…. and then the lights went out

               These days that we must stay home in lockdown haven't been easy for me or for anybody, I imagine. People are complaining that there are too many tasks they have to undertake:  being parents, being teachers, being cleaning people, being cooks, trying just to hang in there and be sane.

               Every morning I get up get dressed as if I were going to work (which eventually end up doing online) have my breakfast, watch a little bit of the news and check out the social media that I missed the night before. I have been trying out new dishes using whatever I have in my cupboards for that. Being a vegetarian isn't very easy because you run out of the fresh products faster than anything else, so I did call my local grocer and have them deliver some produce. I took all the necessary precautions that one should during this period to stay safe. I have to confess here that I am scared.

               However, yesterday was Sunday, which is a day that I usually get together with a family so that I can find energy to face the week ahead. Some people say that the week begins on Sunday and others that it just starts on Monday. I, myself, think the week begins on Sunday and what a better way to start the week than with the family. So, yesterday (Sunday), my youngest sister called a meeting online. It was not bad, but when everybody tries to talk at the same time you can't make out what they are saying. A bit confusing when there is a four-year-old in the chat. Nonetheless, it's just so much joy to see the four-year-old through video chat. The chat did not last long and soon enough we said our goodbyes and hung up.

               In my neighborhood the sky was coming down. A really horrible rainstorm. There was water coming in everywhere I had to run and close all the windows and make sure that my towels were in place just in case the leaks started up. (Yes, leaks! You can read about it in a story entitled: And the year started off with a bang). At the same time that the sky was coming down here in my neighborhood, it was bright and sunny where my family was which is about a 20- minute drive from my place.

               All of a sudden, I heard a loud explosion and the TV went off, not really the TV, it was just the cable connection and there was a message saying that unfortunately the surface had been interrupted. I checked my cell phone and the Internet was down. I got up from where I was sitting and walked around the rest of the apartment to check what was going on. The funny thing was that one socket in my bathroom was working and where the TV was connected was working, however, the rest of the apartment was dead.

               I am not very good with electrical issues, so I called the doorman to see if there was really a problem in the building or whether it was just here in my apartment. He informed me that the whole neighborhood was in the dark. I didn't go into details about what was happening here, about the two sockets working.  I decided to go to my room turn on a lamp that works on batteries and read.

               At the same time that I was reading, I started thinking, like, ‘ Here I am safe at home but no TV , no family, no friends, at least I have two sockets that are working and I can recharge my phone as I sit here and read’. You know I felt pretty blessed to have that lamp and to be able to recharge my phone (the battery was down to 10%). I always think it's funny that the phone is always on low battery when you need it the most. The lights came back around 8:00 PM. I was so drawn into my book that all I did was keep on reading.

               At first, the thought of how horrible to be in this situation with no electricity came to mind, but then I started to relax and make the most out of the situation. It made me think about people who are out in the streets and have nowhere to shelter or other necessities that a human being should have. It also made me think of the fact that I don't need all the things that I have and probably it was a sign that instead of depending on TV, social media, Internet, etc. I should make better use of my day. Or in the end, it was just preparing me for Monday.

Life has changed and it is up to me to adapt to the changes.

               Note: This Monday morning, my computer has decided to act on its own and switched the control of the camera off. Out of the blue, I could see my students and they could see me, but now I can't see them, and they can't see me. The good thing of all of this is I am calm; whereas, at other times I would probably just be freaking out. The lesson here ( for me ) is that we have no control over our lives. On second thought, my theory is that machines simply have a mind of their own. LOL.

               Note 2: Well, you might be wondering what happened in the neighborhood. It just so happens that the power gadget that's on the lamp post in front of one of our garage entrances exploded and caught fire. The power company had to come and fix it and a firetruck came over to put out the fire ( a tree caught on fire too). It could have been struck by lightning or just an overload. I'm just glad that most people are home and they were able to get here fast to resolve the situation.

Written: March 30, 2020 (between a class or two)

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2020 Year of Compassion

Stay home.

Stay safe.

Stay sound.

Stay sane.

Keep calm.

Keep your distance.

Keep the Faith.

Keep cool.

Wash hands.

Help others.

Help flatten the curve.

Have hope.

Look up.

Look ahead.

Be kind.

Do your part.

Stay home.

Stay home.

Stay home.

Written:  March 25, 2020

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These Days of Lockdown

So much information is coming through social media, newspapers, TV and other sources. Times are tough. Most people are doing their best just stay home for the better good, nonetheless, there are those who refuse to believe that what is happening is real.

As I'm writing this, I can hear the construction site next door working full blast. I sincerely hope those workers are making extra hazard pay and that their being protected with masks and basic hygiene.  

God, there are days where I have a very difficult time wrapping my mind around all of this. But, I have noticed that the sky is clearer - it's bluer which means less pollution. I have been trying to keep fit with my physiotherapy workout and I tried to keep mentally fit by calling up family and friends. However, today it is my baby sister's birthday and I spoke to her via video chat. I tried to be strong while we were talking but now, I'm losing it. Deep down inside I know this breakdown is not going to go on forever. Crying alleviates the heart. Then you shake it off and go back into a different mode and just keep swimming.

 There are a lot of things we have to adapt to specially, in my case, teaching classes online. I see it as more of a help on line and the students are going to mature faster because they have to be their own, let's say police officers, and discipline themselves into doing everything that everybody or shall I say all the teachers are giving them to do. I realize that staying in bed and sleeping or watching Netflix or as they say bingeing on Netflix is much easier, but then again what are the long-term effects of these actions. Now it is time to take your life into your hands and try to set limits, routines, and discipline.

My current situation is that I have been away from the family for 2 weeks and a half now. It isn't easy specially when your mother is 77 years old , suffers from many illnesses, in a house all by herself . I don't feel that it's safe for her (nor for myself) to come her here to stay with me. Although we've been speaking on the phone everyday, she has not learned how to be self – disciplined,  therefore,  she spends most of her time in her room and since she does not have access to cable TV or any other kind of paid TV, what she only watches is the news in the open channels where all they talk about is the coronavirus. A good thing though is that she has finally learned how to answer a video call so we can see each other whenever we feel like it. But just seeing the person is not enough. We were raised in a society where touching other people is very important and this we miss a lot .

A good thing though from all of this is that on Sunday towards the end of the day I received a beautiful picture (which can be seen below ) from one of my neighbors, asking me if I wanted a piece of cake, which she had just made for her family. I was super thrilled and moved with the kind gesture and felt her frustration when I had to tell her that I couldn't accept because I can't have anything with gluten in it. Nonetheless, I did thank her very much and offered her my help in case she needed it although she's in a house with four other people. Reaching out to others does warm the heart and you can be sure that the person who is reached out to also feels better and not so alone.

Not sure how long this is going to last, but the city is under lock down and I am really hoping and praying that people take this seriously and stay in their homes. As I have said before it is for the greater good. Now is the time to think of us and not just me.

Stay home! Stay safe! Stay healthy both in mind and body! We are in this together!

Written : March 24, 2020

Photo: Mariangela ( my neighbor) Thank you so much !!!!

Stay Home

People are scared. They have no clue of what is going on. They run around without knowing where to go or what to do. Some of them cry, some laugh, some make believe that nothing is going on and some just sit there and stare into nothing.

            Our country is under lock down; the world is or maybe should be, and yesterday under my bedroom window there was a party going on. At least it sounded like a party. It went on all day long. People laughing, people singing, people screaming.  I had to get up and see what was going on.

            As I looked out the window, I saw a bar and across the street from it there was a blue tent. I could see that there was smoke coming from under the tent; therefore, it meant that they were having a barbecue.

            The first thought that came to my mind was social distancing. Weren´t these people supposed to be confined to their homes in order for the virus not to spread? It seemed as if they had not been told that.

            There were adults and child. The adults were drinking and eating while the children ran around playing catch. They were close and touching each other, either with their bodies or their breath.

            At first glance I was jealous because I wanted to be outside enjoying the fresh, well not so fresh, air. I wanted to be with my family whom I haven´t seen in two weeks. I wanted to be out with my friends being merry and drinking. Instead I was confined to my apartment.

            Being confined to my apartment isn´t all that bad. I am able to enjoy the time with my pets; organize what needs to be organized like a drawer, a closet, or my mind. I can also chat with several people via video calls. I can try out new dishes and eat what I want to. The cable TV companies have opened several channels which I usually do not have access to therefore I can be entertained and never bored. Books that I have bought over the years can help me fill my time with an activity instead of being idle.

 My home is my castle. It is where I am free to be me. Staying here means that I am avoiding spreading the plague that is in the world. Some people compare it to a prison cell where you are not allowed to leave. Leaving only when the guard comes to set you free or to move to another location only under close observation. However, my house is my kingdom and within these walls I am free to do what I wish to do.

People are scared. Sometimes I am too. Nonetheless, I walk by faith and not by sight. So, I am going to take this one day at a time and always look up. That being said, if people wish to live their lives nowadays as if nothing were happening in the world, be it. I just pray that they are touched by the fact that this social distancing is not to protect one´s self but to protect our species.

Written: March 22, 2020

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Pandemic

              These are some dark times that we are living. We, not just you and me, the whole world. Rich or poor. Young or old. Here or there.

               Who´s to blame? Who are the victims? No one. As humans we always need to blame someone. We have the tendency to think that we are better than the other. If something happens to us, we compare ourselves to the next person and ask: `Why me? ´ ´What did I do to deserve this? ´ `Why not so and so, he/she is always doing something wrong? ´

               The fact is that there is no one to blame. There are no victims. We are on this planet to grow and become better humans. We are born and then we die; what we do in between is up to each and every one of us. It does not matter what the other person does or does not do, we need to focus on what we do for ourselves and for others.

               The Corona Virus is here to teach us something that we still have not learned, which is up to each person to know what that is. For some it might be caring for the others. For others it might be caring for one´s self.  For some it might be that human relationships are more valuable than material things. For some it might be sharing. For others to see who you can really count on.

           It is time to reflect.

Time to distance yourself from everyone so that you can stop the invisible enemy.

Time to reach out to others through medias (Thank goodness for that): video calls, telephone, cell phone or even through a simple window.

 Time to learn something new.

 Time to read those books that you have set aside for when you have the time; now, you have the time.

Time to offer your services to those who cannot leave their homes.

Time to call the elders in the family and say that you love them and also not to hesitate to call you when they feel lonely.

Time to reach out to your friends and tell them how much you care.

We are all in this together.

This too shall pass.

Stay safe and God bless.

Written: March 19, 2020

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Invasion, Invasion, Invasion

They can been seen all around.

Here. There. Everywhere.

Many are those who are blind to them.

However, my eyes are wide aware.

From  my bedroom window.

From my kitchen window.

From my living room window.

From my TV room wondow.

They are there staring back at me.

I see them, feel them and tension arises.

For they will place those strong blocks that will reach the skies.

They vibrate, make noise; really shake the ground.

It´s beats me why they are all around town.

Here. There. Everywhere.

Bang. Lift. Drop.

7am until 6 pm.

It goes on and on.

Could it be a coup?

Could it be a warning?

Could it be just me?

I am convinced that there is an invasion in town.

Just look around.

They are creeping up from all sides.

Beware of the CRANES!!!!

Written : March 9, 2020

Photo: Meire Marion

Photo: Meire Marion

Photo: Meire Marion