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04/11/2020

Another 5 weeks.

The Governor announced the new extension to the social distance mandate handed down at the end of March. We have been in it now just a couple of weeks and it was originally to end on April 20^th; my birthday.

At first I didn’t see that it would be difficult. We just have to live differently and all sorts of modifications have been made to keep things functional. Restaurants were closed at the beginning and then authorized to do take-out via curbside pick-up. The alcohol sale rule was even bent to allow them to sell wine and other alcohol “to go” and eventually even for delivery. Stores here in town deemed essential began selling items for retailers who were closed in a neighborly gesture to keep them afloat and most small essential retail shifted to 'curbside only' to protect their employees. Grocery and department stores have been mandated to adhere to strict new measures regarding the number of shoppers allowed in the building at one time and masks and gloves for all employees. UPS trucks are everywhere and Amazon Prime is a Godsend to keep the economy and our lives moving forward. On the surface, this seemed like we would be able to function pretty close to normal, albeit from home.

I made the decision for my family last week that we were finished with going out. We would not under any circumstance go into a store when it is just as easy to substitute an ingredient, use a delivery service, or simply do without. Nothing is worth the risk as our little state of CT follows the trajectory of our New York neighbors. We are on the dramatic increase to peak time and cases have stretched to over 10,000; deaths almost 500.

Last week I placed an order at Bishop’s Farm market for curbside pick-up.  It was just for fruit and vegetables and things that cannot be stretched along time. I pulled up at my scheduled pick-up time and a sweet young lady behind a mask asked for my last name and disappeared into the store, returning with my bags to place into the open hatch of my car. I inquired about the flowers for sale in front of the store and she said that she would join me over there in a few minutes. I selected pots of pansies and placed the money beneath the pot. She emerged and took them inside the store, returning with the flowers and change. I told her to keep the change and she left the flowers for me to pick up after she went back inside. I then drove to the center of town and pulled up in front of Cilantro's and called to say that I was there for my pick up. I had ordered an Easter basket made by the Guilford Chocolatier next door being sold by Cilantro who, as a coffee shop,  is considered essential; neighbors helping neighbors. Again, a young lady placed the basket in my car and I headed home. This was a great experience and I resolved to shop this way going forward. The selection is limited and it requires pre-planning, but even the hardware and liquor store have adopted this mode of doing business and it is quite painless and safer for all.

My second Bishop’s cart was filled days ago. This time we have run out of staple things that I would normally purchase at the grocery store. Bishop’s is expensive. Their selection is limited. I adjust. I fill my cart and attempt to choose a pick-up time to no avail. The slots for the day are filled and the drop down arrow shows all spots for tomorrow are filled as well. I hear through the grapevine that if you log on just after midnight as the new drop down day opens, you will be able to get a spot for the following day as there are only 130 spots per day. I stay up until midnight, but cannot make the drop down box change dates. I try again at 6:20 am and all new spots are full. I try the next midnight and the following morning with the same results.

Frustrated, I decide to try Instacart and shop at the Big Y. I fill the cart with everything we might need and the prices and selection are what we are used to. When I reach the “Choose a Delivery Time” option, the message reads “No Delivery Times Available. Please try back later.”  Two days later and no change. I have no idea how far out this may be booked.

I am not a Stop and Shop customer but I decide to try Peapod. They, like Instacart, have cancelled their pick-up option and on this site, it tells you to pick a delivery time before filling your cart. The sidebar shows dates through the next two weeks. Sold Out. Sold Out. Sold Out.

My morning routine is the same every day: dogs out, chicks heat lamp on, hens out, birds uncovered and coffee. It now includes signing on to my three carts to see if any of them have delivery or pick-up dates.

We are not, in any way, in NEED of these items. We still have some vegetables and meat in the freezer. We are stocked up on paper products and have enough laundry detergent. We have bleach spray and rubbing alcohol and enough dishwasher pods for a couple of weeks. We have a bread machine and flour and yeast and yes, an ongoing supply of eggs.

I live with a man who can hunt, fish, gut and filet his catch. He can make a meal out of whatever you put before him. We often joke that Brad’s previous life must have been during the great depression, as he has intense frugality and the ability to turn nothing into something. I live with a daughter who attended the Abo camp progream as a pre-teen; Abo for aboriginal.  She has survival skills that include starting a fire without matches and the ability to build a shelter out of forest debris. Together they have started our food garden from seed and flats have sprouted all over my house. I live with a son who can fix anything. Anything. These are the people to be guaranteed with or stranded on a deserted island with for that matter.

And yet, they do not like to disrupt their normal routines. Brad is running low on his must-have-every-day items and Cadence is vegan and requires a plethora of fresh vegetables.

“I’ll just go to the store.” Brad says.

I refresh the carts like pulling the lever on a slot machine to see if I have won. I have never been lucky like that.

I reflect on the family that stayed home for three weeks, likewise resolved to keeping the invisible barrier of distance to protect them. The dad made one more trip to the store. They are now all Covid19 positive, even the five-year-old.

This was easy, until it wasn’t.

Choices now will be at our threshold daily. 

I Facetime with my granddaughter and I know that I need to stay the course, but I miss those boisterous hugs and snuggles in my lap.

I pull the lever on my slot machine; No Times Available; Sold Out.

Five more weeks.

It was easy. 

Now it’s not.