Can this really be our new normal?
It's week #2 of the Corona virus global pandemic. Those are words I never thought I would say.
We (Len, Ty and me) have been hunkered down on Mayne going on our second week. Len took the initiative the first of last week to inform his employer that he would be working from home. Too much at stake to take chances. Ty has worked a couple of days in the last two weeks, but upon entering the house, he strips down, throws clothes in washer, wipes himself down and runs upstairs. That's my boy!
I, well, I've been preparing this for my entire life. As a freelancer and a self-proclaimed introvert, this feels like a normal Tuesday - with the exception of trying to land an open spot on the Wal-Mart pick up app while washing clothes daily on hot with an extra soak. Since the weekend, my last repaired Achilles has chosen this time in history to blow itself up. I'm hobbling and reaching for ice packs in between coffee runs.
As of today, I'm still working on six assignments that were commissioned before the pandemic. I lost one of my outlets - for the foreseeable future - due to Europe's closed borders. No reason to write on traveling to Europe if we can't. Totally understandable. As most freelancers will tell you, we'll continue to pitch relevant pitches to magazines that request certain topics. It's an endless process. It's a frustrating process. Now, it's even harder. Inflight magazines are halting production due to no planes in the sky, not to mention all those germs in the seat pocket. Another possible outlet gone - for the time being.
Today, I research. At 6 p.m., I'll drive up to the orange spot outside of Wal-Mart in Athens, log into the app and wait for the worker to bring my $200 worth of supplies. Most of that is dog and cat food, just so you know. Another normal thing. No toilet paper in the order; however, there is some ice cream and chocolate that normally doesn't make the cut.
As a photographer, it's hard to put the camera down. I keep walking around my yard hoping for a new subject. Nope. It's just the cats, the horses, Cody and grass. So, I shoot grass sometimes. This time, it was Fitz in Ty's cherry blossom tree.
That's a win for the day.
Stay safe friends. I pray for my children and their families every day. That's the best I can do at the moment. Take care of yourself and each other.
​ #weareinthistogether #document