It turns out worldwide pandemics are distracting

[wyld_dandelyon]

It's no surprise, of course. Lots of stories are set during or after such things--I even started a novel with that premise long ago. I've no idea where the files are; I'm pretty sure I backed them up to a floppy disk, one of the smaller newfangled ones. Of course, I have no way to read floppy disks any more, and the last time I looked at it, I decided to pursue other projects.

It's a lot less troubling to contemplate fictional characters having to live (or die) of a flu-like disease that changes everything, either for a little while or forever. I watch the news, hoping for better news, even though I know better.

I've had allergies and asthma since puberty; every time someone I shared office space with got sick, I did too. I've been railing against the social rules that people should work when they're sick instead of staying home and not sharing their germs my whole life, and predicting that a severe virus would be a worldwide personal and economic cataclysm for just as long.

Now, I'm amazed that I'm not among the first sick. And yet, here I am, taking my asthma medicine religiously, and having trouble focusing on, well, everything. And sewing face masks for me and my partner. When I find the sewing machine, I'll make some to donate. A friend of mine linked me to a local hospital's preferred pattern and materials, and where to drop them off once I've made them.

But in the meantime, I pray you all are well and have enough money to survive through this disaster.

And look online for live music. There's an amazing lot of it, live filking on zoom, artists doing concerts or a handful of songs, often via Facebook Live. I always feel so much better after seeing smiling faces at the open filks. It's led me to give big smiles to neighbors when I see them at a distance, hoping to lift their spirits in a like manner.

Comments

[skjam]

Keep on keeping on!

[wyld_dandelyon]

Yep.

[msstacy13]

As you may have heard, I had the dry cough and shortness of breath, but my fever never went about 99.2, so... maybe I had it... but then again maybe not... but my doctor wants me to remain isolated so far as I can... not that I'd still be contagious, if I ever was, but that in theory, I should be a high-risk case... although if other people start actually start getting it, who will be left to bring my groceries?

[wyld_dandelyon]

Yeah. I had a mild thing in early February, but it _was_ mild and I'm high risk too, so I figure it wasn't covid19. But with no tests available then or now, except to the rich and famous or the very sick, no way to know for sure.

[red_trillium]

I am glad you are taking hour asthma medicine and doing what you can. It is hard to concentrate. I've been finding it hard to concentrate too. My team leader is really good but I don't think she understood when she'd ask how things are going in our morning meetings (ust before we went into full lockdown) & I'd say I was having a hard time concentrating with everything going on. I was relieved when we did go into lock-down because it was one less unknown that was distracting me.

I still get easily distracted but I am trying to get better at focusing since I've gotten more accustomed to the new norm.

I agree with you about people coming into work sick. I am very very lucky to work where I have paid sick leave, but even then have in the past been in the position of being told that I had "too much" paid sick leave (even though it was genuine --it was a bad year for me and I had dr notes) & that there was the chance I'd not be paid for any more. That led to me (and some other people) coming in sick and leaving it to the last possible "can barely move" symptoms before taking time off sick.

I hope this makes at least some employers & some people consider staying home when they are sick. I know that in my own area about early Feb, before we had our 1st case & all this went sideways, one of the people in the team next to me came in when she wasn't feeling well. She isn't under my team leader but is under our team leader's manager. I overheard our manager telling her if she wasn't well she should go home. My team leader is pregnant & has really bad asthma. I couldn't hear clearly but the colleague was trying to say she didn't feel that bad, had work to do, that kind of thing. Our manager was insistent that she take her device home and work from home if she felt well enough to work and had stuff to do but that basically it was not ok that she was in the office if she didn't feel well. It made me feel good to know that she was looking after all of us.

Hugs. Take care.

[mount_oregano]

My health is good, but I'm 64, and I've been self-isolating since March 15 on the grounds that it's easy for me to do, and there's not much downside.

I am in awe of all the creativity and generosity that this disaster has unleashed.

Stay well! You are loved.