Frozen
Pandemic Diary Day 8
April 1, 2020
We know the “fight or flight” response to danger, but there is a third option…. “freeze”. Especially with the danger coming from something we can’t fight or flee, freeze seems a fairly reasonable response.
This amazing piece of wisdom comes from my very good girlfriend Susan W.
I do not think I am alone in being freaked out and finding myself frozen in the ability to make decisions. There are so many mixed messages coming at us about everything we need or do as we Shelter In Place.
It began with having groceries delivered. I mixed a solution of clorox and water and once the groceries were dropped at the front door I sprayed the bags, brought them in and placed them on the floor. I unpacked the groceries and then washed my hands thoroughly.
There is also a note on my front door, not only thanking everyone who is making it possible for me to SIP while they deliver my every need right to my front door, but it also assures them that I sterilize the door bell and the gate handle after every delivery.
Then came the doctor from Michigan who sat in his kitchen and explained how to handle groceries. That was it! I need to loose 20 pounds anyway, no more grocery deliveries.
Then came a follow up blog post by microbiologist Don Schaffner explaining that none of that was necessary and then he gave a further scientific explanation as to why.
Well, I am neither a doctor or a microbiologist, but what I am is a sensible human being who needs to calm down and be reasonable about grocery delivery. I am going back to my original game plan, what you choose to do is your business.
So my life is back to normal until I go on Twitter and everyone is talking about making sure you take your shoes off outside so you don’t track the disease inside.
First problem, I live in downtown San Francisco, those shoes would last no more than 5 minutes on the front door step before they were on the feet, hands or head of someone strolling by.
Next — really? Bringing in diseases on your shoes. YES, I know it is possible, that is why they wear booties in operating rooms and sterile environments. But I have a feeling that everyday I bring in a plethora of city germs on the bottom of my shoes and so far I have been lucky enough to have not contracted anything other than a disgusting smell or two if I don’t watch what I am stepping in.
There is another huge thing that people have been suffering with and I think that for some it could also be a part of being frozen. My cousin Pam mentioned how “someday” is so often in peoples conversations in “someday I will have time to do thus and such:. She went on to say how she realized someday had come and she can’t get motivated to do anything. I mentioned that in my post of depression, but for some it just may be the feeling of being frozen, I mean we know there is at least another month to this and maybe two, so what the heck, I don’t have to do it today, there is always tomorrow. That seems like being frozen in time.
So for now, I am going back to knowing I am a reasonable human being who does her research and keeps a level head and I am going to use Susan’s advice as a mantra.
At this point flight or fight are not options, but frozen isn’t an option either.
Tomorrow, pending a news story or a whim that happens to change my mind, I will try to write about something I am doing. Because my cousin is right, we are now at “Someday”.
Trivial Things
My Horoscope for today: That certain someone who blew into your life recently isn’t as fly-by-night as you think. Make room in your heart and s/he may stick around.
The NYT Crossword Puzzle: One of the more logical you will ever do. (Spoiler Alert) Village between Krszyna and Jacków in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland (pop. 305) The answer is: I haven’t got a clue.
San Francisco weather: 56 degrees and Sunny
NYSE DOW opened at: 21227
Italian word of the day: differenziare (differentiate)
Spanish word of the day: broma (joke)
OED word of the day: ombrogenous
Days under Shelter In Place: 19
Reading: Margaret Bourke-White by Vicki Goldberg
A Special Something: A nursing home in Surrey England has begun an adopt a grandparent program to help seniors through this tough time of Covid-19. What a lovely idea.
My Black and White Picture of the Day
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