2020 Lockdown - A Pandemic Journal

Our cruise ended today and we are so happy to see our babies and puppies and kitties. There's no place like home! Having that break really gave me an appreciation of all that is my life. There is more news about the new virus in China. It has apparently come from a "wet market" in Wuhan. I had never heard of a wet market before. Apparently this is where they sell and kill animals for customers to take home to eat. I can't fathom this - we are very spoiled in the US with our pre-butchered, packaged, ultra clean meat. We just need to take it home and cook it well. Imagine selecting your live chicken and watching the butcher wring it's neck and dunk it in boiling water to loosen it's feathers, then cutting off it's head to drain the blood. (I see where the "wet" comes in! Yuck) I don't know if they gut the chicken there. I wish I knew the full process, but they don't allow much information to get out of China. It's a Communist nation, ...

This cruise has been truly fabulous. We have danced every night, saw whales and went snorkling with cheesy pirates in Cabo San Lucas, and had a jello shot at Senor Frogs. What more could two middle-aged people ask for in terms of entertainment? However... I found out my eldest is sick in bed with a fever and chills. He's pretty miserable, but he's a tough one and I'm facetiming some tender loving mama care to him. In the news, there is nothing but Impeachment hearings against Donald Trump. What a waste of time. Now we are hearing about an outbreak of a new virus out of China? Ugh - change the channel! We continue our hand sanitizing practices, especially if we are in the casino. I noticed someone tossed their DayQuil package into the window sill. I am again vindicated.  People can be so selfish! To be out gambling when you need a heavy cold medication.  Wow.

Today is the day! I've done everything I can think to prepare us all for the next week. Food has been stocked up, cat and dog food as well, medicines ready, list of chores and daily schedule, and coverage for both drop off and pick up at school, dinner ideas and even frozen meals ready to heat. We have two babysitters, a mother-daughter dream team to look after the kids. I'm ready! Rich and I board the Royal Princess just after noon and get to go directly to our stateroom. Now, I'm a slight germaphobe, so I take my antibacterial wipes out and hand one to my husband. We wipe every possible surface we could think of, we aren't letting a case of Norovirus ruin our vacation! Now, we could settle in. We unpack and flop down on the fluffy white queen-sized bed. We are on vacation! We were called to Muster very soon after we unpacked. Muster is when you must gather in your assigned group in an emergency. Our muster group was held in the Casino just two flights of stairs do...

I'm finally feeling well enough to participate in life outside the house again. Tonight I have a lesson at my dance studio. I started Arthur Murray ballroom dance lessons 10 months ago and it's the best hobby ever. Tonight I'm working on Foxtrot with Renzo, the studio's owner. He's truly amazing to work with, even if he does make fun of me for not breathing because I'm concentrating on my footwork. I'm turning 50 years old on January 15th and I booked a last minute Princess Cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It'll be the first time we leave the kids at home for more than a couple of days. I'm excited, if a little anxious about it. Not having to cook, clean, get up early or chauffeur children around for 7 days is a dream come true, plus I get to dance every night. Yay for me!!