The Stillness (Life During Pandemic)

There’s a quiet, a silence that builds after each new update, each new rule tacked on, because some can’t seem to listen.

I went to the store today to pick up something, and a lot of the walk was in silence, I did see a few people at the state park, likely locals walking with their family and a few in the Mercantile because that was the only store opened, and suddenly a trip to the store becomes both exciting and nerve wracking. The Mercantile I am not worried about because I know she practices social distancing, and I know that she’ll likely have what I need, but in a few days I need to go into town, to Walmart and Safeway to get what I need, and honestly it makes me nervous. Thankfully we don’t have any cases up here, at least not confirmed, but it’s still a stessful thing.

Normally I love to go grocery shopping, planning meals, cooking, those are some of the things I inherited from my Nonna. But suddenly it becomes a chore with people going crazy and hurting one another.

Now don’t get me wrong I see the goodness too, but I can’t help but be a little apprehensive.

I get tired of staying in and listening to Newsbreak after Newsbreak, so I put on a documentary or a movie, or reruns of Bones or I walk around the block, the fact that I live in a more rural area has been a blessing but even here you can feel the silence that follows uncomfortable change.

The quiet at times can be deafening, but if you listen closely enough, you can also hear the sounds of hope.

© Michelle R Kidwell

Sunday March.29.2020