Six weeks ago on March 15, 2020, our busy lives were shifted completely and indefinitely. Schools were closed, gatherings of 10 or more were strongly discouraged. Churches moved to online services. No more visiting or hugging friends, play dates, sports, live theater, lessons, or other public outings. Restaurants were closed for dine-in. Grocery stores were open, but people were hoarding toilet paper, meat, and non-perishable food items. Shelves were empty.
Social Distancing became a thing. People should stand no closer than six feet of each other. Masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and even the alcohol prep pads I need for my daily insulin injections were sold out of local stores and online.
For us, that meant Kyran's run of Mary Poppins, where he was playing the adorable Michael Banks, was halted abruptly after the first weekend. Karyssa's and Gemma's rehearsals for Mary Poppins, Jr. were also paused with the show postponed indefinitely. Our evenings were always packed with rehearsals, lessons, therapies, etc. and now there was nothing.
Jason had two award trips for work that were cancelled. Our huge twins club consignment sale that I used to coordinate was cancelled. The National Convention for Multiples of America, where I now serve on the board as publicity chairman, was cancelled...for July.
The district worked quickly to develop distance learning curriculum. Third grade and above were given laptops to keep at home, so Kyran and Karyssa can do most of their work on their own. The kindergarten through second graders received packets of work, which require me to sit down with Gemma each day. Not to teach, but to keep her motivated to finish her work.
The age of Zoom calls began. The kids started having short class sessions through video chats. Rehearsals moved to Zoom. They were able to talk to their friends through Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Facebook Messenger Kids. We were not planning to sign Gemma up for a kids messenger account so soon, but she has loved being able to talk with her friends, and connect with some of my friends' children whom she hadn't seen in quite a while.
The initial closings were for two weeks, but from watching other countries and seeing what was happening in New York City, we soon realized that it would be much longer. Last week, the governor announced that schools would not be reopening this year. Summer camps and events are being cancelled. Fall sports and university classes are being evaluated.
Our state is one of a few who have reopened retail stores. While there are still social distancing protocols in place as far as how many people can be in the stores and how far apart they should stand while waiting to get into the store and waiting in line, there are still increased risks with this.
Why? Because of COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus. This virus spreads easily, through the air and from surfaces, but takes up to 14 days to detect in the system. Many people throughout the world have been going about their normal days, not realizing the large number of people they are infecting just by breathing and touching objects. This virus is different for different people, and we have seen so many different manifestations. Most experience fever, cough, pneumonia, and shortness of breath. Some are completely asymptomatic. Others have experienced rashes, strokes, and gastrointestinal issues.
It mostly effects the elderly and immunocompromised, but completely healthy children and middle-aged people have also experienced severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death from it.
People are dying in the hospitals alone because healthy people are not allowed in for fear of infection. Those who are dying of COVID or anything else are not having funerals because large numbers of people can't be gathered.
There are not enough tests available for those who need them and not enough ventilators in places where many are affected. The goal of social distancing is to "flatten the curve," meaning that most of us will get this at some point, but trying to not have everyone get it at once so that the hospitals can keep up with demand.
There is no vaccine, and researchers think one is still about 18 months away. People have tested positive, healed, and later tested positive again, which shows either some mutations or lack of immunity from previous infections.
"These uncertain times" has been heard more than any phrase other than "social distance."
People on all political sides are arguing over the health of our citizens, the health of the economy, and the health of our constitutional rights. It has gotten very ugly.
I know this all sounds grim, and anyone reading this now already knows this (and more), but although my children are living it, I know they won't remember it all. There will be history books and articles they can read, but I want a record of what it meant to our family.
There have been so many good things that we have seen as well.
The good stuff is coming, I promise.
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