This COVID-19 virus has everyone locked down at home. Right now no one knows for how long – weeks, months? With all of this hand washing and social distancing I am beginning to feel like Howard Huges (if you are young you may have to Google him). So what to do with all that time alone?
Most people hate being stuck at home. They don’t know what to do or how to entertain themselves for that long without any real social contact. Not me, I was born for this.
This is the kind of situation people like me tend to flourish at. While I am a very extroverted person when I am in a public or in a social situation, my heart has always been that of a hermit or a loner if you will. Shocking, I know!
I love my own company. I can entertain myself endlessly with no one else around. I actually enjoy being alone, all by myself with no other interaction. I’m sure there is some social scale that would tell me what my personality is, but I don’t know those statistics. I just know I’m ok with solitude. I love it!
I’m sure it seems at odds to be so outgoing in the public but when at home or when I can, I love being alone. The only thing I miss is being around my children and grandchildren right now as they are helping me stay safe by not coming by to visit. There are several modern ways to communicate via video chats that help, but a hug from a grandchild is a special tug at the heart that can’t be replaced electronically. I truly miss that!
Having two dogs follow me around all day also help entertain me. Kutter, like me, loves to nap, so we are nap buddies. Jazzy keeps us both on our toes with her antics and wanting to play, so I get my workout chasing after her and throwing her ball or toys for her to fetch. She’s still working on the “drop” command part. They both miss our weekly trips to town for groceries, but we are all getting a lot of outdoors time to make up for it.
I’m an avid TV watcher, movie watcher, so I can literally waste days in the vast caverns of television. I’m not even picky about shows that are in black and white as I grew up with those after all. I can flip between comedy and mystery, action and drama, just not love stories, they’ve never been my “thing”. I’m watching past favorite TV series right now from beginning to end. I’m currently watching Sleepy Hollow in case you were curious.
I also love to read, so I either have a book in hand or I’m listening to books, either way I’m happy. I’ve been into biographies lately, not sure why. Stephen King and others like him are still at the top of my lists, as are mysteries, Martha Grimes is my top author there. Currently I’m listening to The Institute by Stephen King. Next up is The Radium Girls by Kate Moore, a dear friend of mine recommended it. Thanks Sue!
As you know from previous blogs, I won’t be spending my time at home baking and I’m trying not to do too much cooking either, just enough to keep us fed and Jay not complaining too much. I like to make soups, the meal that keeps on giving. One huge pot of chili can give us meals for a week or two. Microwave a bowl full, that’s my idea of cooking.
I started at the beginning of winter (yes, I said winter) by knitting scarves to hang on parking meters for those without one. I got one and a half done. Perhaps I can get a couple more completed while on this lock down. I never said I was a speedy knitter, or an accomplished one. After years of knitting I am still best at rectangles and squares.
I try to do some writing every day but some days my creative genes seem to be aging as fast as my blue jeans. I could try my hand at art again, although I’m not nearly as talented as my children. Somewhere in my bedroom, the one that has become more of a giant closet over the years, there are some markers, pencils and paints. I should work on digging those out and see what happens.
This could also be a great time to do some deep cleaning and try to get rid of some more things that are just taking up space. The closet where all my holiday decorations are has become a giant disaster ready to burst at the seams. The kitchen could always do with some once overs, but I don’t want to get too crazy about this, Jay might begin to wonder about my sanity.
If it ever warms up, this being Iowa that could take several months yet, I might start a daily walking routing around my driveway and work my way up to my bicycle, providing my tires are still functioning. I don’t have to worry about neighbors prying, as they are a quarter of a mile away at the closest. If I could ever get Jazzy to learn to heal, she might enjoy walking with me. Right now it’s a game of tug of war with her.
Being a temporary hermit for me is not a bad thing. I’m enjoying my self quarantined status, trying to stay calm and safe. I’m continuing with my writing and perhaps art. Avoiding the temptation to become a “baker” and a “cook” and staying true to myself as a TV loving ne’ar-do-well. I’m listening to several of my favorite pastors online and I’m putting faith before fear, and I hope you are too.
Stay home, stay safe, be well.
Until next time….
Toni