I've been in solo seclusion since leaving work on March 19, and until yesterday, I had not ventured farther from my house than the curb. I had stocked up on my way home from work, and supplemented groceries with one delivery.

Toilet paper was unavailable, as was flour: it seems everyone has taken up baking! A younger friend comes around weekly to have me cosign checks for church, and she'd offered to shop for anything I really needed. I thanked her but declined. Then the deluge came, and I had a sudden infestation of big ants- more than I'd ever seen in a house! Aresols are out with my asthma, so I called her and told her I'd reconsidered; would she get me some Borax, please? If she found TP and flour, that would be nice, but not as essential. She arrived with all three, only the TP was a pack of 30 rolls! I laughed till I was out of breath, "well, they'd only let me get one package!" She said.

Until yesterday, my close up interaction was limited to my boss bringing me a Mac so I could work remotely. I tried to get my prescription delivered, but was told I'd have to present my brand new medicare card in person to get my essential inhaler, so I masked up and ventured out. The car was creaky from being unmoved. I had been thinking to get some Easter candy & other things since I was out, but was limited by the behavior of other shoppers.

Been spending way too much time on Facebook, though the delight of facebook concerts by performers I love has been incredible! Anne Lister, Deb Cowan, Gina Forsyth, Sally Rogers doing a song-a-day, and all the other online ways with PayPal "tip jars" to support musicians. Zoom church participation, ballad and sing-around sessions, online interaction has moved more completely to our heart of hearts in many places.

I live in Cleveland, Ohio & watching our governor set the standard for a medical science-informed approach has been pleasantly astonishing. (He's a republican) The first cases in Cleveland were in my zipcode, but so far the only cases have been at several degrees of remove. I consider myslef very lucky, indeed.

Joanne in springtime Siberia on the Lake