I used to take a lot of things for granted. Like running out to the grocery store a few times a week. Or going out to a restaurant for a meal. Or having our adult kids stop by for a visit. Or going to see a movie on Tuesday afternoons when we could get half-priced tickets.
I used to not have to wear a face mask and put on disposable latex gloves on those rare occasions when I do have to go to the grocery store to pick up a few critical items like milk, eggs, butter, and Ben & Jerry’s Stephen Colbert’s Americone Dream ice cream. And I would get toilet paper if they’d ever get any in stock.
I used to be able to walk our dog and let her frolic with other dogs while I chatted with their owners. But now we have to keep our distance and our dog doesn’t understand why she can’t sniff other dogs’ butts.
Our entire San Francisco Bay area has been under “house arrest” since mid-March and the stay-at-home order had been extended through early May. Although I have my doubts that these stay-at-home restrictions will open up even then.
This is the closest thing I can think of to being in solitary confinement. Well, solitary with my wife, but confinement nonetheless.
Written for this week’s Tale Weaver prompt from Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie. Also for the WordPress Discover Prompt, “open.”
This, That, and the Other 
I think you’re right about the ending. People will see the graphs look as though everything is on the wane, and ignore the “stay home”. And if your public services are as bad as ours, the politicians can make all the laws they like but there is nobody to enforce them.
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We have no choice in this except to discover the best within the worst.
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Let’s hope we do discover the best.
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This is a confinement but thank God not solitary.
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I’m going stir crazy, nuts, from being cooped up. Its just insane…and this thing isnt going anywhere, I wish it damn well would!
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We all wish that!
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It is so scary because there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. On top of that it really seems like our country is handling this like a bunch of idiots.
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“On top of that it really seems like our country is handling this like a bunch of idiots.” That’s because our country is currently being run by a bunch of idiots.
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touche!
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You are lucky you and your wife can stay together, one of the good things about retirement, you have had some practice living in close proximity before the orders were made.
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True.
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Despite the message that others interpret in the reading – this is a wonderful post – a small tale and slice of reality – nicely penned Fandango.
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Thanks, Rory. I appreciate that.
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Absolute pleasure ‘ l will be tying it in to your provocative question this weekend my friend – because the sadness is is that’s the way things are the slowly dawning realisation that may for some reason haven’t seen yet.
Our yesterday’s are gone … l never thought l would see something in my lifetime this life changing.
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I don’t think any of us ever envisioned something like this.
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Our state is still holding out… no shelter in place order, just a request that Iowans stay home and only go out for necessities. Our governor is getting flack over it but sticking to her guns and not budging. And still TOO MANY people just bring the hole family shopping for a fun afternoon. They may figure it out once they or a family member they visit goes into the hospital.
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There should be a nationwide shelter in place order.
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There really should.
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