On March 31, 2020, the news headline read, “Governor Abbott orders Texans to stay home except for ‘essential’ activity as state death toll grows to 41.” The Governor gave orders for our non-essential business and activities to end at least through April 30, 2020. Also, included in the closures were all schools, which were initially ordered to remain closed until May 4, 2020. All of this was done in an effort to combat the Corona-virus pandemic.
During these past few weeks, I sat numb with arrested development of thoughts, physical activity, employment circumstances, and sense of being a part of this bizarre world around me! I still awoke at 4:00 a.m., had my morning cup of green tea, did my Holy Bible virtual app plan, participated in my virtual brain game activities, and all the while listening to the bleak news that blared on the television. It was such a loud, raucous sound in my ears like the noisy proclamation of bass drum, saxophone, tuba, clarinet, flute, and banging cymbals that left ringing in my ears for hours. We are all sheltering in place – staying home – banished to remain in our individual residences, except to go to the grocery store. The stores contained the stench and invasion of COVID-19 germ cesspool – people coughing, sneezing, and hacking coughs filled the atmosphere. At first, there were no face masks or gloves. Everyone was susceptible to breathing in bursts of wet explosions of spit and nose excretions being released in the air!
Where is all of this leading? It reminds me of the lonely, unknown road in the picture. I can smell the sweet aroma of the lake water, green trees, grass, and flowers. But I also smell the stench of death, illness, uncertainty, fear, and loathsome imprisonment of everyone in their homes – not one person outside, no joy of children playing in their front yards, no pleasure of sweet aromas of pies and cakes baking in the oven, or enticing smell of barbecue exquisitely grilling in the backyards.
All I can smell, feel, touch, hear, and taste do not seem normal or real…..is this all an atrocious dream? Will we all wake up one day?
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