COLUMN: Going it alone hard, but not unbearable

Melinda Gassaway - File photo
Melinda Gassaway - File photo

It's that time in the neighborhood when we are in our personal abodes -- be they large or small, in the suburbs, on the farm, at an apartment complex, or by the lovely lakeshore.

And that is where we all should be as the COVID-19 virus menacingly moves across our state and country.

In the earliest days of the "stay-at-home" orders, a Chi Omega sister, who like me majored in journalism at the University of Missouri and today resides in Maryland, observed, "Here we are, cowering in our lairs."

Just recently, a former neighbor who now lives in Florida saw one newspaper's take on the self-quarantine edicts and shared it with a mutual friend (I am not sure this is the exact quote): "We are like dogs, roaming through the house and searching for food."

As to this writer's current state, I am contained in my condominium, contemplating the serious state of our world. Hopefully, I remember to thank everyone who asks.

Individuals cope with crises in various ways and certainly keeping in touch with our fellow human beings is key to our emotional well-being. Just a wave to someone who lives across the way from me is uplifting and hopefully, we will continue that practice in better days.

"Impressive" is the word I would use for those persons who are adhering to strict daily schedules and to setting specific goals for spring cleaning tasks.

Families with children out of school and off the playgrounds most assuredly need structure in their lives.

My thanks go out to the parents, teachers, school administrators, and area school boards for stressing the importance of continuing education -- albeit under the most trying circumstances. What a learning experience this is for all of us.

Although I am more in than out, it is good to take advantage of sunny days, step out on the porch, take a walk in the parking lot. When rain prevails, making a circuitous route up and down hallways and through even a few rooms keeps the body going.

Still an early riser, I put on some coffee, read the hometown newspaper while eating a bite of breakfast, then continue to peruse my physician grandfather's medical books to find some interesting info on viruses.

I click on to the morning news broadcasts, work on a book of 100 Sunday crosswords (am up to No. 48), shower and dress, apply a dab of makeup and decide on how best to while away the hours. I make lists of people, things, and words to exercise my brain -- even following such trivial pursuits as citing from memory the names of 50 Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries actresses.

As the only child of two only children, finding ways to entertain myself in solitary situations has never been too difficult. I surely miss the person-to-person company of friends, but so long as we can talk and text via our cellphones, being physically alone for the sake of everyone's health and safety is bearable. When my childhood pals and classmates were unavailable for a get-together, I found so much pleasure in reading. If I should run out of the stack of new books waiting to be perused, there are volumes remaining on the home shelves.

I have never taken the daily Horoscope very seriously but do confess to checking it out and seeing how many stars there are by my sign -- Aries. I was especially bemused by the April 3 reading which had four stars and said, "It's a good day for pursuing a creative project. (Well, I did that). Drama is highlighted, possibly involving children. Dress boldly. Showmanship is emphasized. You feel creative and passionate, as well as impulsive and honest. Tonight: Go out on the town."

Until we can all do the latter, stay in, stay well, and may faith be your guidepost.

Editorial on 04/08/2020

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