THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!

Friday 13^th - Rain started at 4:35 AM. Even when it is dark out, one has to check to see if the world still exists. It did so it was back to bed for another 3 hour nap. After a long bike ride the sun was coming up and the news on the radio could only talk about the stock market and the coronavirus.

All morning with juice and coffee, the report and repeat was a loop I’ve been hearing all night. Has the sky fallen?

Climbing into worn jeans and some shirt sold 20 years ago, the yard seemed the same. Why isn’t there panic and screaming in the street?

Instead the city street crews had patched the big hold at the end of the alley and took off today. Traffic wasn’t bad, sort of normal with a few more parked vehicles than expected for a Friday.

Pulling into the flattop of the Tummy Temple I see where everyone was. All those who had taken off work had decided to hoard whatever ‘essentials’ they could pack in their car.

Couldn’t find a zip cart so had to drive one of the battleship sized around the crowded aisles. There are long line and lots of unfamiliar faces. The staff seemed overwhelmed.

Not expected to be cooped up for two-weeks, I got just enough to get through the weekend. A couple of pizzas, two packs of blueberries, some rice and what was left of the beans. Luckily the beer was free.

Many of the shelves were barren. Why was everyone buying toilet paper? If they were quarantined were they planning on just gorging? This coronavirus affects the respiratory system and not the bowels. Still it might be a good time to be a plumber?

Everything is shutting down from the museum to the library to the schools to the churches to the Greek Festival. There are only sports on television (don’t forget to rescan) and social media avoided President’s handshaking press conference.

Being in a place where isolation is normal, this is just another day in just another life. There is no place that has to be attended. There is no one to have to see face-to-face. There is no one coming by and there is no reason to leave. The music (of my choosing) sounds fine, the radio repeats the news over and over again, the beer is cold and the bunnies frolic.

Life goes on and tomorrow will be another adventure out into the sunshine to see if the Tummy Temple is restocked or closed. The rest of the month will be interesting to see who has decided to spend the time at home with the kids. Will the neighbor’s kids be out all day looking to get into trouble? Will the next-door neighbor work on his jeep? Will the dogs just lie in the new mulch or have a singing contest? Will the street repair come back or are they done? Will I have soup or pizza tomorrow?

If the sky has fallen and we are all going to die, why fret? There is no way I can control it. If the sky does not fall and by June this will all be over, then there was no cause to worry.

I thought Friday the 13^th was cancelled, but it came and went anyway. Now it is time to go back to the dreams to see if Ginger ever took that photo of me that Pat was trying to get done.

Happy dreams and hope you wake in the morning.