We are in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic and life is tough now. The news is full of news about the COVID-19 virus and the entire world is in a panic. I feel like a record of how my world has changed will be valuable to look back on: for myself and for future generations.
I am a terrible writer but I feel this needs to be done so here we go....
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Pre-quarantine Timeline
I have to say that we saw this coming. The events of the spread of COVID-19 are all there to search. Here's what has been happening in my little corner of the world.
Thursday, March 5: Matthew came home for spring break. COVID was in the news but at this point it was all somewhere else. We spent the night out of town at a hotel, shopping, eating out. We knew there was something going on but it was "not here"
Wednesday, March 11: WMU announced that all classes were moving to distance ed (online only). We report to work as usual. Matthew's school announced that all classes were moving to online only.
Thursday, March 12: Maggie's last finals and also what we later learn is her last real day of school of her senior year.
Weekend of March 13-15: We had a friends weekend planned to go out of town with 2 other couples, staying at a hotel, eating out, drinking beer. At the time, we were worried but not enough to stay home. We washed our hands obsessively and didn't share beers like usual. COVID was on our minds but, at the time, we had no idea. We came home to a different world.
That Sunday, we all got groceries and bought a little more than we usually would. Thursday before we left, I realized we were just about out of dog food so I bought two 40 pound bags instead of just one, and did the hoarder thing and got toilet paper.
The following week, employees in high risk groups were given the option of working from home. Some took the opportunity but I continued to go in. It was very quiet and was very hard for this extrovert.
Friday, March 20: Went to work and got news that the University is closing and we all are going to be working from home. Supervisors had to decide how essential each of our jobs are. I am 50 % essential for the week of the 23rd-27th, and 25% essential for the next 4 weeks. For the 200 working hours of the 5 affected weeks, I am allowed to work (and required to show proof of) 60 hours and need to use my time off for 140 hours. We have been given an 80 hour COVID leave balance, so I will be taking 60 of my sick and/or annual hours. *As of 3/27, we have an additional 48 hours of COVID leave to use.*
I'm feeling confused and bitter and very GenX about the whole thing.
Saturday, March 21: Matthew and Sydney were on spring break from the 5th to the 15th. They left school expecting to be going back for the rest of the school year. They spent the week between our house and Sydney's and drove to Houghton and back to get what they needed to take online classes for a few weeks, again, expecting to go back. Then, it was announced that the online classes were for the rest of the semester and they have to clean out their rooms by April 12. They decided to get it done sooner than later and made the 10-hour each way trip for the 3rd weekend in a row to clean out their rooms.
Sunday, March 22: Everyone is home now and, while we miss Sydney, her family needs her to be home. The quarantine is official.
Thursday, March 5: Matthew came home for spring break. COVID was in the news but at this point it was all somewhere else. We spent the night out of town at a hotel, shopping, eating out. We knew there was something going on but it was "not here"
Wednesday, March 11: WMU announced that all classes were moving to distance ed (online only). We report to work as usual. Matthew's school announced that all classes were moving to online only.
Thursday, March 12: Maggie's last finals and also what we later learn is her last real day of school of her senior year.
Weekend of March 13-15: We had a friends weekend planned to go out of town with 2 other couples, staying at a hotel, eating out, drinking beer. At the time, we were worried but not enough to stay home. We washed our hands obsessively and didn't share beers like usual. COVID was on our minds but, at the time, we had no idea. We came home to a different world.
That Sunday, we all got groceries and bought a little more than we usually would. Thursday before we left, I realized we were just about out of dog food so I bought two 40 pound bags instead of just one, and did the hoarder thing and got toilet paper.
The following week, employees in high risk groups were given the option of working from home. Some took the opportunity but I continued to go in. It was very quiet and was very hard for this extrovert.
Friday, March 20: Went to work and got news that the University is closing and we all are going to be working from home. Supervisors had to decide how essential each of our jobs are. I am 50 % essential for the week of the 23rd-27th, and 25% essential for the next 4 weeks. For the 200 working hours of the 5 affected weeks, I am allowed to work (and required to show proof of) 60 hours and need to use my time off for 140 hours. We have been given an 80 hour COVID leave balance, so I will be taking 60 of my sick and/or annual hours. *As of 3/27, we have an additional 48 hours of COVID leave to use.*
I'm feeling confused and bitter and very GenX about the whole thing.
Saturday, March 21: Matthew and Sydney were on spring break from the 5th to the 15th. They left school expecting to be going back for the rest of the school year. They spent the week between our house and Sydney's and drove to Houghton and back to get what they needed to take online classes for a few weeks, again, expecting to go back. Then, it was announced that the online classes were for the rest of the semester and they have to clean out their rooms by April 12. They decided to get it done sooner than later and made the 10-hour each way trip for the 3rd weekend in a row to clean out their rooms.
Sunday, March 22: Everyone is home now and, while we miss Sydney, her family needs her to be home. The quarantine is official.
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