Life Of Abbie Wallflower In The Corona Quarantine

How Did It All Start? A panicked news headline appeared a couple days after the ball dropped at Times Square New York, marking the beginning of 2020. It was to be the year of the plague. I was at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, living my dream at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Those Happy New Year hats came straight from the hands of the Universal Orlando park staff. They had handed them to us on our way out from Universal Studios on December 31, 2019 - the last day of the year.

Little did I know Hogwarts would be shut down due to the plague in the months to follow. The news went something like a virus spreading internationally from Wuhan in China. And by the time I flew back home to Maryland from Orlando, it was getting bigger! Through January and February, I did not take it too seriously and kept hearing about its progression worldwide and the transmission through tourists and travelers. And then ... BOOM! towards the end of February, it started spreading in the US! 

The parks are now empty. "No lines" would normally be a dream come true! But this is heartbreaking! My happy place is closed. There is a feeling of despair - as if the Dementors have descended (like they did and surrounded the Hogwarts grounds). Everything is shutting down, gradually. Some states are under a complete lockdown. Maryland's Governor announced shutdown of all non-essential businesses! That's everything except grocery and food, law enforcement, and medical facilities.

Some of the most iconic places in the world have become ghost towns: Times Square NYC (where that ball dropped), Masjid Al Haram and Masjid Al Nabawi (the epicenters of Muslim faith), the Vatican (epicenter of Christian faith), Disney, Universal, Eiffel Tower, the streets of Italy ... I had never imagined to see such a sinister time. 

And now, I am watching as the world is adopting my (highly criticized) introvert's lifestyle. My lifestyle. The lifestyle of Abbie the wallflower.

People are getting withdrawal symptoms, panic attacks, and manic anxiety episodes from the "social distancing" they have signed up for during the Corona Virus scare. I am flabbergasted! A SAT word is required to address the situation. As the Coronavirus plague continues to cause a storm, as the pandemic continues to kill, everyone (at least the sane ones!) has self-quarantined themselves. The term “social distancing” --- my normal lifestyle --- has become the face of the Corona quarantine campaign.

They are telling people to self-reflect while they are home. Hmm ... so what am I doing? Um, I have been an eternal homebody all my life - loads of self-reflection has already happened. Social distancing has been my thing since always. Ah, the lone wolf, the lover of solitude, the freakshow of social circles! ... The Corona Quarantine has not bothered me as far as the social disconnect is concerned.

Life has changed somewhat though ...

Since everybody is home more than usual, cooking and pantry planning has doubled. Ramadan (fasting month) is upon us (starting April 23, 2020) and with paranoid people looting the retailers, stocking up has become difficult. I wish I had stocked up on oatmeal! But I managed to find some containers at my blessed Target just in time. Eggs and milk continue to be a challenge. So, I am continuously on an online retail shopping spree to secure the staples of survival as the world goes crazy!

A terrible two's tantrum unfolds during Covid-19 Quarantine

Aunt Life has also been impacted! The chipmunks are more around because the libraries are closed, parks are not a safe option, and kiddy classes are suspended. The girlies are bored, they need more entertainment, they need more snacks! I'm challenged! I am the one with the stove and cooking pans! But then my state is not as cray cray as my friends with kids! They have kids of various sizes, shapes, and moods! Since schools are out, these specimen are now 24/7 at home. They need food, they need attention, and they wish to be entertained 24/7.
Work's always been from home for me. But there are tenant move-in delays causing the only negative impact at the moment. There's a hot water heater installation on hold at one property. Everyone's patient so far.
Let's see how long this lasts!