Yes, I am feeling frazzled. Blame it on the pandemic. Here I am in what many would call paradise, with an endless beach to walk that is almost denuded of people – sun, surf, sand – and I still find myself at odds with myself. I am healthy and where I am will likely allow me to remain healthy. So what is with this feeling?
It might have something to do with being out-of-country and not at home. All the “what ifs” come to mind with regards to my children, their mates, and my grandchildren. It might have more to do with the “not knowing” anything about when a flight will appear that would transport my wife and me to our home on the Canadian prairies. But mostly, it is likely about not being in control of almost anything with the exception of how I will spend the hours of my day. It’s not as if I am a victim of anything or anyone. What I feel is being felt by most people around the world at this time.
Like most people, social distancing is a must. In Ecuador, in this particular fishing village, it is relatively easy because of the endless and wide beach. But even here, the constant parade of public transportation buses that takes us to a neighbouring town, or to a number of cities, are not running. Local grocery stores have remained open, but you can’t enter them. You tell the people working in the store what you need, and they bring it out to you. In some stores, metal barriers are kept closed so that the products are passed through openings. Of course, restaurants can only deliver meals, or provide pickup service. That is, until their supplies run out.
A friend of mine operates one of these restaurants. He usually makes runs to a city, an hour and a half away, twice a week in order to stock his restaurant. These trips can’t happen anymore. Road blockades are up to make sure that all non-essential travel doesn’t happen. There is a curfew which adds to the complications.
Walking around the town is discouraged. People are afraid, and rightly so. And, it is only day two of our community shutdown.
Yet, there still is the beach. And with few using the beach, especially during the heat of the afternoon, I get to be skyclad almost as much as I want.
I am one of the lucky ones. Tell me, how it is going for you during this Covid-19 crisis? Reach out. Connect. Breach the distance and isolation using the gift of Computer Mediated Communication and social media. You aren’t alone. We are all in this together