As the (Self-Isolated) World Turns: Observations for quarantine
Apr 14, 2020, 7:13 AM
As we all make our way through unprecedented times, a few things have come to mind. Here then are observations from a life spent social distancing and staying hunkered down at home:
• Has it really only been a month since the Avs and Nuggets played their last games? Amazing. As a father of two engaged and active teenagers, as well as someone who always has a long to do list around the house, I typically find time flies by. Not now. It’s a grind.
• I find I need to stay focused and goal oriented. It’s too easy to get lazy and lay around. I don’t know about you but I gotta be doing something, otherwise I start to get a little moody. Putting together a to-do list really helps me.
• I really feel bad for the kids right now. Seniors in high school and college have had what’s supposed to be a memorable year ripped from them. I think back on my senior years. To have them taken away would’ve been crushing. I get it. What we’re battling right now is far more important than senior proms and one last memorable kegger, but put yourself in their shoes. It does hurt.
• Self discipline with food and booze is hard enough during normal times, but with all this time spent at home I’m eating really well. My wife has been putting on a show. I’m trying. I really am. I got to believe when things get back to normal fad diets are going to spike.
• At what point do I say, heck with it, let my 17-year old daughter cut my hair?
• Little bit of nostalgia. My grandfather, who I adored, lived on a lake in New Hampshire. He always had a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle going. It was fun to loom over it, pop a couple of pieces in, and go onto something else. Or obsess over it for hours. I got one going at our house. It’s been everything I remember. And it got me thinking again about my grandfather.
• I have carved out enough free time to binge watch some TV. On my recommended list:
1) Jack Ryan
2) Ozark
3) Homeland
4) Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
5) Downton Abbey (don’t laugh, it’s easily addictive).
• I love to read a good book, but I usually don’t have the time for much leisure reading. I’ve been able to do a lot more. My go to authors right now:
1) Vince Flynn
2) Harlan Coben
3) Daniel Silva
4) Ace Atkins (he’s taken over the Robert Parker “Spenser” series).
• I don’t mind watching classic games, but I don’t love them. The older the better for me. If I can get some commentary alongside, it it’s better. Examples include Bill Self live tweeting while a Kansas/Memphis championship game was airing. Also a replay of last year’s Masters followed by an interview between Jim Nantz and Tiger Woods that showed a side of Tiger I don’t think he’s ever revealed to us. It was great.
• I get frustrated when I see people out jamming a Colorado mountain town or cramming onto a beach or piling into a church. This seems to be what we have to do to get this virus under control right? We gotta hunker down, maintain our distance? Why am I the one doing the “right” thing while someone else is thumbing their nose at it? Are you better than me that your time and enjoyment of life is more important than mine? And please don’t give me this “personal freedoms” BS. Yes, we live in the land of the free. But personal freedom does not supersede personal responsibility. It’s real easy to do what you want. What feels good. What can be hard is to do what’s right. What’s responsible.
• Thank God we live in Colorado where you can at least get outside and (responsibly) walk and ride your bike. I feel for folks in the bigger cities who don’t have the same kind of outlets and live in smaller apartments. I can understand how the walls may feel like they’re closing in from time to time.
• I love the 8:00 p.m. howling. The tradition has really taken off in our neighborhood. It really does make it feel like we’re all in this together. Plus, any way to pay tribute to the doctors, nurses and health officials on the front lines of this is great by me.
• It used to be that I hated my kids’ phones and xboxes. All I can say is thank God for them right now. Yes, is it hypocritical? Yes, will I do my best to limit them again once we’re back to normal? But right now? I’m a big fan!
• I miss being busy. I miss life being more hectic. But, there have been silver linings to come out of this. More family dinners. More playing catch with my son. More time to sit out on my patio and feel the sun on my face as I just sit and look out towards the foothills. I’m hoping when we get back to normal I don’t forget the good things that came out of this.
