These times are extraordinary. The spread of this worldwide affliction and its societal effects are sowing near-panic. Jayne and I are very concerned for our friends in Menton and the hardships now visited upon all of you. However, the situation here leaves us ever more in the dark with each passing day. Leaving our home has been greatly affected by the fact that there鈥檚 increasingly very little for which to leave. Here鈥檚 a chronicle of events in our part of the world.
One week ago today, March 11th, Jayne and I still had personal, educational, and entertainment venues scheduled. Wednesday morning I went to my watercolor workshop, and in the evening we joined in the Sarasota Jazz Festival kickoff event, the Jazz Trolley. Starting from a central pick-up spot, five or six motorized trolleys ferried us to any of nine venues around town, each of which had jazz ensembles playing every genre 鈥 from Dixieland to progressive jazz. We managed to hit four bars/restaurants and heard some excellent playing. We almost lasted until all venues closed down and were looking forward to the next group of concerts.
Thursday we went about our separate routines, per usual. In the morning I started the next session of the three-hour Writers Workshop, then home for lunch. Jayne met with her adult ESL student in the morning and decided to skip her afternoon golf league in favor of buying some provisions. We were looking forward to the continuing jazz concert that evening, when, at four p.m., Jayne鈥檚 phone began a constant beeping as text message and email started crowding in, and our life as we knew it came to an immediate end.
One by one all events were cancelled, all adult education courses were shut down, and the major supermarkets, big box chain stores, and many smaller retailers began experiencing panicked purchasing of critical food, cleaning and personal care items. As we all noticed, perhaps the number one item leaving shelves empty and pallets bare was toilet paper [rolls]! We shopped for essential canned and frozen food items while watching long queues of people and their shopping carts lined up to buy toilet paper. Thankfully, that left us all the items we needed. There were one or two supermarkets, especially the Amish fresh fruit and vegetable market, that remained open and had a plentiful supply of fresh food, breads, baked goods, and ice cream.
As the days have progressed, more [and sometime bizarre] impositions have arisen. For example, many supermarkets have initiated 7 a.m.-8 a.m. opening hours solely for senior citizens over age 60. Picture a store in whose aisles you stand the risk of being mowed down by panicked seniors on their walkers. Thank you, but I鈥檒l take my chances later on in the day. Besides, we have all the toilet rolls we need.
Jayne used the early warning to go to Costco, our vast big box superstore, to stock up on essentials such as flash-frozen wild salmon, canned goods, cheeses and crackers for our afternoon aperitivo, wine and beer, life鈥檚 essentials.
Life as we all knew it has been unalterably changed once again within the past 20 years. Fortunately, we鈥檙e not in the New York City metropolitan area, so we鈥檝e been protected from a lot of the problems encountered there, especially in our former neighborhood, New Rochelle. We still have our French Bistro/Bakery, L鈥橭pera, where we can fantasize for a few moments that we鈥檙e back in Menton. We speak French to the wonderful owners and, as is normal in France, we鈥檙e allowed to sit at a table for as long as we like. Jayne meets with her adult learner there over coffee and croissants.
Many other restaurants are still open although, as of today, March 19th, all gyms except mine, which is affiliated with Sarasota Memorial Hospital, have been closed. Libraries have finally been closed, as has virtually any venue where more than two people meet. I go to the gym four or five days a week, and we can still play golf 鈥 although one of the major city courses has been closed, and we get in the car and drive 15 miles to Venice beach to sit on our beach chairs, sip wine, and watch the sunset. But there are ominous hints that all beaches may be closed soon. In other words, adjustments are de rigueur on a daily, nay hourly, basis.
The one area that remains constant is the unimaginable ineptitude of the Moron-In-Chief and his minions, which borders not only on the insane, but also the criminal. I鈥檓 sure you鈥檝e all witnessed it, though from afar, but we long for the reasoned decision-making of other world leaders who鈥檝e done their best to put the welfare of their citizens first rather than manipulate the 鈥漮ptics鈥 to reflect mightily on themselves.
Finally, we envy the spirit of community communicated by Birgitt鈥檚 emails. We don鈥檛 have much of that here; there鈥檚 competition rather than cooperation. Stay tuned. Pour votre bonne sant茅 continue. P.S. Jayne just got back from shopping 鈥 there鈥檚 no butter to be found, anywhere. I鈥檓 trying to fit that product scarcity with the run on toilet paper. Never mind.