And So it Begins………..

Day one, yesterday there was whispers in our little town that the virus had made it. We were lucky to have gone this long without a single case. Today that whisper was confirmed. Which means that for at least a week someone has been walking around with the virus if not longer. This is where life becomes scary. Did that person go to work? Did he or she stay home? Did he or she go shopping in our grocery store? And was I or my children anywhere where that person had been? Chances are with a small town, it only took one, and he or she has exposed the entire town. What can be said? After all, according to the government everyone will get this. Whatever our fait is, we must continue to have faith and pray that this will be over soon. Yet I learned something that concerns me.

Today I spoke with a teacher from my children’s school. She mentioned that while they are hopeful that down the road we would be able to have a graduation for our seniors, they didn’t know when. She also mentioned that they are currently working on distance learning all the way into August when the new school year starts. I did not react but it was surprising to me. Since government officials are saying that just thirty days and we can start getting back to normal. So to gain more information I started watching Facebook and some of the official places that I get updates from. One is a man who has our state’s top doctor that does weekly interviews. He gives updates on the things we need and answers questions. I asked him trying not to be so obvious about the possibility that we would still be under quarantine in August. His answer was simple, YES. I was stunned, his explanation was that because we flatten the curve we prolong the pandemic. Meaning that we could be living in quarantine for many months not just one or two. In order to keep people from panicking even more, they will just keep adding thirty days to the order. Then keep telling us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. This was almost crushing to me. I can only pray that we find some kind of relief soon. We are praying that the heat and humidity of the summer here will help kill off the disease, but it is only a hope, and many say it is a long shot. If it does then that means that we get more time to prepare, but it also means that come winter cases will rise again. I don’t know which is worse the hoping that we can buy more time or the knowledge that we could be fighting this for a year if not longer.

Here at home I keep the news off and try to only watch when everyone is asleep. I try to keep spirits up and keep the kids fed with big meals. We have taken drives around town not getting out of the car, and when the weather is nice we spend a lot of time on the front porch. I have even ordered new furniture to go out there so that we have comfortable places to sit since we will most likely be spending a lot of time there. This also means that there will be no swimming pool to cool off in this summer, and no baseball with friends. No taking trips down to the beach like I had planned. I know that most people think we are saving lives, yes we are but are you willing to not go to work for four more months? I don’t know how the economy will survive. They are pushing it as long as they can but it is going to get much worse before it gets even a little better. Hang on friends, this is going to be a long and very bumpy ride.

I am praying for all of you. That you stay well, that you stay safe and that this doesn’t cripple all of us finically. Stay strong, talk to someone if you need to, I am sending all the love I can out into the world. I pray you do the same.

-Dee

Author: thejourneyofalioness

41 year old mother of four. Widow since May 2019. Lives in a small Northern Oklahoma town. Loves to be out in nature and photography. "Life is not meant to be lived inside." View all posts by thejourneyofalioness