A church near us has this message board up and usually it has been a sweet thing to glance at as we walk past--- names of people who are being prayed for, etc. These past few weeks people are scribbling over each other's messages and erasing each other's words, all about politics. I hate looking at it -- it's like an embodiment of our current situation, some people (only a few around here) yelling about how great Republicans are and others reacting with justified fury. I wish the church would just take away the chalk because there's nothing sweet about it now. During this pandemic we are all in a state of fury and terror all the time and our opportunities to connect are few and limited, and even a church chalkboard turns into polarized social media war.
October 14, 2020
... I feel like I am constantly in survival mode, trying to stay safe and avoid people as best i can. But I need food and don’t have a car and am afraid to take public transportation. So daily I walk about a mile to the farmers market (three days a week) or to small shops near me, like the bakery, cheese shop and speciality food shops. Also getting medical attention is a problem. I did have a doctors visit and dentist visit in the last month and used something called a GoBus, which is a public transportation van reserved for seniors My IPhone and iPad also broke down this month and needed to go to ATT store for replacement. Transportation was an issue and was forced to use public transportation. ... The thought that this isolation and pandemic could go on for another year or two really wears on my mind. A lot of the things I like to do are no more ..a library writing group, a bike trail that is flooded and washed out, and attending programs at local art museum . To keep myself afloat, I have joined a community garden (although I see and talk to no one as I go in the early hours of the day) and do daily walks in the local city park. Even that has been a problem the last few weeks due to a heat wave in the 90s. This heat wave is supposed to continue for another week or two. I am an introvert so being alone isn’t the worst thing that could happen, ..it’s more like feeling scared to go anywhere for fear I will contract the virus from someone or something, I joke that every door knob is trying to kill me. ...
July 14, 2020