The Best and the Worst

So how was your weekend? Good, I hope. I just can't bring myself to write my usual Monday post, recounting my weekend, and even a "Sometimes Monday" post feels a little frivolous. So I'm just writing, off the cuff and stream of consciousness, and I'll see what I end up with. 

It felt like things began to really go off the rails sometime last week, maybe when the WHO declared the coronavirus situation a global pandemic. I had thought of it in that way before the pronouncement, but I didn't know or even suspect what that might mean in how we all lived our daily lives. But then I traveled back to NJ and went to the grocery store and it became much clearer. The shelves were bare, with only some produce, a few steaks, and a moderate amount of snack-type things (which I don't usually buy). No milk, yogurt, bread, rolls, eggs, soup, pasta, or anything I consider staples. I wish I had taken photos but I was too dumbfounded. I had wanted to get a gallon of milk, some spaghetti, bread, and fruit, but all I bought was apples. We have a well-stocked freezer in both locations, but I don't keep milk and bread on hand. 

I'm sure that none of this is news to any of you, and I bet you've encountered something similar yourself. It felt a little surreal, and then I talked to Ryan. He had gone to the grocery store Friday night, put the last two gallons of available milk in his cart, then turned around to see if there were any eggs available. When he turned back to his cart he saw a man taking the milk out of his cart. Ryan said told the guy not to steal it and please put it back. The guy put the milk in his cart (not Ryan's) and then he turned around and punched Ryan in the head — hard enough to knock Ryan down. Other customers did come to Ryan's rescue and he was okay, just dumbfounded like I had been during my grocery-buying visit. Several customers chased the guy down and got Ryan's milk back and several other people got the manager. He was escorted out of the store.

I'm keeping busy here in MD with cleaning, laundry, possibly working on taxes (is it wrong to hope the April 15 deadline gets extended?), and then knitting. John and his boss had decided at the end of last week that everyone that could work from home needed to work from home. They informed people, but then over the weekend there were conflicting emails from the powers that be that be stating "we need you to come to work". John said he doesn't give a rat's a**,; he is not going to be responsible for any of his people being exposed to the virus in a work setting. So he has gone to work to send everyone home, shut things down as much as possible, and I expect him home later today for the foreseeable future. We will decide where we isolate, MD or NJ, and take the necessary actions.

I didn't find any bread, milk, or pasta, but we'll have chicken, rice, and salad for dinner. Baking helps me deal with stress, so I think I'll make an applesauce cake. I did find this lovely cyclamen at the grocery store and couldn't resist. We can't eat it but it provides me with some much-needed beauty. 

I'm still angry when I think about the guy that punched Ryan but I understand that we're all afraid. Here's hoping you are all practicing meticulous hygiene, curbing your fear, and staying healthy. Take care!