A pro tip here!

Freedom!

Today, wasn’t as good a day as yesterday. It started off well enough, though, but ended with some bad news.

At 8:30am, we talked to our doctor. We’d taken our temperatures for 2 weeks, isolated and self-observed 24/7, all with no signs of infection. So, when we talked to our doctor, he said we could get out, now, that official quarantine was over.

However, we should still quarantine as much as possible and only go out for necessities.

That we can do.

Outside our house, it looks like there are now hefty fines for being a moron. Great news. Even better, there’s more relief coming for people laid off. Here. It’s worth looking into if you’ve been laid off. There could be $2000 for you.

Also, BC released a list of essential services (here.) I was surprised that bloggers were not listed as an essential service, but whatever. Poo on you.

Lastly, there is a senior hotline now – 211. This is huge, though being close to that age, I’ll likely forget that number and dial Dominos pizza by mistake.

211  Tell everyone.

The-Youngest, however, was less than thrilled about a rumor that school was coming back soon. The-Oldest yipped with glee. I sat in fear thinking I’m going to have to help a grade 8 with math. Or science. Or French. About the only thing I’m good at is History and fibbing.

I also worried a little too much today. Maybe for good reason.

This thing has hit us like a tidal wave, and I read (here) what we’re experiencing is very akin to grief. Suddenly, we’re uncertain about the future, we’re shaken by the change around us, and we’re dealing with feelings like panic, disappointment, rage, blame, and powerlessness. That sounds a lot like grief to me.

Then, we got the news we’d sort of been expecting. The-Prettiest-Girl-in-the-World will be laid off. I guess working in the library and being super cute and spunky didn’t convince anyone she’s part of an essential service. She’s to finish off her training (in a few days), then be officially laid off, hopefully, to be hired back at some point.

Hopefully.

That stressed her out a lot, so we tried to be good today. The-Youngest and I cleaned the garage, The-Oldest only played or composed happy music, and Vegas the dog kept her farting down to a minimum. Later, I made supper, The-Youngest made popcorn, and The-Oldest did his 3^rd load of dishes.

They’re good boys.

As the day closed, I thought about how Covid19 has changed our lives.  Here’s my top 10.

• I can’t watch end-of-the-world, apocalypse or zombie movies. Too close to home now.
• We don’t waste food anymore. Leftovers are king. I think we even found a use for that can of 1999 soup. It’s a weight for the blanket fort.
• Supper is more likely to be hot dogs and wine (and wine with a screw-on cap), than a sit-down meal at Earl’s.
• Everything gets wiped down and we wash our hands like we are surgeons in a 3^rd world country. I’ve scrubbed my skin so hard that I think I see bone now.
• The boys get to find out what it’s like when I (or the Prettiest-Girl-in-the-World) started out in life. Hello, hot dogs with bread. Hello, Raman noodles. Hello, Kraft dinner and Tuna casserole.
• We do our own stuff now. Coming up soon, oil change, fix that leaky tap and maybe, dare I say it, haircuts. However, we’re less likely to do foot surgery, even though there’s a pretty good Youtube video out there (gotta leave something to the pros).
• I’ve reached out to more people over the last week, than most of last year. It’s been good to reconnect with some, or simply let others know I’m thinking about them and hope that they’re safe.
• I’ve watched more dog videos than ever before in my life, including Pluto the Dog. Here.
• I’ve given up planning vacations, which used to be such an important part of my Joe-future.
• I look at The-Prettiest-Girl-in-the-World and the boys every day and wonder how I got so lucky? But I also wonder if these are the last moments we’ll spend together.

Sometimes you need a little Disney magic.

To that end, each night we’ve played games together or watched a show as a family. Last night, we played Kahoot. Tonight we watched Frozen 2. AT 7pm, we banged hockey sticks in honor of the health care workers giving so much at this time.

We’re trying to treasure those moments because, hey, there’s no downside. If we get through this, it would be great to tell The-Oldest’s firstborn child how his dad survived the pandemic of 2020 by making music, or how The-Youngest ended up making jello the color of death, or how their mom, Baba-cutie, kept everyone positive despite all the crap that happened.

Or it could be The-Youngest’s child we tell.

Who knows? I just want all of them to have that moment.

Be safe, be healthy and respect this new world.