by Mary Wakefield Buxton –
Urbanna, Va. — Social isolation has prevented the spread of the coronavirus in the commonwealth. But businesses forced to close have seen revenues drop like stone and the young out of schools and colleges have suffered severe consequences. The resulting high unemployment and lost education for untold Virginians are now as worrisome as the pandemic itself.
The governor should soon allow both business, schools and colleges to reopen and at the same time challenge each entity to instigate safe settings for those they serve. I believe Virginians are up to the challenge.
In the meantime let us look at some good things that have come about from the pandemic. We have learned new ways to protect our health. The worst of social isolation has been cabin fever. Here are some positive changes in my life:
• All the sanitizing, “Cloroxing,” hand washing, keeping my distance from everyone and not shaking hands have improved my health. This is the first spring I haven’t had even a light case of flu, bronchitis or a cold. Maybe I should continue these healthy practices?
• My husband and I get along better now that we have so much time to spend together. Why not get along when there is no other choice? One comes to really appreciate the other party when that’s the only other party available.
• The house is cleaner. What else is there to do all day long but clean house? Even a writer can only write so much in any given day. Might as well pick up a mop and wash the floor, vacuum the office or polish the silver. The silver, after years of wearing a 5 o’clock shadow, has never looked so good.
• With nothing to do and nowhere to go (except for occasional doctor’s appointments), my desk calendar is blank with day after day of empty squares. It’s nice to wake up and find you don’t have to rush off somewhere to have lunch with the ladies. Now I loll around and do crosswords with my cocker spaniel, “Dandy,” at my feet. Who could want for anything more? Also, who cares about the state of one’s hair during social isolation?
• Remember the book you always wanted to finish? For me it’s Proust’s “Remembrances of Things Past,” Volume 1 and 11. That totals about 3,000 pages of tiny print (Proust had an excellent memory) and although I’ve been working on it all year reading a laborious 10 pages a day. Now I finally have time to finish that darn book.
• It’s a good time to get some exercise. I’m walking around Urbanna each day. I see many others walking, jogging, biking, and children on scoot boards and people walking dogs. Think how good all this exercise is for us. I sit on the bench in front of Urbanna Post Office and wave hello to passers-by. That is not only my social life of late, it’s also the highlight of my day. It’s better than nothing.
• I’m learning new skills because I have to. For example, I ordered clippers online and am learning how to clip Dandy since I no longer can take him to a professional groomer. You can learn to do most anything on YouTube. I watched a demonstration on how to clip a cocker spaniel but the lady was English and spoke with such a strong Cockney accent I couldn’t understand a word she said. But I could see what she was doing. She was giving her English cocker a fancy cut, a close shave on the topside and leaving a “skirt” on his lower region. I was sure Dandy wouldn’t like having a skirt so I trimmed his fur evenly.
• I’m not spending any money so now, at least, I can finally stay on a budget. Of course, there is a motivating factor to my plan — I’m not earning any money either.
The worst for me is the closed restaurants since I don’t like to cook. I miss going to Virginia Street Café and dream of Super Chef Don’s sumptuous roast beef dinners at Eckhard’s in Topping. I am thankful for all the restaurants that are offering food to go. Something Different, Colonial and Bubba’s just to name a few. And of course, the Urbanna Market has been heroic in service and its delicious fried chicken has more than once provided our dinner.
In spite of the good that has come out of the pandemic, it’s been a long struggle for many Virginians and we look forward to the day when our state is open again. Stay well, look for the comedy in life (sometimes one really has to look hard to find it) and know that we will make it through these hard times. ©2020
