Social Distancing Diaries: April 11

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Signs of the times

I posted a question on my different social media pages to check in with people on my friends lists the other day, and a few people who responded asked how I was doing. I find it a little easier and more convenient to write it all here and just share the link everywhere.

Generally, I’m still making out alright. I’m very lucky to be able to work at home at full pay, and we’ve found some solutions to a few of the logistical problems that the provincial state of emergency had on my job. It helps that a lot of my job is done online and by phone; aside from some printing, mailing and filing that I can’t do from home, not to mention the constant threat of Autumn deciding to park herself on the keyboard, it’s not too different doing my work here than in the office. My colleagues and I also had a group check-in via Skype last week, so i got to hear some familiar voices again.

I’m faring relatively well because I’ve always been a person who’s needed their space and alone time, though Autumn is a great quarantine buddy and has been appreciating the extra hours I’ve been around to give her cuddles. Even when we could still gather, it didn’t really happen often for me, though even just the daily social interactions at the office would usually be enough. There are things to watch on streaming and on DVD, and I have a ridiculously large music collection even without taking Spotify into account. But it is hitting me that this is going to last for a while, and I may lose some people I know and love to the virus.

Something to get used to, I guess.

I haven’t felt the same extreme emotions as other people have; I’ve said this before, but I wonder if it just means I’m used to not feeling in control of a situation. The most upsetting things about this pandemic are a certain politician’s combination of ineptitude, cruelty and profiteering, and the feeling that the powers that be will double down on ignoring the stark realities that are being exposed. I didn’t have any big travel plans this year, and aside from work, I normally can go a little while without seeing other people I know. There are a few personal things that I was hoping to take care of this year and I’m not sure to what extent they’re affected, but all I can do if I need to is wait.

Autumn and me (in my new specs) at my home office.

I’m in regular contact with family, but I do miss a few other people. I decided to put Facebook and Twitter back on my phone this week; part of it was I missed the ease of sharing photos from my phone on both (gotta get the validation whenever I feel cute), but as much as the information overload was starting to overwhelm me when this started, it’s a way to keep connected and to be seen, and I’m glad I have the access to this opportunity. There are a lot of people I would love to have coffee or tea with as soon as we’re all able to roam free and not be physically distant from each other.

I know I say this a lot, but I really would appreciate e-mail if you read this blog. Sometimes I feel like I’m put on the spot during real-time chat, especially; this also explains why I haven’t really embraced Zoom conferences or things like that. I think the easiest way is through the form below, since it goes directly to my e-mail address.

Hope you’re all doing OK.