Well, even if being home alone is NOT happiness, that is what I am doing.

Because of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, we’re into the second week of a mandatory stay at home order here in my home state of Ohio, in Midwestern USA. We can only go out for necessary reasons, such as to seek medical treatment or to get groceries.

I’ve been staying home longer than the order has been in place, on the advice of my doctor because of my age (68) and health conditions.

Last week I got sick, and my healthcare system ordered me to be tested. Luckily I tested negative for it and also for the flu. I just had some other bug, which has now thankfully gone away.

While I was awaiting my COVID-19 test results, I was under quarantine, which is more strict than the general stay at home order. Happily my results came in three days rather than a week, which they had said that it might take.

Everything that isn’t a necessary service is closed here.

I feel sorry for my musician friends who rely on their gigs playing at bars and restaurants for much of their income, because those places are all closed (although restaurants can still offer takeout and delivery).

Only businesses offering necessary services and items, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations, are permitted to be open.

Even public playgrounds are closed.

Our stay at home order just got extended to May 1st.

Schools have been closed now for several weeks for face-to-face learning, although they are trying to keep up with online education.

The city I live in has given away several thousand laptops to families in the school district who need them to get online for their classes. One of the local internet providers has offered free service to those families who don’t have it.

The universities have gone to online instruction, too. Ohio State University just announced that all of its summer term classes will be online.

I’m really missing my kitties, Ophelia and Sissy. If they were still alive, I’d have someone else here in the house to be with.

Ophelia was a real talker, too. She and I had many daily conversations. 🙂 Sissy, on the other hand, was pretty quiet except when I was opening the canned cat food tin. 😉

Ophelia
Sissy

Still, I’m keeping up with my sons and my friends by email, Facebook and phone calls. But I miss seeing folks face-to-face.

I did go to the grocery store yesterday morning during ‘senior hour.’ The place was packed! Many people had masks and Nitrile gloves. I wonder where they found them? As far as I know, they can’t be found anymore.

I was happy because I was able to buy toilet paper and paper towels during my trip to the store, although no facial tissues.  But two out of three isn’t bad! 😉