Telling Our Stories Workshops to be Rescheduled
Telling Our Stories: A Workshop for Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Violence has been postponed to a later date due to the Covid-19 virus.
If you would like to be notified when Telling Our Stories will be rescheduled, please send your name and email using this form; write Telling Our Stories in the message.
Meanwhile, stay well. Wash your hands.
Before heading to New Jersey last Friday, I watched this video from the World Health Organization about How to Wash Your Hands. I’ve never particularly enjoyed hand washing before, but these days I find great pleasure in the process of spending thirty to sixty seconds at a time going through the washing protocol and rinsing with warm water. It’s another opportunity for mindfulness – and it feels so good.
Hand Washing in NYC
I rode a New Jersey Transit bus into Manhattan on Saturday, and as soon as I arrived at the Port Authority, I washed my hands. At the Tenement Museum, I washed my hands before and after the tour, Under One Roof, and again in the Port Authority before I boarded the bus for the ride back. As soon as I arrived at my cousin’s house, I washed my hands, and again before dinner.
Back to Vermont
At the rest stop on the drive home, I didn’t only wash my hands, but I used my elbow to open outward swinging doors and pulled my sleeve over my fingers to pull on door handles. I knew I’d need hand sanitizer to keep in my car and other times when there wasn’t clean water and soap, but I dislike hand sanitizer. I dislike the texture, the smell, and the idea that the world is full of germs. Most of the time, those germs are okay. But not right now.
I’d read a recipe for homemade sanitizer on the WHO website, so I was okay that the stores were all out. I made my own at home. with all the ingredients on hand: a cup of Isopropyl alcohol (91%), a teaspoon of glycerine, and two tablespoons of water. I sent Tim in pursuit of some squeeze bottles while I mixed up a couple of batches.
I also replaced hand towels with paper towels by each hand washing sink. After good hygiene, I hoped for good luck
Under Siege or Living in Place?
Living under siege isn’t drastically different from Living in Place, where I spend the majority of each day by myself. While remaining in isolation, I might even get to some of those chores I’ve been avoiding but must do, like my taxes.
I also realize that I might get sick. As a Primary Care Physician, Tim will be exposed to the virus, which means I will be too. It won’t be the first time. I had the H1N1 swine flu in 2009 and was in bed for most of three days. I hadn’t been sick since 1995, when I was so ill with the ordinary flu I couldn’t take care of my kids.
Since then, I’ve had an annual flu shot. I’m hoping that the combination of twenty-five years of immunizations and my general good health, I’m well-positioned – but not guaranteed – to survive a mild case of coronavirus. And if I don’t get sick, I’ll enjoy Living in Place, because there’s no place I’d rather be than home.