Dear Kids,
We’ve been home for the past 5 weeks now. Somehow…it feels like those 5 weeks passed in the blink of an eye. Of course I remember all those hard days when Brother just wasn’t into school, the days when Sister was running around like a crazy person because there wasn’t enough attention to go around for her, days when I broke down and cried in front of you because this is a stressful time. I’m just grateful the both of you are not experiencing the stress Dad and I are.
Though I’ll be honest and say we haven’t really missed going out much. I think that’s mostly because it’s been raining off and on for the past 5 weeks, but the both of you are also homebodies. Going out was never a major part of our lives. We only really went to school, the market, and your grandparents’ house week after week. Now we do school from home, Dad goes to the market and brings back a ton of stuff that wasn’t on the list, and we see your grandparents via Zoom every weekend. Other than that, nothing is different.
There are many days when the pandemic feels very far away. I don’t really notice it. I don’t even remember it sometimes. I’ve used to doing school from home now. I’m used to having everyone home day after day. I’m used to staying inside. Unless the news is on or there’s a commercial that has something to do about it (which now seems to be every commercial ever on these days), I just don’t remember. Monday through Friday, we listen to the mayor speak at 5:15pm and I listen to the public health department’s briefing on the numbers during naptime/quiet time. Otherwise it may as well not be going on as far as I’m aware. I guess being an introvert who hates being around people has been useful. Our days are not as disrupted as they could have been.
If I’m being honest, I don’t think either of you really notices what’s been going on. You’re took busy to care about what the mayor is saying and Dad only puts on the news when you’re both seeking me time with your tablets. The cat probably knows because now she doesn’t get a quiet second to herself. But at least she isn’t running from you all the time anymore because she’s so used to you always being there.
The numbers are still high. We’ve been hovering around 600 new cases a day for the past week. Testing was opened up to anyone with symptoms the previous week and now it looks like we’re seeing the results of those additional tests. The county has also performed 1000 serology tests to help them determine penetrance and we’re expecting the results of that in the next few days.
A part of me is ready for this to be over, but another part is fearful of a second wave. I’m afraid of sending Brother back to school in the fall. I’m afraid of going back to the market. I’m afraid of going for a walk even though I see almost no one out on the sidewalks. There are, though, plenty of cars, and it’s highly amusing to watch them practice social distancing since, before, they were inches away at red lights. But this is one time when I’m impatient for a vaccine, when I want to be pricked. Because I need some assurance that it’s actually safe to go outside.
But we will get there. It’s a good thing you’re very young. There are still years and years of childhood left for both of you to enjoy. Years and years of schooling left to help pick up the pieces of this shattered year. We’re thankful Dad is still working, though fearful at the same time because him going to work puts all of us at risk. But I have Dad on a rigorous routine to reduce exposure to us as much as possible. It’s been working for the past month.
There isn’t anything new to report, kids. Life goes on. We do school. We play games. I’m thinking of rearranging all of our furniture. Dad cleaned out under the couch and now there are dozens of “new” toys for you to enjoy. The numbers will go up or go down or stay about the same. Scientists will continue to work to find treatments and vaccines. Healthcare workers will continue to be exposed. We do now know someone who tested positive, but it’s not nearly as serious as it could be.
Who knows how long this can last? But at least we are safer at home.
Love,
Mom
The Lily Cafe 
Everything will be okay, Kat. ☀️ Sending so much love, and lots of air kisses and cuddles to you and your lovely little family. xx
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Thank you so much! It’s hard sometimes to think everything will be okay, but it really will be in the end.
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What is this? The county has also performed 1000 serology tests to help them determine penetrance and we’re expecting the results of that in the next few days.” My dad wants our area to do this (if it is what I’m thinking.) but doesn’t know if they will because we are in a rural area.
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Our public health department has teamed up with USC to perform blood tests on a random pool of 1000 people to check for antibodies to COVID 19. It’s supposed to be able to tell them an approximate percentage of the greater population that has been exposed to the virus because, if they have, the blood test will show antibodies to it. They’re hoping to be able to determine about what percentage of the county’s population has had it at some point. The results have come in since my posting and, apparently, only a little over 4% of LA’s population has been exposed to it. I’m not exactly sure why LA has decided to do it and if other areas are able to or will. Maybe we just got lucky because USC is here and all the scientists got bored or just wanted to help out. I hope other areas can do the same thing. It might actually be very interesting to do this across the country. But I’m also not sure how reliable the tests are since so many different kinds are not 100% accurate. Still, it’s really interesting.
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The things is .. no one will have antibodies to it if they aren’t exposed and people aren’t exposed because they are in lockdown. This could backfire on the government according to a doctor near us who doesn’t believe everything needs to be wide open but does believe to develop immunity we’re going to have to be exposed. That’s a scary prospect but since so many cases can be mild it will eventually happen whether we want it to or not. Very interesting about the testing. I hope more is done here.
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Yes, that’s true. Though there is still an amazing amount of people still going out and about, so I imagine our numbers are going to continue to be high. They’re planning on retesting every 2 or 3 weeks, so we’ll see how things change or don’t. I’m more hoping asymptomatic people will be able to be tested soon because I want to know how many people are sick right now and not just at some point in recent history. But one step at a time, I guess. I hope your area is able to get more testing, too. There are so many places that don’t have enough, and now states are talking about opening up and relaxing restrictions! It’s crazy!
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We have a lot of Independent, small business owners in our small, rural area who need to be able to get their jobs backs. They don’t have stores or even have to interact with people too much and the unemployment hasn’t been available for them for over a month. Their kids need to be fed so I think some of the restrictions need to be lifted with precautions but not all (no big concerts etc.) I think those who have jobs still don’t think about the independent contractors who don’t have a way to feed their families right now.
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That’s awful! I’m terrified of what will happen as states and counties start to open up, but people do need to be able to survive. I think that as they learn more about this thing officials will be able to more safely open up the economy because so many people are seriously hurting. Hopefully more testing can be done so everywhere can really figure out how to safely reopen. And soon! I want everyone to stay safe and healthy, but a part of me is just completely over this.
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This is about the long and short of our life, as well. Just add more kids and take away a cat. 🙂
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I kind of hoped this period in time would be a bit more interesting so there could be more for me to write about, but I guess I should be grateful for how boring it’s been.
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😀 That’s part of what we writers are missing!
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I hope someone dramatizes this one day. Might be fun.
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Being an introvert definitely makes this time a lot less jarring. I’m surprised you don’t see many people walking around. We see our neighbors, albeit from a distance, a lot more now than ever before.
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Yes, it does! Having children with introverted tendencies also helps immensely. I’m surprised, too. Our officials are encouraging walks and outside exercise, but I just hardly ever see anyone. My parents are in the suburbs and they don’t see anyone, either. I guess everyone prefers to drive or are too scared to go out.
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