Having had a fairly horrible time yesterday shopping for an elderly neighbour, we agreed that it would be better if Nigel did our normal shop on his own. It is what they are advising to reduce the numbers in store anyway, and it would be much better for Nigel's sanity if I were not with him panicing, watching everyone and everything so carefully, checking what was touched and not touched etc. I could then work on what I wanted to do to make things safe when he brought it home. So he went to do our normal shop this morning at Tesco, arriving as they opened. There was a queue, but a short one. He found everything we needed (there wasn't a great deal - largely fresh veg and stuff - and what another elderly neighbour needed (we are keeping our eyes on several people in our street who do not have family to look out for them) He said the store was well set out to ensure social distancing and the relief we both felt when it was done and away was immense. We can now plan to not have to go for another 10 days or so. We are still going out every day for an hours walk but meet very few people (4 this morning) and everyone is being very respectful of the distance between people.
I am recording what our life is like at the moment as I really do feel that my memory albums are for recording all of our life - the good and the bad. I am not trying to be flippant about things, I am fully aware of the work that not just the NHS staff are doing but the wonderful carers in our care homes, delivery drivers, the banking community, the people running public transport, the postmen and women, the teachers still in school and countless others. I am horrified that my god-daughter, whose husband has a serious heart condition, and yet she is classed as a key worker in a bank headquarters, has to strip in the hall, wash her clothes and shower before she can see her family. The world is in meltdown and they are unprecedented times. But it IS happening in my life and I do want to record it and sometimes, alongside my faith, humour is what gets me through things. It has always helped me through things, from very unpleasant situations with very difficult people to illness and loss. And I always say that, first and foremost, this blog is my own personal brain dump and is set up primarily for me. I am always impressed that some 100 -150 people a day read it, but I know what I write is not for everyone. I think it is a bit of a case of read at your own risk. I know someone expressed concern about the Pickleberrypop releasing kits about the virus and making money from tragedy and I have passed those comments on but I am grateful for the things they have produced to help me document my life at the moment. There are kits from all stores about cancer, bereavement etc. I think perhaps non scrappers don't get our need to record what is happening in our lives. We are, maybe, a strange breed, but a lovely one.
The news today is very mixed. Our friend in Florida has just gone into lockdown and has two elderly parents to care for. (We are so very very grateful that Nigel's mom is in a care home and, whilst we cannot see her, we know they are angels there and are caring for them so well) Some reports seem to imply the lockdown in this country is bringing positive results (I read a report from Imperial College that was quite heartening) but there are countries far poorer than ours that are facing terrible times. People living already in extreme poverty and now unable to go out for even basics. The worldwide financial destruction of economies is something that the citizens of the world are going to be paying for for a very long time and I am convinced there will be a severe mental health crisis when all this is over. However, I think it has made us realise some truths. The poorest paid in our country - the nurses, police, care workers, delivery men etc are the people we rely on most. Maybe after this they will be deemed more valuable and paid appropriately. The arts - music, drawing, painting, scrapbooking etc - and physical exercise are crucial to our mental health so maybe they will be given greater prominence afterwards - both in the world at large and certainly in schools where it is often the art and sport are cut when budgets are tight and the emphasis is placed on pure academia. Many people don't know the people int heir own immediate community - maybe after this more people will appreciate how important it is to look out for our neighbours and to consider others. Maybe out of this will come more gratitude and less selfishness. I have to believe there will be a silver lining somewhere int his dark cloud that is over the world at the moment.
Anyway, enough philosophy for now. We have had a good day. Shopping done. The pharmacy has confirmed my prescription will be ready Saturday ( I was worried as I am almost out) we have had a lovely walk in the sunshine and we have started another jigsaw. And yes - there has been scrapping too.
Today I am thankful for
- the shopping done
- our elderly neighbours now with their needs met
- time to spend together - as always
And - because I have to laugh because it keeps my fear and anxiety in check a little
This one I so identify with ... I have become obsessed with door handles
and this too - my hands are always dry anyway and I use hand cream twice a day - they are in a bit of a state at the moment. Thankfully not quite as bad as Arnie's but ...
I haven't started on my 2020 album yet, Karen, as I am always playing catch-up. But I do want to scrap about what is going on in my country, my state, and my life during this first part of the year. I feel it is important to document what has happened to me and my family during the virus. One of the ladies with whom I virtually scrap mentioned this past Wednesday that she is not scrapping anything about it. All she wants to do is forget all about it when it was over.
I lean toward the philosophy that when we forget history, we tend to repeat it. I wouldn't wish this virus on anyone in the future.
I want to include some of the humorous editorial cartoons and memes that I have seen online. Thanks for sharing the ones you find.
I love your "Home" layout, so very pretty and heart-warming.
Posted by: Barb in AK | May 24, 2020 at 08:29 AM