Went for a drive today. Listened to world café on WXXI. They were interviewing one of the songwriters who worked on the musical Jagged Little Pill. I thought it was a neat interview. Later, they played Jewel’s who will save your soul and Tracy Chapmin’s new beginning. It isn’t often that there are four good songs on the radio, consecutively, without changing the station. Singing along without having to worry about who could hear me was a really nice time.
Once, not too long ago, I would drive fast with the windows down and blast pop music and sip black coffee out of an open mug. Even when the air was freezing cold, like it was today. Mostly just to keep from feeling anything.
I aaam not feeling looped in with that part of myself at the moment.
It was really fucking cold out, like I said. It takes forever for the heat to start working in the Jeep. My hands just about froze to the steering wheel and typing is still difficult. Also, the tank was almost empty and I was not entirely sure that my debit card had enough funds to get me out of that situation. I made it there and back fine.
On the radio on the way home, they were interviewing an expert on the ethics of vaccine distribution. Health care workers and adults with preexisting health conditions are two groups given some of the highest priority, I think. My dad is in both of those groups.
Since I’m relatively young, not working in an essential service, and I don’t have a preexisting health condition, I’ll probably be one of the last to receive a vaccine. I’m not sure what the approach is for students, yet. The risk of transmission to family members feels like the biggest concern. Right now, I’m trying to set up my schedule for next semester so that I don’t have to go on campus, because – I don’t think the SUNY system is going to fully transition everything online. We’ll see what happens.
A couple of weeks ago, Jenna’s mother and step dad caught and recovered from the virus, but her step dad was hospitalized for dehydration. Currently, a friend from high school is in quarantine since her roommate tested positive. Way back in February, an acquaintance of my dad’s was stuck on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan for like two weeks when the virus broke out onboard.
A few people at SUNY Geneseo have tested positive and are isolating in one of the disused dorm buildings. I think maybe there are like forty cases in the county where I live overall.
In this moment, I’m finding that I’m a bit frightened. I don’t know if fear does much of anything to help.
This is one of the first times that I’ve felt happy that there isn’t really family to be with on Thanksgiving. We’ll watch reruns of the parade at home, cook some food.
Maybe that’s enough.
I hope it’s an excellent Monday.