It’s been well over a year since I’ve written, and the distance between then and now, and all that’s tied into that is for another time. This here - this is in part for me to remember with clarity what all of this is like right now, and in part to get me into some kind of rhythm - a fighting for my life if you will in the largest of metaphors as i”m terrible at structure and schedules and prone to falling into news and twitter - or anything else that’s a large distraction from creating. So - this is the beginning of a commitment.
National Seashore, Truro MA | 2020
I’ve titled it Day 0 as it’s been a hell of a few months and want to recap that as the foundation for what follows.
On returning from what was a different kind of holiday as my first solo in nearly two decades, I started to feel not so well. I remember waking up on a Thursday morning with a deep tight dry cough in my chest - the kind you know what’s coming isn’t good.
That was Thurs, Jan 9. I went to the doctor the next day and was started on antibiotics for a respiratory virus. That Saturday was 70 degrees - in New England, in January. Trying to push myself through into wellness, I went for a long slow walk and returned to bed.
By Monday, I was worse and headed back to the doctor who arrived into my room with a mask on (which is didn’t seem to be a good sign). I learned I had Influenza A on top of what was turning into bronchitis. I was given another antibiotic and sent for a chest xray which thankfully, pneumonia was ruled out.
I stayed home for close to 10 days and started to recover / feel better. By the end of the month, I felt nearly more or less myself.
And then I went to Nashville for an event project and the whole thing surfaced again. I took care of myself as best I could - loaded up with Airborne Vitamin C and Sambucol - my two go to’s - but within a week, I felt right back where I was with a deep chest ache and a frightening cough. I headed to Urgent Care and was told it was an asthmatic type of reaction to the air - i kid you not.
I continued with my travel plans to see my family and on return home the following week, headed back to my doctor who all but ordered me home again as this was now a respiratory virus spanning 8 weeks.
This brings me to end of Feb / early March when the Corona Virus began to surface in the U.S. and in particular Washington state. I paid attention and found it hard not to be alarmed - with all I’d gone through in Jan/Feb, I was at a higher risk than most.
Please be ok Isabella, Salem | 2020
I was supposed to visit my Mom on the first weekend of March but my sweet Isabella was frighteningly ill. It was enough to cancel my travel, stay home with her to figure out what the hell was going on.
And so began the week March 9.
I’d only been in the office March 3 as I was concerned with staying healthy/safe, but felt a pull to be in the office (as someone who freelanced from home for years an enjoyed it, I’ve come to enjoy being in an office around people I actually like!). Tho I felt that Isabella was stable enough to head in, I’d asked a neighbor to check on her so when she called to say something was really wrong, I headed home.
Amazingly Isabella turned the corner the next day - March 10. And by then, the Covid19 update was dire enough that I opted to stay back / work from home - a policy that’s now formally in place for our Boston office.
So here we are - at the beginning official Social Distancing and semi self quarantine - I say semi as I have gone to the grocery store - once in a targeted slow time, the other out of a desperation there’d be anything left.
As someone who slides into isolation more easily than is healthy, it’s going to take all I have not to destroy the precious time that’s been given and use this time to grow and understand myself, and my tendencies a little more deeply. Creating a healthy schedule that combines the work time with outdoor time, photographing, writing, art making, reading; yoga, meditation - anything that’s not social media or news.
Remaining connected to those I love and adore and overall, leaning towards the positive and the beautiful.