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Sally Thomas’ Covid Chronicle

More than five months in to these unprecedented and uncertain times! How’s everybody doing? I am pleasantly surprised with how well things are going! Thank goodness for friends, social media and the new kid on my block – Zoom!

When it started to become apparent something never seen before in our lives was taking place, I have to admit, my first thoughts were panic…and depression! I couldn’t imagine a world where I would be healthy and not leave the house for 50 days! For those of you who know me, I think you can all agree I don’t have an ounce of introvert in me!

What am I going to do with myself without going out?? Being the furthest thing from a homebody, I barely had anything to occupy myself, in the house! Until then, I’d used my place as a refuge only. Come home to replenish my energy and go back out again. I’ve often said that if money were no object, I’d only come home to sleep and shower and that’s it.
The early days were filled with wall to wall television. Even that was a challenge! I LOVE sports! They do a great job of distracting society from its ills. I can’t think of any other crisis we’ve lived through that has stopped the sports world from chugging along. Sadly, athletes are people…and COVID 19 has hit them too! Karl-Anthony Towns, an NBA player, with whom I share a birthday, lost his mom to this horrible tragedy. When sports stopped, I couldn’t help but watch the hours and hours of COVID coverage!
It got to the point that it was all I was thinking about and it was affecting every aspect of my life! I was having trouble falling asleep and when I was asleep, I was dreaming about losing people I hold dear to me. Even people with whom I’m not that close were taking up space in my head! My attendants were coming in to help me in the morning and immediately turning to the latest COVID death totals.
It got to the point that it was all I was thinking about and it was affecting every aspect of my life! I was having trouble falling asleep and when I was asleep, I was dreaming about losing people I hold dear to me. Even people with whom I’m not that close were taking up space in my head! My attendants were coming in to help me in the morning and immediately turning to the latest COVID death totals.
There are definitely some positives to this! I’ve taken up French lessons so that when I return to my volunteer position at the Rehab Centre, I will have narrowed the gap between my comprehension and speech. It’s working. I helped someone on the bus find his way to CHEO.
I found wool in my apartment from a previous attempt at finger knitting that I’d abandoned and then, with not much better to do…and lots of time on my hands, figured it out. I’ve made three scarves. I tried to start a fourth using arm knitting because it’s super chunky; but that hasn’t gone as well. Maybe the next time I have a boatload of time on my hands.
Although I still really dislike cooking, (I am my mother’s daughter), I have the time and energy to do it; so, I’ve been doing it. To stay motivated, I’ve become one of those ‘food porn’ people I never understood! I now know why I don’t like it, though! Planning! Who among you has known me to plan things? I didn’t even plan this!
Although I still really dislike cooking, (I am my mother’s daughter), I have the time and energy to do it; so, I’ve been doing it. To stay motivated, I’ve become one of those ‘food porn’ people I never understood! I now know why I don’t like it, though! Planning! Who among you has known me to plan things? I didn’t even plan this!
Be kind to yourself. Be kind to one another and if you can, please wear a mask! ‘We Gon’ Be Alright’ (Kal, David, Allan & Jimmy – local black muralists, contributing to my happy)

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