As far as I can tell, our phones have finally been repaired. For a good while, we could not receive or make long-distance phone calls. That basically means that for nearly a week, I couldn't contact my family. Keep in mind also, we live in 354, and work, stores a majority of our friends, etc. are in 462. So, the first week of our (self-imposed) quarantine, I couldn't contact anyone I really felt the need to speak with.
Governor Justice gave us just a little over 24 hours to get ready for the state-imposed quarantine which went into effect yesterday evening. I went to the library yesterday. I watered the plants, filled the birdfeeders, took out the trash, checked email. Libraries across WV (and the US) are pumping out all kinds of posts and links for free digital entertainment and education. You can follow Gilmer Public Library for the ones I've been sharing, or visit the WV Library Commission's site for a list of links that's being updated several times a day.
Since we were already set for a big bug-in, I hit the liquor store on my way out of town. I'm not much of a drinker, but …. well, it does help me sleep when I'm stressed.
The house is already the cleanest it has been in years, and no one will witness it. Such a shame. I was tempted to run to Ohio and grab Mother on Sunday and bring her here but didn't. I'm still not sure if that was the best decision. Since then, a case has been confirmed in her county in Ohio, and in one of the WV counties I would have to cross to get to her. I know that cousins and neighbors there are keeping check on her, but I would feel so much better if she was here with us.
I also have this huge impulse to find a way to get family in Southern Virginia here. In all my imaginary prepper scenarios, family came to us. We have free gas, free well water, and pretty much all you need except a cell phone signal (and reliable landline service). We have satellite internet, and I expect will be adding to our data package this month.
I spent one evening online shopping. Not too much damage--a ring light for possible future video broadcasts, more wooden stamps to decorate the letters I write, and four pullets (chickens just past the chick stage) to arrive in May.
It's just my luck that we were ready for the apocalypse (or economic crash) for ten years, and three years after we relaxed a bit about it, this happens. When I announced I had ordered hens, Frank said, "I thought we were going to wait on that." Yeah, well... I've got that "We're not ready for impending doom," panic going on again in the pit of my gut. I've been sorting our pantry, lamenting all the empty canning jars that could, and should have been full. I'm sure within the next week I'll order the converter that converts our gasoline generators to natural gas -- the last and only item left on the prepper list we set aside a few years back.
Frank would watch COVID-19 news all day if I let him. West Virginia's number of cases damn near doubled yesterday. It churns my stomach hearing the constant bad news and reminds me why we disposed of our mainstream television service after 9-11. I was tired of the daily doses of new terror. The lack of air traffic overhead also reminds me of the time following 9-11. Air traffic here is quite common, but the skies are unmarked now. At some point each day, I steal the remote from Frank and pop in a movie or TV series (currently binging Supernatural, Star Gate, and Star Trek: DS9; checked in with movie classics including Hunger Games, Hobbit, Fellowship of the Ring, Lonesome Dove, Forrest Gump, and The Stand, of course).
Reading? Currently "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris, and all kinds of articles I've printed out from the Internet.
Projects include working on a new non-fiction book, teaching myself watercolors, prepping to launch an online writer's workshop/retreat, purging and organizing the file cabinets.
I also make sure to catch the almost daily press conferences by our governor.
I've never been a Jim Justice fan. And, I admit, on TV he comes across as a bit of a twit. "Now" (my father was a "Now" person), "and everything," (lots of folks say that), and "shape, form, make, or measure," (yeah, getting tired of that one). BUT! All that being said? I'm proud of him. I am comforted by his simple down to earth approach. Jim is Jim. He knows this state I think. He knows his and our weaknesses...
I've come to the conclusion that "Big Jim" doesn't have the ability to lie to us. And Jim has sense enough to surround himself with experts. He doesn't need to pronounce right, doesn't need to speak the details. He has folks to do that for him. I'm okay with that.
Today, West Virginia had a non-denominational day of prayer. It may be corny, but that's West Virginia too. I'm okay with that as well, and I cried when I watched. You can catch it on the WV Governor's web site or YouTube channel.
I had planned to return to town on Friday, to help hang a new hand-made door on the library's outbuilding. I may or may not do that. Next week, I had hoped to order sand for the library's paver-patio project that creeps along one volunteer at a time. I will likely still do that. My need to see progress "in spite of" is damn near overwhelming. Besides, our board quickly voted to continue paying employees during this closure and I need to go in and do payroll.
I'm not capable of staying home for weeks anymore. Ten years I did that. My daily walks with the cat and dog help but I can only go so long without checking on the library -- 19 miles away. (These visits to the library are permitted under the current stay-at-home order, by the way.) I have the road to myself on the commute now, and there's no traffic at the county's solitary stoplight. I see few, carry sanitary wipes, etc.
Last week I noted I would not stay home for weeks on end, "Coronavirus be damned." I still will not. I'm not going to go out willy-nilly, and won't be licking packs of toilet paper in the Dollar Store. But, stagnation is not in my nature. I am one of those people who can barely sit still for 30 minutes. I was completely relieved to learn that I have a legal reason to leave the house, to check on the library. I am quite grateful for that.
Right now, my stay-at-home skills seem to last about five days. Frank has taken up the habit of pointing out how many times I touch my face during the day. I'm pretty sure that's going to cost him dearly very soon.
So. We're surviving it, and will be fine. I'm a little antsy, but it is what it is. But, if we lose our long-distance phone service again, I may have to drink some liquor and post a slam against Frontier Communications.
Stay well folks. My love to those who are homebound, and to those essentials who are still out there.
Peace. Stay calm.
Lisa Hayes-Minney is an author, teacher, librarian, and publisher. For more information about her workshops, services, and books visit
www.lhayesminney.net
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