Bill's Covid Journal #2
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Title
Bill's Covid Journal #2
Description
[Email #2 written to friends during the pandemic by Bill Hogan]
On Sunday, April 5, 2020, Bill Hogan <billhoganantiques@hotmail.com> wrote:
Living in a Dangerous Time Take 2
Three weeks in on this self-isolation business and there's been some little changes. I'm kind of sporting a Hemingway-like look since there's no barbers open, and I think Pauline's sporting a less restrictive undergarment look since she doesn't go out and no-one visits. (Yes, I'm 76, but I'm not dead, you know. I sometimes notice things like that.)
This has been the week of Zoom. Last week I'd never even heard of it; this week it's Zoom Zoom everywhere. Lindsay has Global Fund meetings daily on Zoom; her nine year old daughter, Maddie, Zooms friends in the evenings. Australian Michelle (well, almost, her and Brad's citizenship has been postponed to August now) Zooms colleagues for work and Ian the Fireman's 16-year-old daughter Zooms with friends till 2 a.m. (Mamas, don't let your daughters grow up to be night owls!)
Even Pauline got in on it suddenly with a new Women's Bible Study Zoom-in or whatever the technical term might be. I'm never up at 10 a.m. so I didn't witness it personally, but P. said it was quite funny. Various people on mute, others frozen, then missing, children popping up, dogs interested, random husbands floating past, washroom breaks needed. But in the end a great community get-together. And technology passes me by again.
The weather has warmed up a bit, so I've been cleaning up the garden from our winter storms and got the fountain up and running. And I wonder if we'll still have our annual summer garden party.
P. has decided to make us masks since this week the information seemed to have changed and it's recommended now in some circles. She did her first grocery store run with one on, and I got a picture of her returning with it still on, carrying groceries and toilet paper. Really, we needed it. The toilet paper, I mean, not the mask. (Oops, too much detail, maybe.) She might put the picture up on Facebook, I'm not sure.
Speaking of P., I know she signed up for richer, for poorer, but did she really sign up for living on a desert island with someone 24 hours a day? I think not. (I'm not sure she thinks I'm quite as funny as I think I am.)
Interestingly, a couple of her friends, commenting on last week's blog, mentioned how loving I was to venture out to get flowers last week FOR HER. Oh. Yeah. For HER for sure. Yeah. Okay.
Although I didn't venture out this week, I noticed that in this working-class neighborhood all the cars are in their driveways all the time. So strange and so quiet.
Maggie next door reported huge line-ups--with distancing--outside the marijuana shop near Lakeshore Meats where she shops.Ian the Fireman is only one quarter as busy as usual at work. His wife, Fiona, in management in the Niagara Health system, put in 50 extra hours last week. Chris, a Toronto court room clerk, is fretting seriously at the lack of social distancing in the court system--people whispering in his ear, standing close to discuss matters.
I want to give a shout-out to some businesses and people. My local Rexall pharmacy waived my fee for a prescription because by law now they can only give me one month's supply of pills, not three, making me liable for three fees for the same number of pills. Thanks also to The Hilton which makes up a free once a week meal for all 1,000 employees to pick up in a drive-thru system with the owners and management doing the handout. As well as Fiona, others are in the health care business, too. Laurie from church is a nurse and Rick and Becky's daughter Kaity works in a hospital. Stay safe, my friends.
When I sent out last week's missive, I sent it to about a dozen people. The response was so overwhelming, I then also sent it out to about another dozen who had appreciated my Adventures in Newfoundland blog. The response was again stunning. Long letters from many. Encouragement from lots to keep writing, maybe start my theoretical novel now.
I hadn't expected that. After I hit send last week, I actually expected a number to write, "Stay at home, shithead!" because I talked of going out for snacks, flowers, etc. I guess those who thought it, didn't write it. (I didn't venture out this week, so don't start on me now.) I even took one terse reply, "Rave on, Bill." as positive, figuring it was synonymous with "Rock on, Bill" not "Rant on" or "Ramble on."
My thoughts now are that those that don't want to read these scribblings can just hit delete, so I'm sending this out to all my 35 or so contacts. I expect that for many, equally isolated, after a kind of exhilaration from the first week or two, there's a worrying or a sadness creeping in, and if my writing may bring a smile or two, it's been worthwhile. And if writing back might bring a release or two, Rave On, readers. I look forward to your replies and YOUR stories of lockdown, week three.
Bill
On Sunday, April 5, 2020, Bill Hogan <billhoganantiques@hotmail.com> wrote:
Living in a Dangerous Time Take 2
Three weeks in on this self-isolation business and there's been some little changes. I'm kind of sporting a Hemingway-like look since there's no barbers open, and I think Pauline's sporting a less restrictive undergarment look since she doesn't go out and no-one visits. (Yes, I'm 76, but I'm not dead, you know. I sometimes notice things like that.)
This has been the week of Zoom. Last week I'd never even heard of it; this week it's Zoom Zoom everywhere. Lindsay has Global Fund meetings daily on Zoom; her nine year old daughter, Maddie, Zooms friends in the evenings. Australian Michelle (well, almost, her and Brad's citizenship has been postponed to August now) Zooms colleagues for work and Ian the Fireman's 16-year-old daughter Zooms with friends till 2 a.m. (Mamas, don't let your daughters grow up to be night owls!)
Even Pauline got in on it suddenly with a new Women's Bible Study Zoom-in or whatever the technical term might be. I'm never up at 10 a.m. so I didn't witness it personally, but P. said it was quite funny. Various people on mute, others frozen, then missing, children popping up, dogs interested, random husbands floating past, washroom breaks needed. But in the end a great community get-together. And technology passes me by again.
The weather has warmed up a bit, so I've been cleaning up the garden from our winter storms and got the fountain up and running. And I wonder if we'll still have our annual summer garden party.
P. has decided to make us masks since this week the information seemed to have changed and it's recommended now in some circles. She did her first grocery store run with one on, and I got a picture of her returning with it still on, carrying groceries and toilet paper. Really, we needed it. The toilet paper, I mean, not the mask. (Oops, too much detail, maybe.) She might put the picture up on Facebook, I'm not sure.
Speaking of P., I know she signed up for richer, for poorer, but did she really sign up for living on a desert island with someone 24 hours a day? I think not. (I'm not sure she thinks I'm quite as funny as I think I am.)
Interestingly, a couple of her friends, commenting on last week's blog, mentioned how loving I was to venture out to get flowers last week FOR HER. Oh. Yeah. For HER for sure. Yeah. Okay.
Although I didn't venture out this week, I noticed that in this working-class neighborhood all the cars are in their driveways all the time. So strange and so quiet.
Maggie next door reported huge line-ups--with distancing--outside the marijuana shop near Lakeshore Meats where she shops.Ian the Fireman is only one quarter as busy as usual at work. His wife, Fiona, in management in the Niagara Health system, put in 50 extra hours last week. Chris, a Toronto court room clerk, is fretting seriously at the lack of social distancing in the court system--people whispering in his ear, standing close to discuss matters.
I want to give a shout-out to some businesses and people. My local Rexall pharmacy waived my fee for a prescription because by law now they can only give me one month's supply of pills, not three, making me liable for three fees for the same number of pills. Thanks also to The Hilton which makes up a free once a week meal for all 1,000 employees to pick up in a drive-thru system with the owners and management doing the handout. As well as Fiona, others are in the health care business, too. Laurie from church is a nurse and Rick and Becky's daughter Kaity works in a hospital. Stay safe, my friends.
When I sent out last week's missive, I sent it to about a dozen people. The response was so overwhelming, I then also sent it out to about another dozen who had appreciated my Adventures in Newfoundland blog. The response was again stunning. Long letters from many. Encouragement from lots to keep writing, maybe start my theoretical novel now.
I hadn't expected that. After I hit send last week, I actually expected a number to write, "Stay at home, shithead!" because I talked of going out for snacks, flowers, etc. I guess those who thought it, didn't write it. (I didn't venture out this week, so don't start on me now.) I even took one terse reply, "Rave on, Bill." as positive, figuring it was synonymous with "Rock on, Bill" not "Rant on" or "Ramble on."
My thoughts now are that those that don't want to read these scribblings can just hit delete, so I'm sending this out to all my 35 or so contacts. I expect that for many, equally isolated, after a kind of exhilaration from the first week or two, there's a worrying or a sadness creeping in, and if my writing may bring a smile or two, it's been worthwhile. And if writing back might bring a release or two, Rave On, readers. I look forward to your replies and YOUR stories of lockdown, week three.
Bill
Creator
Bill Hogan
Date
April 5, 2020
Spatial Coverage
St. Catharines
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This item was submitted on May 3, 2020 by [anonymous user] using the form “Digital Submissions” on the site “Documenting COVID-19 in Niagara”: https://exhibits.library.brocku.ca/s/COVID-Niagara
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