Let me recap the last couple days. After making my previous post on Wednesday night we were trying to get the little boys to bed but a hellacious line of thunderstorms blew in and wreaked havoc. It was probably a bit too late in the game but I finally made the call to go down to the basement when the wind became unbearable. Thad was scared. We had to pull Hart out of his crib. But with no power or wifi we had no way to monitor the radar, so this was the safest bet. We sat in our Subaru, each of us with a child on our lap. Trying to keep it light and happy until things outside quieted enough to go back up. Then we got to do the bedtime routine all over again but without power. I placed LED candles in the bedrooms. Hart went without his white noise machine. Thad ended up leaving his bed for ours. Needless to say, I got little sleep. But was so grateful when the power came back on at about 3 A.M. By Thursday we learned that there were a few tornadoes in the area. Limbs were scattered through the yard. As were my flower pots. We retrieved them from two neighboring yards. Our flag pole was bent like an invisible servicemen at Iwo Jima were trying to hold it up. Once again reaffirming my fears of the pandemic emergency colliding with climate emergency.
I spent a lot of time reading through and listening to the John Prine tributes that were being shared widely. The tears still come just fewer and farther in between.
Over the next few days we made our Easter preparations. I filled the plastic eggs with tiny chocolates for the hunt to take place in the front yard. Lovingly placed the Aldi clearance toys that Marc throws into the cart and that I hoard into the boys’ baskets and hid them in the basement. Laid out our color coordinated outfits. Set a formal dining table. Marc helped me print special menus for the place settings. Thawed the steaks and shrimp and baked cupcakes. Started working on a new shopping list. Went about my regular chores. Took the kids for walks. I also learned that it was way too early to plant those seeds so good thing that didn’t work out! Stay tuned.
The news is just awful. Over 20K Americans lost to Covid-19. The state of New York alone has more infections than any other country! Let that sink in. The New York Times published an expose revealing that Trump’s inability to grasp the concept/inaction is tantamount to something criminal. It is a complete disaster. How could this happen here? Will history remember this tragedy as the U.S.A. virus? Ponder it. Are we the world power we once certainly were? Making America Great Again?
On top of all that we have to deal with the anxiety. Will my loved ones get sick? What if we need medical care? Will there be disruptions in the food supply chain? How long will this last? Do you think we are 1/2 way through? What if Trump lifts the social distancing measures too soon as he likes to threaten? Now we must take steps to save the postal service. What’s going to happen in November when it is election time? I’m really scared. But I’m trying to be brave.
The Mother Bever 