Missives from quarantine: Week 2

A little family goes a little nutty

We went into self-quarantine on March 14, 2020. No one knew how long it would last, or how intense it would be. We just knew we had to lock it down and wait. Throughout our quarantine, we kept track of our day to day—what else was there to do? Here’s our family log of our first 60 days in lockdown, with pictures and the occasional audio interview. 

Day 8

Did 5 hours of yardwork. Essie FaceTimed her bestie for 6 hours. Leen had 2 separate social activities in which she remained 6 feet from others.

I got 20 feet from 4 deer who actually came closer to me because I've been trying to convince them for 3 years that I'm their friend and I think maybe we are actually almost friends.

2 little girls sobbed 2 times each during the 2 games of Exploding Kittens, and 2 adults concluded that it might be a perfect card game.

(I took a picture of the sobbing. Es screamed, "Don't you dare post that!!!".)

Instead, here is a long video interview of Camille after she walked all the way to her friend's house today even though she was supposed to not go too far, and also we're social distancing. Her outfit was…really something.

Also I think I got a sunburn.

Day 9

What's all this then?

Extra annoying that I began my seasonal sneezing on the same morning that we're getting snow.

Day 10

Yaaaaay double digits.

Technically I'm "on vacation," and it's our "spring break." It doesn't feel like either of those.

We introduced the kids to the Nintendo Switch yesterday, and all they did today was that, Minecraft, and chat with friends while playing.

Leen wrangled kids and wrote research papers.

I wrangled kids, tuned into a couple of work things, and spent hours in our woods destroying hundreds of honeysuckle plants, some the size of trees.

Wrapped up the night rocking SkipBo. Camille is kind of a shark with it.

Considering when we should make another big grocery run...before the inevitable shelter-in-place order drops.

Day 11

I worked on the house and yard as much as possible, putting in quality time with the table saw and wearing out batteries on power tools, depending on the project at hand.

Leen was a writing machine, churning through research papers and penning an article about how to talk to your kids about the coronavirus.

The girls spent the day playing the Switch (both are into Zelda), video chatting with friends, doing a little art while listening to kid podcasts, and even made it outside for a brief spell when the sun peeked out. Also lots of bickering.

They capped their night in the tub together, giggling like goofballs.

We also made a large grocery run and massive booze run (Macadoodles has a blessed drive through) to stock up ahead of the shelter-in-place order that's going into effect.

Day 12

They remembered that we have a trampoline. And the weather has cooperated, finally. Jump, children, jump. Oh you want to video chat with little friends, grown-up friends, and family while on the trampoline? Go for it.

The rest of the day was a blur. There's a lot of sameness going on. Not a rhythm, just...a lot of the same things and activities. Lots of Zelda and MarioKart on the Switch. Lots of SkipBo and Exploding Kittens. Lots of writing for Mom and lots of (unrelated) editing for Dad. And more destruction of honeysuckle.

The odd mix of bored but also not bored at all has descended.

Day 13

Not all screens are created equal. Camille spent a chunk of time scrolling through her contacts on FB Messenger Kids and seeking video chats. There was also much arguing about video games.

Leen was interviewed by an outlet in LA about the article she wrote explaining how to talk to kids about what's happening.

The girls and I cleared out during that and bravely retrieved curbside takeout. La Terraza. Glorious. Much needed. But what an ordeal...from holding my breath while signing the receipt with the guy standing there to wiping down all the things and plating food outside to avoid the takeout packaging to geez am I just paranoid now, or—NO. No, the epidemiologist said if I felt like I was overreacting, that was a good thing. No, it is not I who is bonkers. It's everyone else. Yes.

The weather was perfect, so there was a lot of outside time. Praise be. Including an evening jaunt to Capen Park, which has bluffs to brave and a river to throw rocks in and trails to trod. The kids always whine when we drag them to these things, but then they can't get enough of it.

The days are, like, *really* blurring together.

Today's annoyance: People who are STILL NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING. GUYS. STOP CONGREGATING.

Today's gratitude: The discovery of my own personal happy hour. Oh is it 3:30pm already? Time for a cold beer while I do something that does not involve children. (Repeat each day for duration of lockdown.)

Day 14

The. Days. Are. Blending. Fortunately, when you've quarantined for 14 days, and dear friends have also quarantined for 14 days, you can see those friends. And holy cow, it's a good feeling. All the better if excellent whiskey is involved.

Funny that the weekend starts tomorrow, but it will be no different than the preceding 7 days. Weird, man.