What I Did During the 19th Week of the COVID Shutdown

Waiting out the Pandemic

A virtual hug to all my COVID shut-in friends. This is approximately the 19th week of our confinement. I hope you are faring well.

Here’s what I’ve been up to this week. Normally, I could complete all the tasks listed below within hours, but now I stretch them out. Small tasks have become more consequential. In the Pandemic Time Zone, life moves at a slower pace.

Bed Making Sets the Tone for the Day

Adm. William McRaven wrote a book on how making your bed and other small habits can change your life.

My mother was a devout bed maker and expected the same of me. She felt that completing a small task at the beginning of the day encouraged you to take on others. Having started the day on a tidy note, she ended it that way as well. A dirty dish never remained in our sink overnight. It took me decades to see the merit in these mundane tasks.

Sir Isaac Newton taught that objects at rest tend to stay that way and objects in motion tend to keep moving. Good advice for beginning a Pandemic day, or any day.

What I’ve done this week—besides make my bed:

Rearranged the items in my Lazy Susan and discovered several lost/forgotten plates and bowls. I embraced them warmly like I would a long lost friend.
Explored the back of the fridge and threw out all condiments with an expiration of 2018, or earlier. I’ve discovered that when cleaning a fridge or closet, it’s best done when you’re alone, since others will second guess your brave decisions.
Made a to-do list of things needing to be done here at the farm. It ran to two handwritten pages. I will share it with my kids and grandsons when they arrive.
Thought about trimming my own hair and decided against it. Instead, I sanitized my cell phone and gave the kitchen sink a thorough scrubbing. Both gleam like new.
Watched 3 lectures of The Great Courses Plus. I’m taking a 24-part series on Benjamin Franklin, which is a bit more than I want to know about the esteemed statesman and inventor. The course on the Civil War has 48 session, which should see me through the Pandemic. I’m gonna feel so much wiser when this is all over.
Rearranged the contents of my purse, because everything had fallen to the bottom. I don’t know how that’s possible, but it happens.
Sharpened all the pencils in the house. Yes, I’m a pencil person. I write all my blog drafts with them, because I enjoy putting pencil to paper.
Contemplated such weighty topics as what I might be doing next year at this time. How I might have a virtual Thanksgiving meal. And if I could go another day without a store trip for bread, bananas and yogurt.
Worked The New York Times Spelling Bee puzzle and got to the “Amazing” level most days. Robin and I compete to see who can get the highest score each day. She usually wins, but I’m getting better.
Replaced my paper towel roll.
Treated my ailing tomato plants with an insecticide. I do hope my insects—all of whom are confirmed vegetarians—appreciate me getting them an expensive organic spray.
Looked at the wrinkled linen pants that I’d normally iron and decided to wear them as they were. On the other hand, I put on makeup every day, because it makes me feel better when I pass a mirror.
Made a tuna noodle casserole, a comfort food reminiscent of what I made in the 60s. For some reason, it didn’t taste as good as I remember. It might’ve been because I used an updated recipe, that left out the unhealthy stuff.
Browsed Amazon for no reason in particular and wound up ordering the cutest little guacamole bowl you’ve ever seen! I’m so excited! It’s shaped like an avocado. When I told Robin of my purchase, she rolled her eyes and suggested I might want to spend more time watching the Great Courses.