Venturing Out
When the woman who dyes my hair called late yesterday afternoon to tell me she had a kit prepared for me and I could swing by and pick it up then or today, I decided it was about time I ventured out of the neighborhood. My only foray of late had been when my car battery started giving me trouble last week and I had to spend a good chunk of the day up in San Rafael at the dealership.
I have to honestly say I was nervous about going out of the hood, nervous about the handoff of the product. I have a hard enough time with the joggers and runners and the landscape people my dog and I run into on our walks who aren’t wearing masks or conscious of social distancing. I’m always the one who moves out of the way.
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But the idea of the handoff had me a tad frightened. I took the dog along, thinking we might walk along a different path, but it was so hot when we arrived in Mill Valley. Changed my mind quickly. As I pulled into the parking lot, the first thing I noticed was that the large Mexican restaurant was open for outdoor dining. I guess I hadn’t read that outdoor dining in our county was opened on June 1. The restaurant had taken over two of the parking slots and moved several of its tables outside. Pulled my car into the handicapped space right outside the hair salon. The owner came right out in a black mask, surprising me so I didn’t have time to pull mine totally on before the handoff.
Decided to give the car and us a little spin through the town to check if other businesses were open. The first thing I noticed upon entering the town was a group of about 20 high school girls crowded shoulder to shoulder outside the town’s grocery market. No masks. WTF? The Italian restaurant on the corner had two large white sunshades outside and a big sign announcing they were opening from 4:00-7:30. A cafe down the street was already open and people were sitting outside on tables which were appropriately distanced. There were more people walking around downtown than I would have expected. It felt too crowded for me so even though the downtown area is sufficiently shaded I wasn’t about to take the dog for a stroll.
The battery light in my car was indicating it not totally charged so I decided to drive through Sausalito on the way home to give it more of a charge. Several restaurants were open, including Lappert’s Ice Cream where about 10-15 people were congregated. Not all with masks. Not really socially distanced. The upscale Poggio was crowded with cocktail hour clientele; they’d spread their tables out some but I don’t think I’ll be going there soon.
It was a mixed bag, the outing. I came home feeling a sense bordering on terror that people aren’t taking this seriously enough. Or is it that I’ve become crippled by my fears?
Did my hair which took an hour while watching — for the first time in a long time — TRMS through to her handoff to Laurence. Rachel mentioned that at the end of All In, Chris Hayes had urged everyone who has attended demonstrations get tested for COVID. What a great idea!
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My daughter told me yesterday about an 80-year-old doctor she went to the Amazon with who posted this positive post on FB about how he has chosen to cherish this time of isolation, to use it to dapple in poetry, read things he hasn’t read for a while, enjoy his relationship with his dog. I’m trying so hard to shift my mind into that type of outlook.
Some days are better than others. I just have to remind myself of that. Some days are better than others. And nothing lasts forever.
How is everyone doing tonight? How’s about we share some funny stuff!
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