Had a great job for three weeks then had to self-quarantine

I’ve been self-quarantined for almost five weeks and am grateful I am healthy. After three weeks of working in a nursing home (!) as a part time activity assistant, playing piano and leading activities, loving the job, the Coronavirus came along and my eye doctor told me it was too risky for me to continue working. If I were to contract any virus, I would not be allowed to continue my monthly eye shots for macular degeneration. I have had 86 of those shots and twice the doctor tried extending time between shots from every four weeks to five weeks with poor response and worsening of my condition. So when I found out I might not be able to receive my regular shots for God only knows for however long, I freaked out and immediately quit the job that was so happy to have and feeling like I was “making a difference” to recovering patients and seniors who lived in the nursing home. I finally quit freaking out after I got my most recent eye shot and got past the two week mark with no symptoms of the virus. I am being extra careful when I go on walks but didn’t go on walks until I got some face masks and figured out the time when the fewest people might be encountered.

I had to get out of my apartment for fresh air and activity not only for my physical wellbeing but also mental health. Yesterday I walked almost 3 miles in the morning in an area where few people are encountered because is a street lined with warehouses so on that whole walk saw only a few people who socially distanced appropriately.

I miss going to the gym and my favorite activity there is swimming. I hope I’ll be able to get back to that soon but social distancing in the pool would mean a 6 lane pool could only accommodate 3 people at a time so I don’t expect I’ll be able to do much swimming for quite awhile.

I have been practicing the piano and about a week ago got a great piano music book with 100 rock and roll and pop songs that I plan to learn well enough to share with others.

I have been getting groceries delivered and prescriptions mailed to me.

I am grateful for FaceTime and my daughter. We have been visiting daily since I have been stuck at home and I don’t feel quite so worried about how the two of us are doing.

I’m also in touch with other people by phone who are stuck at home and find that is good for them and me so we don’t get too lonesome.

This, too, will pass.