just opened. President Trump is ordering governors to let all churches open. The basketball rims were re-attached to backboards at the local park. They had been removed because of Covid to discourage playing

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