Today, I made absolutely sure my home was hygienically clean and ready for the children to come tomorrow. Both their rooms have been wiped down and every surface has been hygienically cleaned to ensure that there is nothing suspect lurking in the corners. Bear goes to collect the children at 3pm… and they will be subjected to temperature taking, throat checking and hand-washing the second they set foot in this house. I will not have them bring something suspect into my home unawares.
Bear working in the health sector means he can’t risk infection, as he works in a specialised air-conditioned unit with vulnerable adults. He tried to explain to me how to wash my hands properly… I stood and listened respectfully, and then chuckled when he realised he was trying to teach an expert. He may be the Nurse, but I’m the germophobe. I’ve been washing my hands properly up to 75 times every day for 25 years. There is nothing I don’t know about hand-washing.
It’s times like this that I need to be aware of my own vulnerability when it comes to cleanliness, there is always the chance that things will get out of my control and my OCD will take over. I’ll revert to previous behaviours and clean everything to within an inch of it’s life, including myself. So far I have control and have been able to clean what I know needs to be cleaned and am content with that. I haven’t felt that brain itch that means the crazy’s working overtime and my obsessive thoughts start intruding.
Bear had to explain to his mother why she should not have gone shopping yesterday and why she now will not be getting visitors until such time as the Corona virus precautionary measures have been lifted. Now, after reading everything there was to read online about the crisis, after having the causes and symptoms explained to her and being kept up to date as to where the outbreaks have been and how many people have died from the virus since it started here in the Netherlands, does she finally understand how serious it is and how it could cause her serious health issues for what will remain of her life if it doesn’t kill her first, if she gets it.
Two weeks after she was told to stay at home, unless it was absolutely essential, and to let her children help with shopping, errands and transport does she realise that she’s put her life at risk by stubbornly going off to the shop for a few bits of non-essential shopping. Now, she is scared. She’s not the only one who just doesn’t get it. Her husband who is 75 with failing health, failing mental health and heart disease decided he wanted to pop to the shop today, because Lidl had some good offers on some good quality foods that he likes, and he felt he was missing out.
He would have gone too, had his daughter not popped round to check on them both and found him prepping the car to go out. She gave him a very stern talking to, making it more than blatant that if he got the Corona virus, the paramedics wouldn’t even bother coming to the house to collect him. They’d let him die at home and leave his body for the morticians. She was quite harsh with him, but she was right. He is over 70, in ill health as it is, there is little chance he will survive if he gets the virus, and the paramedic services are essential elsewhere… Now, he too is scared.
I’m not sure I agree with the scare tactic when it comes to the elderly. They need to know exactly what is happening around them, the ways in which they can catch the virus, the precautions they should be taking, and why they need to self-isolate. Not be terrified with talk of them dying alone at home if they even so much as set foot outside their own home or get too close to other people. I’m not sure it helps. Yes, it gets the message across, but now both elderly people are terrified, thinking they have the virus already and fearing that they may die.
I’d rather they were appropriately cautious than lying in a hospital bed on a ventilator of course, but there are ways of getting the message across and the seriousness of the situation without resorting to scare tactics that just cause stress and fear and sleeplessness in people who are already vulnerable, and know it. I’ve sent reassurances that they are loved and valued, and that we are thinking of them and hoping that they stay safe. Bear went over tonight to reassure them.
He didn’t go in but maintained a short distance on the front path while they stood on their doorstep. He says his mother feels better now, although she is still somewhat afraid that she may already be infected and she’s promised to let him know how she feels every day and promised not to set foot outside of her property, nor let anyone else in until he tells her it’s okay. When she needs shopping she’ll let her step-daughter know, or she’ll let him know.
My sister’s wedding is becoming ever more a train wreck. As of today, she is allowed only 5 people at her wedding ceremony. The priest, herself, her husband and 2 witnesses. I only hope that’s not the case with the reception afterwards.
Dear Diary... 
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