We’ve just finished our first month of “Stay Safer at Home” here in Maine and are now into month two. Yet for the Bennett family, it’s been over eight weeks of hunkering down.

When Hannah arrived home from Denmark on March 14th, we self-isolated until we knew that she was not infected with the Coronavirus. During those early days, Hannah diligently took her temperature twice a day, as recommended by the CDC. Every sniffle, every cough, every twinge gave us pause. Anxiety was the name of the game. I opted to work from home, worried that I would unintentionally pass the virus on to my colleagues.

The uncertainty of what a shutdown would mean had me heading to the grocery store almost daily that first week of my self-imposed quarantine. I felt compelled to stock up on essentials – toilet paper included. I overspent my grocery budget to stock up on enough frozen and canned goods to last us a few weeks if need be. What did “stay at home” mean? Did it mean we couldn’t go out to the grocery? Would we have to survive on what was in our pantry?

On March 31st, Stay Safer at Home began in Maine. All non-essential businesses closed. I’m grateful and fortunate that I was able to continue to work – albeit from home. We restricted our grocery runs to once a week but enjoyed recreational outings while self-distancing. Given that we’re such a rural state getting outdoors was encouraged. As the weeks passed and COVID-19 left my community largely untouched, my anxiety waned.

Today, we continue in lockdown – now until May 31st. Those who can work from home should continue to do so, and Mainers will be required to wear face masks in public settings. Some businesses like hair salons, pet groomers, car dealers, and drive-in theatres may reopen with strict social distancing policies.

Provided that May proceeds without a significant increase in the spread of the disease, more businesses will be able to open in June – although guidelines indicate that workers who can work from home should continue to do so.

A look back at my world during COVID Quarantine Month One

The Good

• I love working at home – I love being at home.
• I have an officemate. We added a desk for Hannah. It’s wall-to-wall furniture, but it works.
• I can wake every morning naturally, without the alarm, and be at my desk by 7:30 or 8 a.m.
• I am keeping a self-imposed schedule during the week.
• Gidget is thrilled to have me around 24/7.
• With no commute, I spend the extra time on the treadmill – up to 60 minutes a day.
• As disappointed as I am that Hannah’s European travels were cut short, I’m enjoying this unexpected time with her.
• I fill up the car with gasoline only once every few weeks.
• We didn’t have to survive on what’s in my pantry – traveling to the grocery is permitted.
• I have time to appreciate the joys of living in the woods with with wildlife right outside the window.
• I’m planning to get the veggie garden going after not having time for the past few years.
• My creativity is blossoming.
• Tax filing day is deferred to June 15th!

The Bad

• I now live at work.
• The refrigerator is 8 feet away from my office.
• I’ve eaten my weight in baby carrots this last month.
• I miss driving – the commute – the scenery – the photo ops – the time for audiobooks.
• I miss that downtime between work and home to process the day.
• I miss the “watercooler” chats with my colleagues.
• I miss the chocolate stash at the office.
• I miss hugs from friends and lunch dates.
• I miss meals I did not have to cook.
• I know I won’t finish my taxes on June 14th.

The Ugly

• I’m over Zoom video chats.
• I sit entirely too long at my desk.
• I watch way too much news.
• I can’t visit my family in Pennsylvania.
• My treadmill is on its last legs – and no stimulus check yet to help fund a replacement. This treadmill is my sanity. Yes, I can walk outside – but this is Maine – it snowed last week, and the black flies are due at any moment only to be followed by the mosquitoes!
• All non-COVID medical issues have taken a back burner. Hannah’s had hearing trouble since February when she became sick in Denmark. Her appointment with the specialist is mid-July. Many of our doctors here live out of state and only have limited days to see patients. Now some can’t get here at all. It makes me feel like we’re living in a third-world country.
• Risking your life for a grocery store run is beyond comprehension.

Understand that I know how fortunate I am. I write this as an opportunity for reflection. I wonder where we’ll be a year from now (or longer) and what I’ll think of this entry when I browse through past posts?