April 29, 2020
Enid S. Aaron

Truthfully, all of this isn’t a big stretch for me. I grew up as an only child, and spared would-be live-ins throughout my adulthood due to my self-partnering proclivities.  But there are stresses in these challenging times. 

Food comes to mind. Like how to do it.I have no useful kitchen accoutrements, nor many domestic skills for that matter.  So, when a friend suggested I could make smoothies, it fell on deaf ears as I don’t have a blender.  Another suggested stews, but I don’t have a slow cooker.  You get the picture.  So, while others proudly show off their masterpiece meals on social media, I take pride in my newly acquired skills at making grilled cheese sandwiches and interesting looking scrambled eggs. Still on the food thing, I seem to have a craving for chocolate and dill pickles but I can’t possibly be pregnant. 

As I was a medical laboratory technologist for a nanosecond, I debated helping with testing back at the hospital, but I’ve been retired for a long time and am way past my “best before” date.  I’ll just cheer on my colleagues from my couch.  

Zoom has come fraught with anxieties.  My microphone wouldn’t
work (to the delight of many), my hair can’t be described and everyone’s homes look so much more orderly than mine.   And there are so many choices!  Who knew I could be so conflicted about what meeting to attend. It makes me want to tear my hair out, which at this point would be a good thing.

Thank goodness for Netflix, my ultimate escape from the CNN circus. If the virus doesn’t get me, I can scare myself to death with serial killer offerings. Weeks ago, I readied my golf bag for the season and cleaned every pair of golf shoes I own (yes lots of those, but no kitchen utensils). Of course, golf is forbidden so my clubs are rejoicing that I can’t
abuse them for a while. So instead of “a good walk spoiled”, I tread my neighbourhood, duly masked, dodging dogs and other humans, until it’s time to zoom again. Stay safe my friends!