Home as a sanctuary

The following is the third in a series of Village Vignettes by Paul Monaco.

People are obviously social animals. We need each other. That’s why this whole ‘shelter-in-place’, ‘lockdown’, ‘quarantine’, or whatever you want to term it, is so foreign and unsettling to us. The coronavirus has forced us to go inward, against our natural tendencies. This virus can apparently be passed easily by one who may not even openly exhibit any symptoms, or be feeling ill, and, hence, we must protect each other by isolating ourselves. It goes against our grain — our instinct is to go toward each other in order to help one another.

I’ll start off with my grey sweater. I found it in my son’s closet, as he had left it behind. He’s quite the ‘clothes horse’, however, he’s on to other fashions, so I appropriated it. I wasn’t really feeling my old bathrobe anymore, so this sweater with its cardigan style would do me just fine for wearing around the house on these cool spring days. Call me an old man, but I’ve always found cardigans to be both stylish and comfortable. Needless to say, I’ve worn it nearly every day since I’ve been shut in. It just feels right.

Everyone is handling the situation differently. Self-observations of my past eight weeks:

• Shall I take a shower today? No, it will be okay to do it tomorrow. Yes, you’d better.

• C’mon Millie, my furry four-legged friend, let’s go for a walk. It’s your favorite activity, and at least I can get some air.

• I’m reading more and finally getting caught up on my stack of magazines. With 12 subscriptions coming in, it is easy to get behind.

• Facebook for regular connections with the outside world.

• Two cardinals, my favorite bird species, have taken to stopping at my Japanese maple each morning on their way to starting their day. A boy and a girl and they appear young.

• Pick-up orders from Ballston Spa restaurants are highly satisfying. Shopping local is critical in this economic standstill.

• Channeling my mother. I’m obsessed with sweeping my kitchen’s tile floor. With six kids running afoot, Mom didn’t like a messy floor — and it appears neither do I.

• The price of a gallon of regular gas was $2.39 when I purchased it on March 15, 2020. Unbelievably, it has been eight weeks since I last filled up, and here it now stands at $2.09 as of May 10, 2020. The TV says it is under $2 in numerous states.

• Supermarket runs at varying days/times all in quest of the elusive pack of toilet paper and Purel. Unsuccessful attempts, I should add.

• For entertainment, occasional NetFlix, Amazon Prime Video, and Turner Classic Movies as well as podcasts including Bon Appetit Foodcast, Italian American Podcast, Podcast From Italy: Ashley and Jason.

• Delivery trucks are constantly running along my street as neighbors purchase goods on-line. Thank you, ‘essential’ workers.

• Daily long distance connections with my boys, Julian and Ryan — and their mom Jodi. Despite a parting of the matrimonial waters a few years ago, Jodi (who now resides in Florida) and I continue to be parenting partners. We and our two grown sons have added nearly daily group chats to our four-way group texts during the COVID-19 quarantine time. It doesn’t matter what they are about, it just matters that I get one. My favorite, which came from Mr. Sweater Guy, Ryan: “I’m going to start protesting if I can’t get my haircut soon. I am a Yetti. I look like Animal from The Muppets.” That made us all laugh. I’m still smiling.

• Plans for my vegetable garden have started swirling in my head. It is almost time to plant the tomatoes.

• First lawn mow of the season, May 9, 2020 (and also Ryan’s birthday). The first is always the toughest as it perennially reminds me that my knees are one year older and that I’m still alive.

Stay positive, Ballstonians. If anything, this thing has reminded us all what is important and what is not. I’ll leave that up to all of you to individually define.

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