A painting “in progress” in my studio.
Today is Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and it’s the third “official” day of sheltering in place. We’ve all been sick before, we’ve all had to stay home and rest and recover, I’ve even lived through various “hurrications” and “the Great Flood” in Baton Rouge, hanging tight is nothing new. But it’s different now. Generally there’s been a light at the end of the tunnel. We may feel pretty shitty, but we know we’re going to turn the corner. I hear that we may be living like this until August. Okay, what changes in August? What is the light that I can look toward?
Ten days ago I went to an art opening. There was a nice crowd there, met some friends and went out for a couple beers after the event. At the time it felt a little weird to be out. The WHO had not quite declared the pandemic, but we all knew it was serious and the “P” word was coming. It’s never felt like a risk before to be out with friends. The concern in my head had not yet reconciled with the logical next steps, reality had not set in. It was like we were all on the Titanic, we hit the iceberg, but were still all having dinner and dancing. No one saw the water coming in yet.
Tomorrow morning my husband Phil and I will be heading out to Boston to pick up our son Ben. He is devastated about leaving school mid-semester. He is broken that he couldn’t even have a proper goodbye with his friends. Our son Leo is missing out on his high school experience and his amazing theater trip to NYC. Nothing is normal. I know we are all hurting for our children and what they are all losing. We are really fighting a war right now, a biological war. The Novel coronavirus is a terrorist and we are both it’s weapon and it’s victim.
Wrapping my head around all of this, what it’s going to mean for our country, our world, and for me as a mom/wife/artist. We’ve all had the rug pulled out from under us and it really sucks. I send out my love and support for the, “essential employees,” working in the medical field, grocery stores, pharmacies, shipping companies, Amazon employees, etc… all of you who are keeping us afloat with the things we need. I’m terrified of anyone getting sick and needing hospitalization right now. Our resources are limited and are being strained. We are all going to know someone (maybe ourselves) who will be sickened with COVID-19 and the consequences could certainly be dire.
Stay safe and please stay home if you can!
Peace and love