It’s not mandated that we stay at home, but it’s strongly suggested, and it seems safer. Which means Week Twelve brought us a new normal that we weren’t fully prepared for.
Sunday
I guess this was day one of “quarantine.”
The sun has started to make its presence felt more, and it’s been nice to get outside. It’s still cool, but we can bundle ourselves in coats and hats and breathe in the crisp, cleansing air. Brian loves the city pigeons and, much to some neighborhood chagrin, feeds them in our small backyard. I don’t mind; I like the pigeons, too. But the flock spooks easily and the sudden eruptions into the sky are less than graceful and a little too loud to not be annoying.
Monday
This big guy needed to get back to my brother (Bailey just needed pets). Dexter was staying with my parents during Steven’s snowboarding trip and they missed each other. There was half a day of anxiousness — how and when would they get reunited? Would stricter regulations be issued about traveling and social distancing that would keep them apart? What if the pup was stuck and Steven forced to remain in Boston without him? But a plan was quickly created and they met halfway.
My brother was a little upset with my dad because when they got out of their prospective vehicles in the empty outlet mall parking lot, my dad gave him a big hug. Steven had been through a few airports and was unsure what he’d been exposed to. Other than this excursion to get Dexter, he was self-quarantining to keep everyone safe. My dad said he didn’t care. But I don’t think he thought about how guilty my brother would feel if he ended up sick.
Tuesday
Not the best picture, I know, but it’s really hard to capture the love Sammy gives while trying to enjoy it. Sometimes on my way to the stairs, he runs in front of me and jumps from the floor to the chair and onto the desk, just so he can give me a hug. It’s the sweetest thing. And lately I’ve been able to let them last a bit longer, since I don’t have to scoot off to work or the gym.
Wednesday
While taking a walk, I looked up and saw the sky acting as a perfect canvas for the earth to draw the trees against.
Thursday
I can’t take credit for this picture. It was passed from Dr. Erion through one cell tower to the next until it landed in my phone. His new home office. We’re all still adjusting…
Friday
This old, Catholic school, attached on the back side to a rectory, sits on our street but now sits empty. Something about this image — a beautiful, brick building that used to open its doors to children now sitting empty, abandoned, alone with an ominous sky lording overhead — seemed like a fitting image for this week. Schools are shut down, restaurants have closed, activities have been canceled… A storm is coming. But at least the pigeon on the cross has a good view of it all.
Saturday
The view from my home office could definitely be worse. Although blocked from view in this picture are the three articles of clothing hanging on the chainlink fence that, for no apparent reason, juts out from our neighbor’s yard next door to the driveway of the house behind ours. Those three articles of clothing include a bright pink sweater and they’ve been there for months. WHY?