I’ve been talking a big game about not trying to think too far into the future, and I guess I’ve been doing that, but at the same time, I was mentally preparing in the background for this to go on for a long time. Possibly a long, long time.
But just yesterday, it seemed like everything was suddenly turning around. Quebec announced that its public schools would go back mid-May, and that some businesses would be allowed to open. Now everyone is looking to Ontario – who have already announced a shutdown of all schools and businesses through to May 31 – to lighten up, already.
It’s really hard to say if this is a good thing or a bad thing or what. I guess time will tell.
But the very idea that my kids might go back to school sometime before the end of this school year was really shocking. I was just totally in the mode where I figured we’d be running with this routine until July, at least, and probably all summer. I wrote to my aunt yesterday and talked about how all our summer plans were cancelled and how there wouldn’t be any concerts or plays or museum visits or trips out for ice cream, but that I was okay with that.
But now maybe I don’t have to be? And we can maybe do stuff? With other people?
I have to say, this whole event has been a ROLLER COASTER of emotion. I can’t even figure out how I feel about the news that we might be turning a corner. Am I happy about it? Sad? Nervous? Scared?
People, I just don’t know. Probably all of the above.
One thing is clear though: I was extremely buried in the trenches, fully into the whole idea of hunkering down for The Long Winter, and was totally unprepared with any kind of emergence plan. I doubt we will rush to return to regular life, so now I’m faced with a zillion new decisions and rules to decide about and boundaries to set.
Okay, here is one thing I definitely do feel: overwhelmed. It’s very tempting to stick my head back in the sand and declare us to be a 21st century Wilder family, planning to live alone and isolated in the Big Woods forever and ever. It feels like the easiest decision right now.
Why can’t everything just be easy? SIGH.
TurtleHead 
I don’t know if you’ll consider this good news or bad news, but I think we’re definitely in this for the long haul. Today has been another day of big cancellations in our house / neighbourhood. My grade 12 son’s prom was officially cancelled, Bluesfest *finally* admitted there’s no way the show can go on this year, and our neighbours’ were relieved of the angst of deciding whether to cancel their summer booking by having the resort cancel it for them.
I think Quebec’s school thing is a weird outlier (with weird being the operative word).
Heck, maybe I’m wrong, and maybe the virus will just *poof* disappear in the warm weather. But if I’m wrong that means Trump is right … so think about a world where Trump is right. Maybe better to be in this for the long haul?
This feels too soon. In California no one is making any motions to open up schools or businesses. The shelter-in-place is definitely working, but we’re far from out of the woods. The only recent change is that now everyone is required to wear masks when in public. I’m not sure how quickly the virus is spreading in Ontario, but if it’s anything like it is here, … be prepared for more of the same for a while, I think.
Well, shut my mouth. Governor Newsom has just said “we are weeks, not months away”. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Four-stages-reopen-California-businesses-Newsom-15231931.php
Quebec is 100% copying what’s going on in France right now. Schools are also supposed to start on May 11 and the Premier of Quebec uses THE EXACT same wording as officials in France. Pretty funny in a way.
I feel the opposite, I think we’re in for the long run in Ontario and it makes me very, very sad. I have no idea what’s the best way to deal with the virus and I don’t want to sound like these crazy Americans demonstrating to reopen the country but at the same time, I think waiting, waiting and waiting is causing a lot of indirect damage on mental health, economy, etc. I know, I sound careless. I’m not. I guess I’m hoping for the best of both worlds, protecting the most vulnerables but also a path out of isolation and lockdown. (Note that I’m biased because we’re both out of work and Mark feels very lonely).
Out here there’s no word of that, our schools were closed “indefinitely” and although I am trying not to think too far out GOD I HOPE THEY GO BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
I still can’t think too far into the future because I’m pretty convinced that any opening up anywhere is going to result in a massive spike of cases and we’re all going to end up locked down the same or worse than we are now, and I can’t take thinking about that right now. I’m hoping hard that there will be some surprise treatment or a better test that will make things easier or clearer, but I’m still expecting the worst, because I’m afraid to hope and have that hope dashed.