113 Days into "New Normal"

This "new normal" has lasted far longer than anyone imagined, at least to this level. We all knew life would not be fully back to the "old normal," but I did expect libraries and restaurants to reopen by now.

We went into lock down on  March 13 -- 16 weeks ago, or 113 days ago. A third of the year has been spent not being allowed to be near others for fear of passing this disease or catching it from someone else. Based on who is posting something, not sure which is worse. If you have the disease, it might be a mild case and you might heal quickly, or you might be on a ventilator and die. If you are someone who passes the disease to others (think Typhoid Mary) you might kill someone.

Yippee (said dripping in sarcasm).

As cases in 48 states are soaring following their failed reopening attempts, Governor Murphy of New Jersey has put the brakes on our reopening -- well, except for the beach, race tracks, casinos, and a few other places. A few days after telling restaurants they could reopen at 25% capacity, and they rushed out to order food and rehire waitstaff, he changed his mind. I both agree we are not quite ready for that kind of move, and disagree with him for allowing the restaurants to spend money to prepare without compensating them.

Libraries are allowed to reopen, but ours is still trying to figure out how to do so safely. They offer curbside pick up, which would be enough for me if they had time to process requests and let me know that the books the computer says are ready for pick up could be picked up. *sigh* I love my library and miss it.

Many summer camps are going virtual. The Bridge Academy spent the first two weeks online, and plan to spend the last three weeks in person. I pray it works. It will be a great test for September.

While the other 48 states enjoyed bars and spreading the virus, we are still only allowed to enjoy the great outdoors and not theater, sports, and bars (not that I tend to frequent bars). Fortunately the weather has been heavenly for most of the past 113 days.

Canada and Europe have closed their borders to us. I can't say I blame them.

If we travel to one 16 states (Florida, California, Texas, North Carolina, etc.) where the virus is rampant, we have to quarantine for 14 days when we return. Visitors from those states must do the same when they come to New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, or Pennyslvania. Kind of hard to control if you drive from those states (if you fly, I heard you receive daily phone calls making sure you are following orders). That list will change based on where the virus is spiking. This makes it a bit hard to plan a trip.

I saw an airfare for $300 round trip to Tokyo, and another for $92 from San Jose. I can't even contemplate either one.

For now we are still hunkering down at our house. I want Ashley to go to college in August and the only way that will happen is if the virus is contained. The current plan is they will start a week early, come home for Thanksgiving and finish the semester at home. Since that announcement numbers have spiked in most of the country, including Pennsylvania where Muhlenberg is located, but not in New Jersey. In Lawrenceville we are at just over 1% who have been infected.

Don't forget to wear your mask while indoors or within six feet of someone else outdoors. Some say if we all did this, we would be able to contain the virus enough to resume most of what we did last summer. Unfortunately the anti-maskers and other selfish people are not willing to even try.

I'd say I am frustrated, but the truth is more I am resigned to never being able to fully enjoy life again.

And that scares me.