I've been feeling socially paralyzed for, oh, since the beginning of June? I can barely summon the energy to post and respond here, nevermind actual email/text/phone conversations. (My job involves a lot of video conference calls, so after-hours Zoom hangouts are unfortunately really unappealing. too much phone.) I know my mood and energy levels would be better if I were less isolated but I don't know how to get out of this rut.
Yes, so much this.
Megan, SusanW, David, everyone, I'm so sorry. Someone said upthread that there was a weird relief that DX wasn't, presumably, taken by Covid. And it's true. I'm glad if nothing else he was spared that.
But on the other hand this year it seems like even w/o that so very many people are in medical crisis. My dad's been hospitalized twice. My best friend who was hit by a drunk driver. My "uncle" who had an aneurysm at the base of his brain stem - they say it's a miracle he survived surgery but he may never leave the hospital or be fully coherent. My old uni friend who survived open heart surgery but was killed by blood clots a week later. It's just so many and so much. And I'm far from alone in all this, just seeing the thread above. I am, for the nonce, fortunate enough to be relatively "untouched" by COVID. And still the hits keep coming. I want to wrap us all in a bubblewrap den and hibernate through the next year or two.
It is wonderful to have this safe space.
I'm thinking about Thanksgiving, not necessarily that day, but maybe over the weekend. I haven't seen my Florida siblings since the first week of March. They are both in very poor health. My sister goes nowhere at all and my brother works, but the overnight shift at a gate house of a community, by himself. We are in Florida and my brother has a nice big picnic table outside in his carport. I'm thinking we could have a distanced outside meal since we all are careful in day to day life.
I just need to see them. I've already worried for months that I may never see them again and it is just hard. Judi has stage 4 kidney disease and other issues, Jim has MS and other issues. Both have diabetes and blood pressure issues. Yes, I may be able to see them next year some time, but maybe not. I spent a lot of time with my sister in NY, no hugs, but we hung out together safely and it was very helpful.
I think I am going to write to both of them and ask what they think of setting up an outside distanced gathering. It would only be 5 of us. It will be hard not to hug, but not as hard as not seeing them at all.
It'll be hard, but if you can get agreement on staying distanced and careful I think that sounds reasonable.
I'm so sorry for your loss, megan.
Is US Thanksgiving this Thursday? Where has the fall gone.
My stylist sent out a text last night: "With the new restrictions, half of you are going to need to cancel your appointments through mid-December." I did get my haircut last week - we were the only two people in the salon, door open, both masked, and she was wearing a face shield - and I bought product because I would like them to be there when this is over.
Costcos in some parts of the state are out of toilet paper. Again.
This year. . . Megan I am so sorry for your loss.
I cannot believe that Tday is this close and I have no desire to cook or bake.
I am at the office today and may come in all week to help with focus. Co-worker who does a lot of stuff I do not know about yet is on vacation this week. I am having to ask a lot of people a lot of questions and it is exhausting and making me feel like an imposter.
Fuck, I'm completely paranoid about Thanksgiving. Rapid tests are probably accurate but maybe not accurate enough if you're asymptomatic.
