With long severe winters and snow on the ground for six months, summer days were treasured and spent as much out of doors as possible. One summer afternoon the kids and I were in the backyard when we noticed dark clouds on a horizon that stretched far into the distance. The big sky and wide open space gave one a literal bird’s eye view and though the clouds were moving in our direction, it was still a comfortable distance away. As it neared, a wind churned up the branches of the cottonwood and turned the ripening barley fields into an ocean of rippling waves.
The three of us stand enthralled by the approaching storm.
Kris suggests, Let’s wait until the rain reaches us.
The first raindrops are large and heavy as they smack into us and we instinctively run to shelter under the nearest lilac bush. It was the wrong decision as we are soaked to the skin in a few seconds, and we laugh raucously as we make a dash for the backdoor and safety.
Wuhan, China was deceptively faraway but the world watched as the contagion spread to other countries and now with alarm we step backwards into our homes for it is raining at our very doorstep.
Here’s how the COVID-19 storm began unfolding:
I bought my air ticket to Medicine Hat in November 2019, four months before I was to travel there to mark my son’s 40th birthday.
Feb 14 - I chatted with Safira. Plans in place.
March 1 - With Safira in mind, I expressed concerns to Kris about the risk of exposure from travel. Kris said he had not been keeping up with the news and that the subject had not been discussed. They didn’t seem to have any concerns. Safira was recovering from a recent illness. Plans still in place.
Ambiguity about whether to go or not plagued me constantly. I don’t see the kids often and I had looked forward to this trip for months. I was not ready to cancel.
March 7/8 - Talked with Kris who said that Safira had pneumonia but was being treated at home and that the worst was over. This was not good news and mentally knew chances of the visit were slipping away. Even though they were no confirmed cases yet in NM, none in MH and only one in Calgary, I was concerned about traveling through LAX. I was looking at purchasing a one way return ticket through CO which had no cases yet to avoid LAX. I told Kris that Preeti and I had talked about meeting in Calgary as Plan B. Raphael cancelled his trip to NYC and Wash DC and I was beginning to feel some pressure to do the same. Even though I told Kris it was likely I would not travel, I still held out hope that I might be able to go.
March 9 - I packed up the gifts for Kris and Safira and mailed the parcel at the post office. This act signified my decision to cancel, even though I continued to make mental arguments to go. Over the next couple days, I wept with disappointment but felt it was the right decision with Safira and Raphael being among the vulnerable populations. Even though Kris still didn’t think the visit should be cancelled.
March 11 - NM gets its first confirmed case. Kris cancels birthday visit with Preeti and Chris who were still planning to go.
March 12 - NM closes all public schools. I cancel my air tickets. Preeti has a bad day as all their alternate plans come to nothing.
March 13 - Preeti and Chris drive to a cabin in Northern Wisconsin near Lake Superior to hideout for six days. Just heard they’ve extended their stay as Chris’s school is closed and Preeti has the rest of the week off.
March 14 - Raphael and I go camping in Elephant Butte for four days.
March 17 - All public and private schools close in Illinois.
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