COVID-19

We are on day #17 of the Bligh family self-quarantine. To say our world has been rocked by this virus would be an understatement. Never, ever, could I have imagined that our spring would begin with a pandemic. It is unprecedented. I look back now and wonder if I should have seen this coming? It all began in January, when we learned of a virus outbreak in China. At that time, China seemed a world away. How could the virus reach us? Not likely, right? Well, by the end of February, the virus had reached the US. Its first confirmed cases (and deaths) were right here in Kirkland, WA. Even then, I did not think too much of it because the first cases were at a nursing home. And all the information I had heard was that this virus hits the elderly hard. Children and middle-aged people? The symptoms are barely noticeable. But then things changed...

2/28: I flew back from a work trip in Baltimore and noticed the increased number of people wearing masks in the airport. Tommy's upcoming trip to London the following week was cancelled.

2/29: The US reported its first death in Kirkland, WA. Taylor and I were selling Girl Scout cookies at a grocery store that morning, and I was shocked to see so many shoppers leaving the store with gallons and gallons of water and tons of toilet paper.

3/4: Tommy had a meeting at work, and Microsoft told employees to begin working from home until 3/25. A student at a high school two miles from our house tested positive for the virus and the school closed for the remainder of the week.

3/5: At 3:00 that afternoon, our school district announced that all outside activities are cancelled. The kids had an event a school that night called a "Celebration of Learning" that was cancelled. I was supposed to volunteer at the kids school many times in March, but volunteers are no longer allowed in the schools to decrease exposure. Any sports teams that use school grounds for practice are cancelled.

3/6: Our church made the decision to cancel services. All Sunday services will be online for the next several weeks.

3/8: Tommy's 42nd birthday. We walked up to the golf course for brunch. It was pretty empty. Matty's Liberty Select team had a baseball game that evening. It was originally scheduled to be at Liberty High School, but Tommy had to move the location since we can no longer use the school property. A group of us went to MOD Pizza after the game and again, the restaurant was empty.

3/9: Several schools in Seattle closed. Most were private schools that were prepared for online learning. The stock market crashed.

3/10: My Bible study girls Katie and Denise and I visit our dear friend, Annie, who is dying of stage 4 lung cancer. We were not allowed to hug her and kept a safe distance during our time together. Katie, Denise, and I went out for dinner after, and the hostess sadly said, "Sit anywhere, we're empty." And it smelled like clorox. It was a very surreal experience.

3/11: Governor Inslee held a press conference and announced that people may not gather in groups of more than 250. The rumors were swirling that schools were going to close. Thunderbird Little League ordered coaches to cancel all practices and games. Tommy and Matty had their last practice that evening. Other school districts announced two-week closures. Taylor's dance studio followed suit and closed. The NBA postponed their season after a player tested positive for the virus.

3/12: I put my three kiddos on the bus for school and knew deep down that it was the last morning they would be getting on a bus for a long time. I made a trip to Costco that day to stock up. The NCAA March Madness tournament was cancelled. Golf was cancelled. By 2:00, Governor Inslee had another press conference and announced that schools need to close until 4/27. Six weeks! Tommy and I went on a walk before the kids got off the bus because I was having major anxiety about having the kids home for that long while still working and now homeschooling.

3/13: First day of homeschooling. The kids did great. I even went to my Orangetheory workout but assumed it would be my last class for a long time. This was the first day of our family quarantine with the exception that I went to the gym and grocery store. Spring training was cancelled and the start of MLB season was postponed.

3/15: Governor Inslee ordered a statewide shutdown of restaurants, bars and limited gatherings of over 50 participants.

3/16: Second day of homeschooling. I had been given no direction from the school so I was flying by the seat of my pants. The realization hit me that this is going to suck. All three kids are at different levels in math, reading, writing, etc, so I have to give them my full attention all day to keep them engaged. All the while, my work was imploding. Every account in my portfolio is a franchisee of a restaurant, gym, or salon.

3/20: I have a PTSA board meeting via zoom. The kids' principal, Dr. Wood, joined our call. I asked him about the school's/district's plan for homeschooling, and he essentially said that we should only be reinforcing topics/concepts that the kids have already learned. No new material will be introduced. UGH. I also asked about the rumor that schools will be closed longer than 4/27. Dr. Wood agreed that he had heard the same rumor but does not have any other insider information.

3/23: Governor Inslee orders all Washingtonians to stay home. The order goes into effect on 3/25 and will last for a minimum of two weeks. The only way this really effects our family is that all of the public hiking trails are now closed.

3/26: My friend's father passed away from the virus. This hits too close to home.

3/27: We successfully completed our second full week of homeschooling. There is no way the kids are doing as much learning at home. But I am trying. So are the teachers. Even Brayden's teacher Mrs. Thomas, who claims that she would rather be teaching school in a one-room schoolhouse like Little House on the Prairie, scheduled a zoom call for them. Matty's teacher Ms. McCrory asked me to be her guinea pig and help her test how the kids can send her writing samples through Office 365. I have hope that this will get easier. Oh, and I worked for 26 hours over the past week.

I could go on and on, but you get the jist. The past month has been absolutely crazy. The emotions have been all over the place. We have good days; we have bad days. It helps knowing that EVERYONE in the country is going through this together, so it's not like we are quarantining and no one else has too. Zoom calls have become normal. The kids have started having zoom calls with their classes and friends. Taylor and her friends started a book club and meet every Thursday. Last night, Tommy and I had a zoom call with two other couples and we played trivia. I suppose this is as good as it will get for now. The first week of quarantine, the weather was spectacular, so that helped. The kids and I skipped "school" one afternoon and went on a long hike at Little Si. The past week, however, Seattle spring arrived and it has been gloomy and rainy. So, that does not help my psyche. The 10-day forecast shows sun next weekend, so I will hold out that we can get some Vitamin D and maybe some social interaction (from a safe six-foot distance) next weekend.

The kids have been troopers. They are handling this better than I would have expected. We try to get out every day to walk the dog or ride bikes, but the weather is not always conducive to doing these things. I know they are going stir crazy. They have had way too much screen time, but you know what? That's okay. They are sacrificing so many other things right now. Taylor gave up drinks for Lent other than milk and water. About a week ago, she was pining over mango juice at breakfast, and I said, "Taylor, I think you have given up enough for Lent." So, we agreed that God would understand and she had juice. ;) We have enjoyed watching old family movies, playing games (Clue is Taylor and Matty's new favorite), cooking, playing with Annie, and watching shows (I introduced them to "Who's the Boss?" this week). Taylor's dance studio is doing online classes while the studio is closed, so I have started doing Taylor's ballet class with her. It is humbling for me and my old dancer's body but I know she enjoys having a buddy.

You know who is living her best life through this quarantine? Annie. She loves having us home all day, every day. She is going on lots of walks and getting lots of attention. One of my favorite memes from the week (oh, I am loving all the funny memes during this outbreak - it helps me get through each day) said "Day 7 at home and the dog is looking at my like, 'See? This is why I chew the furniture.'"

Stay safe out there!

Day 1 at Home; The kids made a countdown chain until school resumes... I fear it will need to be longer than they made it.

Family time

The kids' new classroom

Class pet

Matty has a daily zoom call with his buddies at 3:00. This is what gets him through the day.

Our hike at Little Si. It was a gorgeous day.

More snuggles with Annie.

Watching the sun set on the golf course one night. We ran into some neighbors up there and practiced social distancing.

Our church presents Bibles to all 1st graders. This year, the kids were supposed to receive their Bibles on 3/22. Since the services were online and the church was closed, there was a drive by Bible pick up.

B-man with his new Bible.

Brayden and his teacher have started writing a story. He writes a page and then I send it to Mrs. Thomas. She then writes back with her section. It is pretty darn cute.

Matty on a zoom call with his teacher.