On Thursday, as I was walking with our dog Carmen on Swains Road, a UPS truck came by. I waved and he stopped – it was Chris, our regular UPS driver. We spoke for a bit and I asked how it was going. He said their current deliveries were running near Christmas levels, with most packages coming from Costco and Amazon.

This is the life we are all living right now, or at least most of us. Self isolation is the new norm, but it also takes on an individual definition for each of us. For some, particularly with compromised immune systems, it’s not going out at all. For others of us, it’s not going out except to buy food, and maybe some Beefeater gin…;-). And for those working, well, they’re still confined to work and home, or should be. Of course while many are able to telework, lots of folk must still drive to work. Not only UPS drivers, and grocery store employees, but factory workers, doctors, pharmacists, truck drivers, store owners, many office workers, and any number of other jobs. The people who keep America running.

Snippets of stories and questions run through my brain these days. Things I’ve heard or seen over the past week or so. Here are some of them in no particular order.

• Stores are still short of toilet paper and soap/disinfectant products. We now see ample chicken, which was totally depleted a week ago.

• Our neighbors at the end of Swains Road run an AirBnB. They have people renting their spare home for a month due to the Corona Virus threat. They think it’s safer here in the country. They are now extending the lease another two weeks.

• Several US Senators, all members of the Senate Intel committee, sold significant amounts of stock in mid February after receiving Corona Virus briefings. The stock market plunged a few days later. Insider Trading? I don’t know if there’s a legal problem, but in my book, it’s an ethical one.

• In the DC area, for those driving to work, they are actually enjoying their commutes – they are significantly shorter right now.

• On my one trip to town this week, I bought five bags of horse feed, instead of our normal three. We go through about a bag of feed per week. Is that hoarding?

• I was going to go to H Mart in Centreville (H Mart is the largest Asian supermarket chain in America, and is Korean in origin) to buy some Korean spices for a recipe I recently received. Given Centreville is part of the near ‘burbs, I opted to stay safe, skip the trip and shop online. I was happy to see Amazon carries Doenjang, Gochugaru, and Gochujang (words and products I didn’t know two weeks ago), although at a higher price.

• All politicians, national and local, now seem to hold Corona Virus updates on a regular basis. I don’t watch any of them, but I’m glad to see locally, Democrats and Republicans are holding a joint FB town hall. Wow, something finally brings us together – adversity. Maybe that’s what always does the trick.

• My favorite local wine shop, The Galloping Grape, (yes, they sell wine and equine equipment and supplies – this is horse country) is happily procuring a case of French wine for me that I read about online.
• One of our favorite local restaurants, Field and Main, has switched on the fly to a total takeout menu. In addition to sandwiches, they will feature a daily special. Tonight’s offering is Confit Chicken Thighs with black beans, Carolina Gold Rice, pickled jalepeño and tomatillo cream. Can you say “yum”?
• The rumor mill is running rampant, both online, and in phone calls. This is a Dem plot to bring down Trump. This is a Trump plot to do away with elections this fall. This is a test Chinese plot to bring down America – see how easy it was? Martial law is about to be declared. People are dying left and right, it’s just not being reported. This is all still just a hoax….

I guess I’m looking for balance, but it seems a bit elusive at this point. We aren’t suppose to be in groups larger than 10 (or 50 – take your pick), but College kids still flocked to the beaches of Florida, and St Patrick’s Day had a huge turnout. Other folks are in a near panic at home. I understand we all need to be vigilant, practice good isolation and cleanliness measures, and still try to help local businesses with online or drive-by support. Having said all of that, there are some people I wish would take a chill-pill and stay calmer.

• Do the best you can, and then be at peace with where you are.

• If a rumor sounds too wild to be true, it probably isn’t (true).

• Quit ranting about the folk who don’t appear to take this situation as seriously as you are. There are always some people like that and you aren’t going to change their minds. All you are really doing is upsetting yourself.

• This thing is going to run for awhile. Get use to it, and then live this new life we are all sharing.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. A lot.

That’s it for now. Just some ramblings from the farm. By the way, a couple of friends are hosting a virtual Happy Hour via Zoom later this afternoon. I think we’ll go. And, we won’t have to worry about a DD.