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COVID, week 17 + #Hope5kChallenge + the seeming incongruency of ‘risk reduction’ orders

COVID, week 17 + #Hope5kChallenge + the seeming incongruency of ‘risk reduction’ orders

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Before jumping into my weekly diatribe about life in the age of COVID, before I forget, I want to share information that Isadora shared with me — about a great (and easy!) way to support a local, volunteer-run non-profit in Mountain View: Hope’s Corner. From July 5-August 5, Hope’s Corner is trying to raise $5k in its 5x5x5 challenge. It’s a virtual challenge where you donate $5 to the organization, complete a 5k event of your choice (run, hike, walk, swim [!!!], whatever you fancy), and then get 5 of your friends to also donate and participate: hence 5 [dollar donation]  x 5 [k activity] x 5 [friends you get to do the same], the #Hope5kChallenge. 

From Isadora: Hope’s Corner is a great cause (http://hopes-corner.org). If you’re not familiar with them, they’re a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides free nutritious hot meals every Wednesday and Saturday to homeless, low-income, and vulnerable folks at their location in downtown Mountain View. Everyone is welcome – no one is turned away. They also offer homeless individuals use of 2 onsite showers and laundry services, which are expected to restart soon. (They were paused due to COVID-19.)

With the effects of COVID-19 hitting folks with few resources especially hard, Hope’s Corner has more than doubled the number of meals it serves. (In May, they provided more than 2100 meals!) More and more, they’re seeing families and laid off workers coming to pick up meals. They’re also delivering meals to day workers and individuals living in RVs – right here in Mountain View. (Thank you!)

I donated and participated on Sunday, when A completed her last day of 5k training and the day before G began hers — more on that below — and I encourage all my readers everywhere to do the same 🙂  You can donate here: tinyurl.com/5x5x5forHope). 

In what has otherwise been a pretty frustrating week, between the increasing number of COVID cases everywhere, including here in California; the uncertainty surrounding the school-year (we’re barely a month out from the first day, but who’s counting?); and my amplifying utter disdain for #45 and his complete inability to do literally anything required of a sentient human being, let alone one who is a president, being able to participate in the virtual challenge to support Hope’s Corner was like a breath of fresh air. And hey, kickoff day coinciding exactly with the last day of A’s 10-week 5k training was a pleasant surprise! 

The July 4th holiday was Saturday, and I think this year is one of the only times in recent history where we’ve actually been in California, not Ohio, for this part of the summer, making being here kinda novel but also somewhat weird. In the absence of city-sponsored fireworks displays and other typical summertime activities that are still closed (Great America, many beaches were closed over the weekend, etc.), it sorta felt like any other weekend around here: mostly just hanging out (though, to be fair, we did get to watch Hamilton on Disney+, so that was exciting). It wasn’t particularly anything to write home about, but that’s also been more or less the same story for the past four months, so … consistency? 

Since last week, Dr. Cody issued new “risk reduction orders” that will allow for outdoor dining to resume in SCC, as well as larger in-person outdoor and indoor (!!) gatherings. (Weirdly, the state initially rejected the application on 7/4, but then suddenly they okayed it on 7/7. I don’t know the backstory here, but I find it very odd, at least at face value. What measurably, meaningfully changed in three days). Anyway, the new guidelines go into effect on 7/13, assuming that the state doesn’t come out with stricter rules between now and then, but what’s wild to me is that the “risk reduction orders” are being released while our case numbers are increasing from “very low” to “low,” in Dr. Cody’s words. Huh? 

I guess we’re past the point of sheltering in place indefinitely and are now trying to figure out how to “do life” as safely as possible, but it all seems to be pretty incongruent to me. (Don’t get me wrong: I don’t want to spend another 4+ months at home 24/7, with even outdoor places like parks and beaches closed, but it still blows my mind that so many people are willing to practically snap their fingers and return to their pre-COVID lifestyles without even as much as a hesitation). How? It makes me think of what I wrote last week: what’s it like to not care? I guess part of SCC’s ability to begin implementing new “risk reduction orders” is due to its testing capabilities and hospital capacities, but still, at face value, to hear that case numbers are rising and that life is beginning to open up again, in the same breath, is puzzling, to say the least. And, ya know, the suffocatingly large elephant in the room — figuring out the school opening side of the equation — remains to be seen … deep, cleansing breath. It’s like I can literally feel the cortisol levels rising. 

So. Here we are. Fortunately, my family and I remain healthy, and like most anyone else right now, we are continuing to take everything a day at a time. Both last week and this week, we went to the beach — last week, to Santa Cruz, and today, to Aptos — and both times, especially today, it was super easy to stay very, very far away from other people. I can’t tell you how nice it was to simply disconnect for three hours today and listen to the rumbling waves and to my kids’ high-pitched squeals and shrieks all afternoon. 

This summer is shaping up to be one to remember, for sure. It’s like the scales have tipped this year, in that last year, we were in the midwest for over six weeks of the summer, between Illinois and Ohio, and this year, we’re here at home, all day, every day, most every day, like some weird yin/yang got just balanced out or something. The girls and I have been talking a lot about topics related to anti-racism, Black Lives Matter, and social justice, and it has been illustrative to have these types of conversations with them. Kids ask such good questions, and no surprise here, I don’t know all the answers. We are all learning together. I know there are tons of reading lists out there right now, but if you want a couple suggestions from me, I’d encourage you to pick up Resist and One Crazy Summer. We’re reading both right now and really enjoy them, even G, who’s four.  

On occupying time and settling mental unrest 

Listening. My listening in the past week was more heavily weighted toward running than toward anti-racism; here, I can’t recommend the 7/1 Code Switch episode enough. It was fascinating and reminded me a lot of some books I read on similar subjects in the past couple years (Futureface comes to mind immediately). Otherwise, I just listened to the original episode from Keeping Track, back in October ‘19 (slowly making my way to the present), and I began listening to the Roches’ new SWAP podcast. I have so many more to listen to, still!  You?   

Reading. I’m just about done with White Fragility — I have 16 hours to read the final 33%! — and this is another one of those must-reads for everyone and one to which I imagine returning again in the future. Initially, I thought it was fairly redundant at first, probably because I had just read Me and White Supremacy. I know there has been some recent dissent, or criticisms, about White Fragility, so once I finish the book, I want to read some of the critiques to see for myself how (and why, and what are) people criticizing about the book’s points or the actual author, herself. Next up in the immediate queue is Such a Fun Age and White Rage. You?   

Running. Ten weeks of 5k training wrapped up for A on Sunday! Silly and obnoxious mom moment here, but I’m really proud of her. Part of why I wanted her to participate in 5k training (based on a public training program I pulled from Girls on the Run) was because I wanted her to have the actual fitness and physical activity component, of course, but I also wanted her to have the benefit of something consistent and regular to which she could look forward while most everything else in our lives is in flux. It was definitely a learning process, and I think more often than not, she enjoyed it, so I’m calling it a success. In any event, she helped G get bitten by the running bug, so on Monday, we kick-started her 10-week 5k training program with coach A and me in tow.  

Things that are physically or emotionally hard to do or manage, in no particular order. Deep cleaning. Children. Unmedicated vaginal childbirth. Speedwork. Attempting a marathon PR. Marriage, sometimes. Having GI issues mid-run with nary a toilet in sight. Friendships and relationships, sometimes. Getting mystery spots out of flooring. Surgeries. Being physically away or separated from family members and friends. Dicing vegetables with subpar, dull knives. Yours? 

Things that are not physically or emotionally hard to do or manage: covering your face in public!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   

Be safe, stay well, and continue to listen and learn. xo

PS: Sorry for the lack of pics; wordpress isn’t being cooperative, and it’s late, so I’ll post in IG what I would have posted throughout here this week. boohiss

COVID, week 16 + opting out

COVID, week 16 + opting out

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The hardest part about writing is getting started. I haven’t kept track, but my guess is that I’ve written and rewritten the beginning part of this weekly update upwards of ten times since I began writing it this afternoon, and I keep backtracking, deleting, and rewording because it seems that I don’t have the words to properly express my sentiments right now, sixteen weeks into shelter in place and a COVID-dominated life.

the neighbors are rockin’ it again

Of course, I am profoundly lucky to be at home, to be safe, to be keeping my children and my family healthy and safe, and my family elsewhere also continues to be safe and well, even those who work in the medical field. There are millions of people worldwide (and these ranks are growing daily) who no longer have the luxury of saying that they and/or their families are well, because they are or were sick, and it is gutting, and tragic, and so incredibly sad. 

It angers me how some people are seemingly “opting out” of this virus-dominated life right now. My main question: how? I would love to know and understand the reasoning behind the person who lives within a half-mile from me who was having what looked to be the party of the year a few weeks ago in their teeny, tiny yard, with tons of people shoulder-to-shoulder, but hey, who am I to judge? Maybe all 30 partygoers actually live in that small ranch that’s secretly an underground mansion compound. Spending time at the beach with the kids earlier this week was a welcome reprieve — and very easy to physically distance ourselves from other beachgoers — but I repeatedly pulled myself back from asking other patrons walking along the wharf (many who were in their 40s+, walking along with their elderly parents, all unmasked) their logic behind choosing not to wear a mask. I see pictures elsewhere, in other areas of the country, where restaurants and bars are open, and people are going shopping indoors without trepidation, and it’s easy to pile-in to small spaces, shoulder to shoulder, for those wonderful great group pictures; what’s going through your mind when you’re literally breathing other people’s air? Better still, what’s it like to have company over to your home — inside!?  

It’s not that I’m necessarily mourning or yearning for the good ol’ days when we could do all of the aforementioned without fear of contracting an unknown, ill-understood, deadly virus. I’m most bothered — and growing increasingly angry over — that seemingly huge segments of this population have decided that they cannot be bothered by this trifling virus, so they’re just going to pretend that it’s not relevant to them and just live their lives, as though they are, in some way, in control.

Isn’t that hilarious? This virus is just that, a virus, not some sentient being, and it sure as hell doesn’t care if you’re tired of it. That so many people think that they are immune to its inconveniences (and, ya know, its existential threat to them… detail schmetails though right) is just inconceivable to me. Here’s a similar parallel: when I was growing up, like a lot of girls, getting my period was a major annoyance. I eventually thought that maybe I could mentally will it away, that somehow — on my own accord, sans medical intervention — I could be in control of it, its duration, its heaviness, its intensity, whatever. 

Ask me how it turned out.

On occupying time and settling mental unrest 

Listening. Two podcasts that stood out to me in the past week stood in the crosshairs of running and racism: Samia Akbar on Ali on the Run and Keeping Track’s episode entitled Racing for Representation. They’re each a good 90 minute listen, and they’re both really well done. I’m fascinated to see how (and if) Runner’s World will respond in future issues, though to be fair, I haven’t been a paid subscriber in years. 

Reading. In the past week, I finished Between the World and Me and Thick, and they were both excellent and very different. Everyone raves about Between — as they should — but I haven’t heard as much about Thick, so please allow me to be the person to implore you to pick it up. It’s a collection of essays that are far-ranging in topic, but it was a fascinating read and took me back to graduate school. I’m linking it here because I think that if you’re interested in reading anything about race in this country right now, this book should be on your list. 

Running. All well here, fortunately. June was solid, with over 252 miles and more than 16,200’ of climbing, right around the same number of miles I’ve been doing lately and a bit more climbing than usual (no doubt thanks to ARP being open). With A’s 5k training this entire month (and ‘officially’ wrapping up this week), it meant that I got to run with my daughter (or daughters, plural) three times a week, which brings me more joy than I can describe. 

Stuff to do with the kiddos. The beach just opened last week Friday, so the kids and I went the other day, which was wonderful. The next day, we went to pick berries for the first time this season, too. It was nice to get some fresh air and leave our immediate neighborhood.   

Be safe, stay well, and continue to listen and learn, gang, because it’s the only way we’re all getting out of here.  xo