Standing Into Danger: March 2020

Friday, March 27, 2020

Coping with Colorado's Stay-at-Home Order

On Wednesday Colorado's Governor Jared Polis issued
a mandatory stay-at-home order for all residents of the state
to take effect Thursday, March 26 at 6 a.m.,
and to last through April 11 unless rescinded or modified.

As seniors Terry and I are taking this very seriously.
We're watching health systems overwhelmed in places like Italy and Spain,
and doctors, nurses, and emergency workers forced to make
decisions about who will live and who will die.
We're watching medical personnel in these countries
collapsing from exhaustion and dying in increasing numbers.
We're likely to see the same situations developing here.

As older people who might not be considered worth saving,
Terry and I are doing the best we can to stay isolated and healthy,
hoping to make it past the hospital crisis that might hit our state.
We both consider our lives worth living, we both want to live,
and we certainly don't want to die for the economy.

The only control we have is to be as responsible as we can for ourselves.
We're going outside only to walk briefly, pick up prescriptions,
and buy necessary groceries and supplies.
We're focusing on being pragmatic.

It's an adjustment for sure.
Sometimes I'm buzzing around inside, busy and productive as a honey bee.
Other times I can't motivate myself, and hours disappear into nothing,
as I ignore things I should be doing.

But that's okay. I'll find a rhythm and get on top of this new state of being.
Meanwhile I'm FaceTiming with family and doing things to lift my spirits:
like playing with my photos of happier times and listening to favorite music;
and I'm thinking of and praying for all the selfless people
risking their wellbeing, perhaps lives, to help us all.

Here's a photo from a happier time and a favorite song that never fails to cheer me:

Terry and I catch a wave.

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

March 14 2015

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole

You Tube

Wishing all my blogging buddies health, happiness, fulfillment,
and lots of love and support from your families and friends.

Take care, everyone!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Friday, March 20, 2020

A Surreal Time

Surreal.
I keep searching for another word to capture how I'm feeling,
but I can't get past surreal.

Inside our home everything feels normal.
I'm sitting at the kitchen counter typing, snuggled in a warm robe.
Terry is slouching on the couch texting with a friend.
Bright flames are dancing in the fireplace,
blown about by wind in the chimney escaping the snow swirling outside.

But beyond the familiar comforts of a winter evening
is a world I don't recognize.

Two weeks ago I was packing for Hawaii.
One week ago Terry insisted I had to stay strictly at home.
Tonight, after a week of stunning events, I'm wondering
What will happen next?

I've stayed inside, except for one brief hour.
I've never known Terry to literally bar the door,
but he did when I tried to head for the grocery store.
"I'll do it. Not you!" he exclaimed.

He's freaked out worried over me and all the scary what ifs.
He's made brief forays outside,
one day scoring eggs, another milk, a third bread.

He also found yellow tulips, raspberry chocolate ice cream,
and two slices of plain cheesecake, items not on most stock up lists.

But then, Wednesday was a landmark birthday for me,
and Terry wanted to surprise me with something.
Our plans of lingering over mai tais and pink haupia cake at the Royal Hawaiian
while listening to waves washing on the shore had blown up.
I never anticipated spending this birthday, any birthday, isolated by a pandemic.

That one brief hour?
As a birthday treat, we walked in the open space along my beloved Piney Creek.
The red-winged blackbirds filled the air with whistles, trills, and chucks.
Spring is coming. One of the best gifts ever.

Heading into the Open Space

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Middle Pond

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Nests Waiting for Occupancy

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Winter-Weathered Rabbitbrush

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Open Space Along Piney Creek

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

A Pair of Mallard Ducks

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Cottonwood Stand

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Jetliner Out of Denver International Airport

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Cottonwood Limb

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

Upper Pond

Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 18, 2020

I can't imagine what the next week will bring,

but I'm optimistic we'll get through this surreal time.

I'll ease Terry's worries by staying inside,

and he'll ease mine by walking with me along Piney Creek.

Take care, everyone!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Friday, March 13, 2020

No Tropical Waters for My Tippy Toes

No tropical waters for my tippy toes,
no delicious mai tais to sip in the tropical breezes.

Mai Tai

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

This past week has been chaotic in the Barbour household.
We went from preparing and packing for three weeks in Hawaii and one in Vegas,
to canceling our trip and trying to recoup some of our money,
to unpacking and restocking the supplies in our house.
And that was for starters!

Last Thursday I hit my all-time-since-retirement record
of 35,312 steps on my Fitbit, and I never left the house.

Hibiscus

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

I'm the reason for all this chaos.
As a senior with asthma who is susceptible to bronchitis and pneumonia
and who is allergic to almost all antibiotics,
I reluctantly conceded that perhaps this wasn't the best time to be away from home.

Likely we would have been just fine on our trip,
but the downside medically and financially was definitely risky
if we ran afoul of the coronavirus.
My husband Terry was concerned about me, and my brother was FaceTiming me daily.
Better safe than sorry was their relentless message.

The View from the Top of Diamond Head

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

It was a huge letdown because we were looking forward
to seeing our friends and doing all the fun things we love.

We're not hunkered down and afraid. We're not hoarding toilet paper and tuna.
We're just trying to be prudent until the coronavirus situation becomes clearer.

The Toilet Paper Shelves at our Grocery Store

Aurora, Colorado, USA

I'll be around to catch up with all my blogging buddies,
and I'll get back on track with posting next week.

The upside to all of this is that I might finally catch my tail!

Sunset

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

Wishing you each peace and health during this crazy time.

This too will pass!
Meanwhile, my tippy toes remain ready to go.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

IWSG: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 ~ Opting Out

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex Cavanaugh are Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard,
Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence.

I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.
I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.
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Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.
This month's featured question is:

Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?

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Happy March, Everyone!
I hope all is well with you.

I'm opting not to answer this month's question.
February has been nuts, and I'm giving myself a pass.

Sunshine, warmth, and tropical breezes are beckoning.
I'm so ready to slow down and relax for a bit.

There is a Hawaiian tradition that I followed when I left two years ago.
I'm not sure it's a real tradition. It might have been a Hollywood invention.

Regardless, it is said that if you toss a lei into the water near Diamond Head
when you're leaving, you'll return to the Islands one day.

Pulling Me Back

Near Diamond Head, Hawaii, USA

2018

I tossed mine, and it's looking like that lei worked!

I plan to be dipping my tippy-toes in that tropical water very soon!

If you have a chance stop by today's IWSG Anthology post
featuring Bish Denham and her short story "The Blind Ship."
Link