Tuesday was a busy day for us. There were 10 cases of COVID-19 reported in the islands. We needed to go out and get a special treat for my uncle who was celebrating his 100th birthday. A planned surprise party had to be postponed because of the pandemic, but Art just couldn't let the day go by unacknowledged by us.
We tried going to Sam's Club for some special mochi (rice dessert) for uncle, but the line snaking around the parking lot to enter the store deterred us. So we went to Don Quijote supermarket instead.
When we got home to pick mom up, a massive thunderstorm with high winds swept down on us. What to do, what to do. We couldn't take mom to wish her brother-in-law a happy birthday in this kind of storm so we had her write a card for him.
It was very gratifying to see how happy uncle was to see us and the treats. He's always had a special fondness for Art and I loved seeing his face light up like sunshine that was evading us that day.
The rain subsided so we decided to do a FINAL grocery run to the commissary before the pandemic was too rampant in our state.
Both my kids and their families in Illinois and Maryland are all home in self isolation. It's really fortunate that they have jobs which allow them to work from home. It's got to be difficult with the kids running around, but they're managing.
As we headed for the commissary we got these group text messages from the kids:
Me: Parking at the commissary is crazy and it's raining!
Tiffany: Then go home! Stay away from crowds. Do you really not have enough food at home?
Keola: Yes, please stay inside. Try to not go anywhere where there are other people. This is why you've been storing away food. It's time to start eating those Pop Tarts. (Actually I've given those hurricane supplies from last year away.)
Tiffany: And spam. (Ummmm... OK, I have those.)
Keola: Umm... Is this message not being communicated in Hawaii?
Ed (My son-in-law): Yes... Please stay home. Use your hurricane supplies.
Keola: We're sheltering in place with 2 kids!!!
Tiffany: That can't be too hard. (Laughing emoji)
Keola: But seriously, Mom and Dad, please stay home.
Tiffany: Ditto to what Keola said!!!
Then I sent this photo to them. I could almost hear them sigh in exasperation.
Keola: You went in. (And he sent this gif.)
Tiffany: I hope you cleaned your hands, and didn't touch your face.
And so it was. We have promised that aside from getting some medications today where I won't have to be near too many people, we won't be going out anymore.
Uh oh... just got the news that we now have 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases but they were all tourists or locals who traveled out of state. So far, no community spread, but it’s just a matter of time.
POSTSCRIPT 1: Mayor Caldwell has just declared that all Oahu restaurants, nightclubs and bars are to close for 15 days effective Friday except for take out and deliveries. Recommendations by Governor Ige is to limit gatherings to no more than 10. He’s also asked tourists to postpone their trips to Hawaii for 30 days.
POSTSCRIPT 2: We just got 6 more cases. We’re now at 22!
POSTSCRIPT3: Good grief! In a matter of hours the count went to 26!
We tried going to Sam's Club for some special mochi (rice dessert) for uncle, but the line snaking around the parking lot to enter the store deterred us. So we went to Don Quijote supermarket instead.
When we got home to pick mom up, a massive thunderstorm with high winds swept down on us. What to do, what to do. We couldn't take mom to wish her brother-in-law a happy birthday in this kind of storm so we had her write a card for him.
It was very gratifying to see how happy uncle was to see us and the treats. He's always had a special fondness for Art and I loved seeing his face light up like sunshine that was evading us that day.
The rain subsided so we decided to do a FINAL grocery run to the commissary before the pandemic was too rampant in our state.
Both my kids and their families in Illinois and Maryland are all home in self isolation. It's really fortunate that they have jobs which allow them to work from home. It's got to be difficult with the kids running around, but they're managing.
As we headed for the commissary we got these group text messages from the kids:
Me: Parking at the commissary is crazy and it's raining!
Tiffany: Then go home! Stay away from crowds. Do you really not have enough food at home?
Keola: Yes, please stay inside. Try to not go anywhere where there are other people. This is why you've been storing away food. It's time to start eating those Pop Tarts. (Actually I've given those hurricane supplies from last year away.)
Tiffany: And spam. (Ummmm... OK, I have those.)
Keola: Umm... Is this message not being communicated in Hawaii?
Ed (My son-in-law): Yes... Please stay home. Use your hurricane supplies.
Keola: We're sheltering in place with 2 kids!!!
Tiffany: That can't be too hard. (Laughing emoji)
Keola: But seriously, Mom and Dad, please stay home.
Tiffany: Ditto to what Keola said!!!
Then I sent this photo to them. I could almost hear them sigh in exasperation.
Keola: You went in. (And he sent this gif.)
Tiffany: I hope you cleaned your hands, and didn't touch your face.
And so it was. We have promised that aside from getting some medications today where I won't have to be near too many people, we won't be going out anymore.
Uh oh... just got the news that we now have 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases but they were all tourists or locals who traveled out of state. So far, no community spread, but it’s just a matter of time.
POSTSCRIPT 2: We just got 6 more cases. We’re now at 22!
POSTSCRIPT3: Good grief! In a matter of hours the count went to 26!
We went to the grocery store on TUesday. SOme shelves were bare but not like your photo. It was sad to see. Made me cry.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and son-in-law are doing the same to me. It is like they are the parents now. Thank God for caring children!
ReplyDeletestay inside!!!! think about your mom. every time you go out you have a chance to bring it back to her. the only defense we have against this is to stay in. please stay safe!
ReplyDeleteI got the message from my gentleman friend Don that neither I nor my son were not taking this seriously enough. I get the social distancing but not the staying indoors. It seems like fresh air and sunshine would be a good thing and there are ways to be outside without having contact with people. Has there been an official "stay inside your house" statement or is that people's interpretation of what social distancing means?
ReplyDeleteYou can go for a walk, but don't interact with others.
DeleteOf course you can go outside. Just don't go for group walks and no lawn parties. :-)
DeleteI don't think people are supposed to hunker down indoors, especially if you live in Hawaii! But I can't fault your kids' concerns... sure wish people would stop emptying all the supermarket shelves though, that doesn't look any different than here in Pittsburgh!
ReplyDeleteI am wrestling with doing a little shopping in the first hour just for seniors tomorrow. The store is taking great precautions, and I do want them to continue this service. And as far as we know, our community hasn't been infected yet. I just don't know.
ReplyDeleteWe're the same, AC. My kids are working from home. JB went in early yesterday. he's very tired today, the emotional stuff is weighing heavily on him.
DeleteMy daughter is scolding us too. We are supposed to be social distancing. But M ran out of milk and I was just at the grocery store yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, the kids are right!
ReplyDeleteI wondered what was going on in Hawaii. You nor Gigi seemed to be in a panic to remain indoors and away from people. I have friends who have been vacationing there and they have posted all sorts of photos out in restaurants and tourist places. I thought Hawaii might be immune. Reading this post about 16 cases makes me think, not so.
ReplyDeleteSame from my kids, "do not go out." I am getting groceries delivered to my door. Pretty much everything but medical and grocery stores are closed here in SE Washington state. Restaurants are delivering take-out. Nuts! But I am complying.
ReplyDeletePeople in your family care a great deal for one another! I'm glad you were able to visit your Uncle for his birthday! But your kids are right, you know....
ReplyDeleteSo glad your uncle got to celebrate at least a bit. A Hundred years deserves celebration.
ReplyDeleteYour kids are right you know. Let's stop this as quickly as we can and it seems isolation is the key.
Stay safe.
I think Tom and I are taking this more seriously than our kids are. I think Jill and the grand kids' spring break to Hawaii is off, but they are coming to see us before they fly to Colorado to see the other grandparents. We are going to make them stay away from us for two weeks after they get back from flying.
ReplyDeleteWe took advantage of the old people and the infirm special hours at Safeway today, since it was time to restock milk and fresh fruits and vegetables, but the special hours are 7:00 to 9:00, way too early for our new stay at home routine. It wasn't too crowded, but there weren't enough check stands open and we accumulated there. We saw some people we knew and visited. We talked to people we didn't know also. It was friendly. But we kept our cart distances. And I thanked the clerks for risking their health for us, so we can eat. One clerk thought maybe they should be getting hazard duty pay. I agreed.
2020 is like a bad game of jumanji
ReplyDeleteLol, need to listen to younger people :)
ReplyDeleteYou have made it very clear how it is in Hawaii. I worry about all my dear blogging friends around the world, and I'm glad to hear that your kids are making you and Art behave. :-)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the USA.
ReplyDeleteStay safe, you three.
I have made several careful trips out of the house. Middle Son is the only one who expressed an option, and he was not amused.
ReplyDeleteAren't your California kids under quarantine?
DeleteI wish more people would get serious about self isolation.
ReplyDeleteWe are in isolation too. Not voluntarily tho.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see you. :)
I went out to Costco yesterday for a friend who is self isolating because she is sick and will be tested. Results take 3 days. It wasn't too crazy there - lots of Spam and I also bought milk, fresh berries, and produce for her.
ReplyDeleteI went to Costco again today for my sister whose son just arrived from NYC and is self quarantining himself in her downstairs space. It was crazy there. NO potatoes, no fresh berries, no Spam, and they had crowd control in place so the store wasn't packed with people at any one time. Very short lines at the cashiers. I then went to Times to buy potatoes - ample supplies and I just had to have peanut butter mochi.
Although the temptation is to buy much more than needed, I kept reminding myself that this is only temporary. I will try to stay at home more because my kids on the Mainland are also telling me to do so. I am so glad that we can still get takeout meals and will take advantage of that convenience.
btw, did you know that the Ichiriki restaurants (one of my favorite) is giving a 30% discount to all takeout orders if placed directly with them from March 20 - April 3? That will make me very happy.
I've only gone to stores at uncrowded times, and stayed inside or watched my hyacinths on my front porch. My Sam's handed each person a disinfectant wipe as we entered the store. FaceTime will be a good thing for parents and kids. Still scary. At one community hospital, all volunteers were told to stay home. Bet hospitals will forbid visitors soon. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering about making some cloth masks. I've checked the internet and it says tests were done comparing cloth to medical masks. They don't measure cloth to nothing.
Delete