It's like Quarantine...

 ... because it is quarantine.

Hubby has been sick for three weeks and I have been sick for two. We've barely been outside of the house or spoken to another human being in days. And it seems the whole neighborhood has been affected. Many of our neighbors are also at home trying to shake this thing. We are nearly out of food while we are well stocked in toilet paper. 

Any of this sound familiar?

I don't think we have anything more serious than the common cold or flu. Not that we tested because it didn't really matter: We were dropping out of society regardless. Our symptoms are not severe. Not in the slightest (although they were worse for Hubby). They are annoyingly persistent, however. The tail end of this thing seems to be a dry cough which Hubby is struggling to shake. 

And yet, like Quarantine, it's not all bad. There have been pockets of boredom but in other ways it's been a lot like a staycation. We are playing games in the evening. I'm reading books, cooking things from scratch, kitting a blanket. And we are saving a ton of money by not going out. Not anywhere (except for essential services like coffee [jk - I meant groceries]). It's intimate and cozy.

But there are some things I miss like people. Sunset cocktails with the neighbors in the driveway. Hanging out with our besties. Taking the kids to school (my hobby). Going out for dinner!

The other side of the coin is sleeping in and perpetual pajamas.

If it wasn't for the getting sick part it would be a toss up, really.

Maybe I should consider becoming a hermit.

[Editor's note: The office of Chocolate Chip Mint is encouraging everyone to come back to the office. Actually, we're pretty much through it now and have been out in the wild. All good here.]

My watch has a hold on me.

If you've ever seen an Apple Watch, you may have noticed three rings on its watch face - concentric circles in red, green, and blue. Watch faces can be customized so not every one will have it but it's common. Those rings are part of what is know as the Activity app and it keeps track of your daily physical activity. Each ring represents a different goal: calories burned, exercise minutes, and how many times you stand in a day. It's this last one - the Stand goal - that makes me a little crazy.

The overall goal is a daily physical routine that will close all three rings by end of the day. When I first got the watch, I found the Stand reminder in the Activity app to be a little annoying. The watch will alert you at 50 minutes past any hour in which you have not taken the opportunity to stand for at least one minute. When I was working in a high pressure job, I found the hourly reminders disruptive. But then, I got to appreciate it. My job was sedentary and it was probably a good thing for me to get up from my desk and walk around a little. My work performance may have even improved as it allowed me to clear my head and relax a little.

But then, as I am wont to do, I became obsessive about closing all three rings every day and I know I'm not the only one. If that meant I had to march around the house for six minutes just before bedtime, so be it. I was closing that goddam ring. If I hadn't satisfied my Stand ring, I would just stand while watching TV. This was only slightly awkward if I was a guest in someone's home but often they were Watch wearers as well so everyone stood up at fifty minutes past the hour.

Near the end of the day, the Watch will alert you with a chirpy "You can still do it!" reminder to let you know you still have time to close your rings. It will follow up with a suggestions such as "A brisk, 12-minute walk should do it" or "Time to stand!"

When I started training to do a half marathon, closing the rings became easy. But there's one little catch: The Stand ring doesn't care how long you stand. It only records how many different hours you stood and moved around for at least one minute. Meaning, you only have to stand for twelve minutes but in twelve different hours of the day.

So, you can imagine how annoyed I was when, a couple weeks ago, I walked 13.1 miles, was actively on my feet for three and a half hours burning over 1,000 calories, covered over 26,000 steps throughout the day and then while sitting down to watch TV, my watch chirped "You can still do it!" Despite all the day's activities, I had only stood for 10 minutes during 10 different hours.

And I thought, "You, bitch!"

But damned if I didn't stand up anyway.

Twice.

What are my hobbies?

 This was a question my grandson posed one day. I started listing off the things I do. Namely, walking (training for a half marathon), learning Spanish and ASL, taking care of the house. All boring stuff. So boring, in fact, that I have nothing to say at a cocktail party. 

I never really have. Keep in mind, I was previously an accountant before I was a full time grandma. Not terribly interesting, unless I'm in a room full of other accountants.

As usual, the better response came to me several hours later. (Does that ever happen to you? The snappy, witty response never appears in the moment.) It was, "You. You are my hobby."

Alright. Maybe that's not snappy and witty but it's the truth. And, it's not full time but I do spend some time with the littles nearly every day driving them around because it's a lot. I don't know how parents could manage multiple kids' schedules without help.

I do those other things too. Walking, Spanish, etc. I started knitting a blanket once. It was meant to be a Christmas present. Three years ago.  

Maybe I could pick that up again. 

That would be a good hobby.

[Editor's note: Between the time I drafted and posted this, I did finish that blanket and started another one. And it is a good hobby.]

I’ve had some time on my hands

Cold and Flu

Nailed it!

I saw this quote and it spoke to me:

"... if this is your preferred way, you are likely an older sibling and you file your taxes in February."

Correct on both counts.

Not an online personality quiz, this quote comes from an article from Bon Appétit: How to Soften Butter - Quickly - According to a Pro Baker.

I tried the method called "The Only Adult in the Room" but I think I'll go with "The Rule Breaker" next time.

Or maybe I should just plan a little in advance.

On Getting Old

I don't know the half of it, I'm sure. (Considering my age, I think I should know at least the half of it.)

So far, getting old is a little like high school. Consider where I live: a 55+ community. The one I live in is about 1,000 homes which makes its population about the same size as my high school. There are the same cliques: jocks, stoners, band, choir, student council. There are popular kids and outcasts. And rumors. So many rumors!

Then, there are the surprising and unexpected changes in one's body. For example, when I look in the mirror, I sometimes don't recognize who is staring back at me. Sometimes, I see the me that's always been me. Other times, I just see an old lady and I wonder, "How did this happen?" I think about my granddaughter and what she sees when she looks at me. "Old" can be the only answer even when I feel as young as ever (mostly).

Body parts ache or don't work the same as they used to. Flexibility and physical capacity are diminished even when my mind believes otherwise. Why don't things work like they used to when I don't feel any different on the inside?

Speaking of inside, there's a betrayal going on. My body - the one that's been with me my whole life - doesn't respond the way it used to and it doesn't recover as quickly. Take the common cold or flu. I used to be able to brush it off, push through it, hardly miss a beat. Now, it takes days or weeks.

In our community of old people, a cold or flu spreads quickly and thoroughly. Texts are exchanged to share symptoms and to find out how long whatever sickness lasts. Quarantine is self-imposed and we miss seeing neighbors for far too long.

That's the current situation. Hubby and I are both at home waiting for wellness to return for it can't be rushed or coaxed. My current cold/flu symptoms are mild so far but I've seen the neighborhood text network. It could get much worse and last for another week or more. My kids, however, aren't worried about it. Maybe I'm contagious but they're still invincible. They might get it but no biggie. And the littles - if they get it, they'll get over it quickly or even go to school in spite of it.

Well, my children. You will get old one day, too.