Old Man and Ponytail lady

Today I realized that we all think “social distancing” means "don’t eat out."

This morning Fr and I went on our breakfast drink walk stopping first at Bakery Nouveau for a scone. There were 4 people already in the bakery. A man in his mid 50’s ordering at the register, a woman in her 60’s with a gray ponytail 6 feet behind him, and a couple in their 30’s about 8 feet from her. Ordering Man was saying to the Couple Guy, “That’s not funny. That’s not f-ing funny.” Ponytail woman was saying something similar under her breath while giving disapproving glances, and Couple Woman was holding onto Couple Guy and trying to calm him down with flirty smiles and coos. Ponytail had about 15 feet of room to her right. 

Fr stepped between Couple and Ponytail to better see what items were available; everyone still had about 4 feet of space, but this was not enough for Ponytail who shouted at him, “SIX FEET. social. distancing.” Fr, ever the southern gentleman, immediately obliged. Ordering Man walked out with pastry in hand, and Ponytail stepped quickly to the register, forgetting her recent worries as she put her face two feet from the employee and ordered her treat. I strongly desired to say to Ponytail,  "This is not a line for prescriptions. This is not a food ration line. This is a line at a French Bakery in West Seattle, and you are waiting to order a pastry. This is hardly a situation that calls for yelling. If you feel so strongly about social distancing that you will yell at a stranger while in line for a morning treat, please stay at home." 

I never found out why Ordering Man was upset with Couple Guy. I will never know this.

After procuring scone and coffee, Fr and I 

drove around what we thought would be ghost town Seattle, which was not. Apparently between my Wednesday outing and our Saturday drive, we have forgotten we are in the midst of a Pandemic. We walked through Pike Place and bought stew and a spinach puff. We went to UW and saw the cherry blossoms, which we were not supposed to do. In our defense, we did not actually go on the quad, just NEAR it. We went to the Union Bay Nature Area. Not too many people there. We went to the Amazon Go grocery store on Cap Hill, and I bought a Bubble Tea in an empty bubble tea store. We drove through the beautiful Madison Park neighborhood (joyrides are allowed), and then we drove by Alki Beach on the way home. I was curious to see if the rumors were true, and indeed there were more people than usual in March. Crowding around, playing volleyball, ordering takeout and then sitting at outdoor tables. 

"Why are they doing this" I asked.

"We are no better."

"I disagree. We did not go to a place that already looked crowded. We looked at crowded places from AFAR." 

I say this with an aire of superiority, but I don’t even believe myself. 

I should be home like all the careful and righteous people.

There’s nowhere to sit inside so people are going outside, and when everyone is outside it becomes a social gathering, which is the opposite of social distancing.  

I find it disheartening. If we’re doing it, and many others are doing it, this pandemic is going to keep going, my favorite restaurants will close, people will continue to die, unemployment will increase. 

How quickly people normalize things. What was scary and deserving of caution on Wednesday is common and regular on Saturday. 

After we got home, Fr went to Rich’s and I went to Bartel's to be around more people and also get tampons. 

I’ll just see if I can find toilet paper, since I’m already not sheltering in place. 

Safeway, no

Bartel’s, no

Trader Joe's, no

Whole Foods, no

QFC, YES.

These stores are all within 2 blocks of my house. 

I typically buy 4-6 large packages of flushable wipes because they are a more effective cleaning tool than dry toilet paper. When people first started hoarding TP I noticed that all the regular dry TP was gone, but flushable wet wipes (for grownups) were plentiful. This indicates that most people are selfish and also skid-marked. Here I am buying six rolls of cheap, off-brand toilet paper and feeling fancy. I know I have something exceedingly precious. 

This morning a man on the radio said that we are headed for a depression. Not a small one. Not one from which we bounce right back, but one where the government bails out big business, small businesses go under, and what is currently a health problem becomes a system problem, and we’re right back in 2008 only worse. To be honest, 2008 didn’t really effect me because I was a newly divorced student/social worker who was resigned to poverty and selfish grief. I’m frightened. I have some job security. If worse comes to worse I can go live with my mother and work at Albertson's because I hear they’re hiring. It would be fun. I would avoid Mom and Grandma so as not to contaminate them. And as of today, restaurants are still open in Caldwell. 

...

Tonight on Step by Step, Frank and Carol tried to outspend each other on anniversary presents. JT convinces Cody to charge more than $9 to fix motorcycles. Mr. Slasher convinces the bank to give them a business loan, and everyone has Lattes. Brenden makes a homemade card for Frank and Carol's anniversary, showing us that it really is the the thought that counts. 

"The producers are really pushing for Cody right now."

"Huh..."