Months ago we tried to get tickets to "Hamilton" (Ethan's favorite musical). We failed. A few weeks later tickets for "Dear Evan Hansen" (Libby's favorite musical) went up for sale. Michael logged into the virtual ticket line, waited six hours, and just managed to get four tickets to the show. None of the seats were together, it was really expensive, and it was in Salt Lake City. Despite all of these things, we booked tickets and happily made plans to attend. We enlisted my adult nieces to stay with Grace and Sam. We made arrangements to crash on a friends floor the night before the play. I squirreled away a wad of money to visit IKEA. I washed and vacuumed the car. Libby bought road trip snacks. Laundry was washed so it could be easily pack. We were to leave in less than 24 hours, and all was in readiness. We were to leave Friday at noon.
Thursday I got off work and got a call from my friend Whitney, the owner of the floor we were going to crash on. She was wondering if our play was still scheduled, as the mayor had just banned large gatherings. We were still hopeful, but guarded. Two hours later Michael checked the venues facebook page and discovered our play (and many others) were canceled, and then he quickly received an email promising us a refund. Within the same hour we got an email saying that all church and church activities were canceled until further notice. The news also reported that the Boise mayor has asked for no gatherings over 250 people until further notice. No play, no trip, no church, no nothing. Plans of months fell apart in a couple of hours.
We have a weekend babysitter but no place to go. Do we still go to Salt Lake and hit IKEA? Do we stay home and save the money? Do we try finding a more local place on short notice? I just don't even know. I have dissapointed teens. I have diasspointed younger kids who were greatly looking forward to hanging out with their older cousins. I have a dissapointed self who was looking forward to IKEA. Michael is the only way not horribly dissapointed, and that is because preparing for the Corona virus is making his job pretty demanding right now.
A uncommon cold is wreaking havoc! I truly understand why organizations are taking the precautions they are. Precautions were ignored in Italy, and the country is struggling with a epidemic, and don't have the resources to treat it. If we can slow the spread of the virus, our infrastructure can handle the illness. Our country cannot handle it, though, if we all get sick at once. I understand all this. I truly do. That doesn't change how I feel though. I think Covid-19 is a big bully. He threatens, and threatens, and threatens. And we don't really have any choice. We have to roll over and do what he says, or he might just kill our grandparents. He's a jerk. And he's made me very grumpy, and I (along with billions of others, I'm sure) feel powerless.
*Update* -- More things that are closed/canceled: Boston Marathon (my brother was due to run), Robie Creek race, flights, Disneyland, cruises.
All the German foreign exchange students at Borah were sent home. The other exchange students are on pins and needles about their future plans. The school district is announcing school plans later today.
The grocery stores have been emptied of cleaning supplies, paper goods, bread, and canned goods. Strangely, the one I was in still had fully stocked chip and cookie aisles.
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