Coronavirus March

So this is a pretty big moment in our history, and I thought it needs to be written.  Of course, then I realized i didn't post a single thing about our AMAZING Shiprocked vacation, so that'll hopefully come pretty soon.

So.  Coronavirus.  Wow.  I guess we'll start with, we knew about the virus back in January, before we even got our on cruise ship.  But it was in Asia.  We joked about it.  "Wouldn't it be nice to be quarantined on ShipRocked?  How much fun would it be to be stuck in the seas with the bands?"  Of course, we didn't know anything at that point, and thankfully, the virus hadn't hit the states yet... until we got back, and then it was only on the West Coast.

As soon as Ohio got their first cases (3 altogether, in Cuyahoga county), the governor closed college campuses.  This was Tuesday, the 10th of March.  That evening, we learned since Ares' school was included in this, so without any notice, he had no school the next day.  I wish he'd had the chance to say good bye to his friends.  Atlas went to school Wednesday and Thursday, but then the Governor closed K-12 schools across the entire state as well.   No other state had done this at this time, it was crazy, and i bet Governor DeWine was getting a lot of flack for the decision.... however, before long other states followed.

As soon as that happened, people flooded the supermarkets, buying toilet paper (like, WTF?) and everything they could get their hands on.  We were fortunate in that the week prior, we ordered TP off the internet, and had gone to BJs to stock up on muffins for the boys (which they eat every morning).  Adam did go to the grocery store one night, to pick up some extra things like muffins that we need to make ourselves, and a few other items, but only stuff we'd use or need, nothing crazy.

Restaurants closed Sunday, so now (at this point) only delivery and pick up are available, and of course, people flocked again to the supermarkets.   We haven't left the house, aside from walks around the development or disk golf at the local parks.

I worry about my parents, who are still going out, and my grandparents.  I feel like they're not really taking anything very seriously.  I believe in the next few days, they're going to do a mandatory restriction on travel.  Which would keep them HOME and not going on their 6 week vacation they planned.  They're retired, they can do that at any time.

They keep talking about how this will likely last another couple of months.  School so far is only "out" (they're doing work from home) until April 6th, but we are pretty sure they're not going back for the rest of the year.  We've been 'home schooling' so the kids get work from their teachers, and we just make sure it gets done and turned in.  I wish atlas had worksheets or workbooks, because the stuff we've been doing is harder with us needing to put the papers together for them, and finding the websites to use to get their videos and games and stuff.

So right now, we have a VERY full pantry, and VERY full freezer stocked with a 1/4 cow (that we got a few months ago) and some very hyper active kids.  The weather fluxuates between 34 and 68* right now, lots of rain and wind, but at least we're heading into the warmer months, so we'll get to go outside more often.

What a crazy time though.  At this time, 2 weeks ago, we barely knew anything about this virus. It was somewhere else, not here, life hadn't changed at all, and now stores, salons, schools, and everything is closed.  Thankfully, we like each other, and we have a large house and great neighborhood to walk around in, and a big driveway to ride bikes and chalk and play basketball.   It's a pain to stay home for weeks at a time, but really, it's not like we're going to war, we can handle sitting on our couches, reading, watching movies and talking to our friends and family on the computers.