It's true that every day is the history of the future, but let's face it, most days are just days. Things happen, but some days are bigger than others.
One of the things that has amazed me over the last week is how the whole world, in effect, has come to a standstill. I really don't think that I ever thought that it would be so easy to stop everything, except if we found ourselves in a war. And yet here we are!
I do find myself reflecting on all the historical fiction novels that I have read over the years which have been set in times of war or hardship. There are so many novels where the authors tell you about how the characters had to line up for their ration of meat, butter, flour or bread. Not one of them mentioned toilet paper! Maybe there were other items that were difficult to come across that all the authors never thought to mention.
Or maybe, just maybe, our ideas of what are essentials are a little skewed right now. We went to the shops today for our normal weekly shop and it was very entertaining in a mind blowing way. We were having coffee just before going into the supermarket and we started to see people walking out with their prescribed packet of toilet paper. You could see the word spreading. Complete strangers were passing on the word as they walked down the shopping mall....there's toilet paper in Woolies!
Once we were in the store, there were people running to get kitchen towel and toilet paper. Why kitchen towel? I don't understand! As we walked up and down the aisles, it was interesting to see which shelves were empty. Flour, sugar, tinned vegetables were all things I understood, but why are cracker biscuits and ice cream shelves completely cleared out? I don't understand. Is ice cream an essential now and we missed the memo?
What is clear is that there will be some people out there right now making money. The supermarkets were busier than they are at Christmas so while there may be some bleak months ahead, right now, their sales are going through the roof because people are buying things some of which they may never use.
On a personal level, there have been a few impacts for us in these crazy times.
It is 99.95% likely that we are not going on our trip to Europe, so now we have to see how much of the money we have already paid out can be recovered for flights, accommodation and activities. At the end of the day the money is already gone, so anything we can get back is a bonus.
I do think we may be cramping my son's style a little though. Apparently a friend of his was coming from interstate over Easter which was news to us. Now we'll be home the friend can still come but it might be a slightly different experience than it would otherwise have been.
It is also looking likely that we are going to be working from home at some point in the next couple of weeks, which I am not looking forward to. Aside from the environment where we have no desks, no screen monitors so we will be working off single screen monitors etc, I know that I have a tendency to get distracted by things when I am working from home. Oh, there's a TV show on that I like, or I'll so some washing, or I'll just drop down to the library or I might have a little snooze for 10 minutes, and then suddenly it is the end of the day and I haven't achieved as much as I should have. Ooops.
I should be clear that I have no issue with the instructions to stay home as much as possible. Whilst it is unlikely that I would be terribly affected should I catch the virus, I am more than happy to do my part in order to protect our more vulnerable members of the community. I think the wisest advice I have seen so far in all of this was something along the lines of don't prepare just in case you catch the virus, but prepare just in case you give it to someone else.
In the mean time I will observe the goings on with bemusement and incredulity at how crazy the world is right now. Hopefully, it isn't too long before things go back to normal, and then we will need to count the cost in lives, in livelihoods for those people whose business just don't survive this period of enforced closure, in our health care systems and in so many other ways that we can't even begin to imagine just yet.
Stay safe everyone.
These feel like crazy times. I'm sorry you are having to cancel your trip. I'm sure that is a huge disappointment. I hesitate to visit my elderly dad and his wife, but I know they are feeling frustrated at being stuck at home. I feel confused about what exactly I should be doing. Crazy times.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to know exactly what to do Deb because everything keeps on changing!
DeleteI didn't walk down the ice cream aisle here. Now I am wondering if it was empty. lol Lorrie was commenting on how well stocked the chip aisle was, so I know there were chips. I thought that was funny because when there is a storm here, the chip aisle is empty.
ReplyDeleteI am also more concerned about other people than myself should they get sick. My grandmother for example. Or, even Lorrie. He has asthma and tends to have trouble breathing just with a regular cold. I guess we will see how this plays out!
Sorry to hear about your trip! Lorrie wanted to go down south. I am very glad we didn't plan anything because we would not have gone. His sister and her husband still went, though.
That's the thing isn't it Kelly - other people. Not necessarily ouselves.
Delete*hiding under a stack of books* <-- and I'm almost serious, but they're my own books and not physical books from others that might be infected. :)
ReplyDeleteOur local libraries have just announced that they are closing so I might get to read some of the books off my own shelf too Bryan....maybe.
DeleteSo sorry that you had to cancel your trip to Europe. I'm also worried about who or what won't survive this period. There were newly opened restaurants I was looking forward to eating at but now how are they going to make any profit for a while? It's disastrous for sure but like you said, we need to do what we can to limit the impact and reduce the number of people who could get sick.
ReplyDeleteThere are all sorts of small businesses that are going to struggle through this period Athira.
DeleteI walked down the candy aisle today at the grocery store and it was definitely picked over. You're right, it's all surreal. So sorry you have to cancel your trip. We were just about to book our trip to Europe and now who knows when/if we'll be able to go this year. Well, wishing for the best for everyone. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteSurreal is a good word for it Iliana!
DeleteOh, that sucks about your Europe trip.
ReplyDeleteI went to the grocery store on Friday, as I do most Fridays. The ice cream was intact. I think I was most surprised that the rice shelves were cleared. Pasta, there. Quinoa, untouched. Rice-a-Roni, fine aside from the Broccoli Cheese flavor. But no plain rice. *shrug*
Stay safe and healthy and have a good-as-possible week!
No pasta here Katherine!!
DeleteI noticed the ice cream shortage here. Also frozen dinners. My weekly update
ReplyDeleteFrozen dinners at least makes some sense, assuming that people have large freezers that is!
DeleteSorry about your cancelled trip :(
ReplyDeleteGrocery shopping was a challenge here this past weekend, I’m frustrated with all the panic buyers.
My 70+ mother is rather cavalier about the whole thing, she and my dad have gone on holiday regardless this week, and were pretty put out when I suggested she not visit here on the way home because I’m worried the kids could be asymptomatic and pass it on.
Wishing you a great reading week, stay well.
Shelleyrae, We were trying to be positive that we were still going to get to go away but it has now got to the point where there is no way it is going to happen.
DeleteIt's such a shame about your trip, I hope you get some of your money back at least...
ReplyDeleteI don't know about anyone else, but we've been going through paper towel at an unusual rate because I've just had eye surgery. This means eye drops in my eyes four times a day, each different type five minutes apart, 17 altogether. Because of the high risk of infection in the eye, I have to wash my hands before putting in the drops, and dry my hands with paper towel, then throw it away. Once the drops are in, I have to blot with a tissue, one for each eye.
Considering I usually use real towels and real hankies, it's extraordinary how many of these disposable products I'm using, and I'm starting to worry about whether our supplies will last the distance.
We've got some back Lisa, but not all.
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