My New Normal
Apr. 4th, 2020 02:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cjlasky7Things have somewhat stabilized around here. My wife has almost completely recovered from her diverticulitis attack, and my son has settled into his Google Classroom/remote learning.
(Not everything is perfect, though. I've been experiencing chest discomfort after meals and sitting/lying in certain positions. I may have the beginnings of a gastrointestinal/esophageal problem that will need attention when the world is no longer ending.)
I am still working, about one hour a day, processing the ATM at the Borough Park branch. I was asked to process ATMs at multiple branches of the bank until more employees come out of self-isolation. I flatly refused. With my wife still in an immuno-suppressed condition, I can't go bouncing around the city, possibly picking up the virus along the way. After they received my email, management decided not to press the issue. (I think I'm okay.)
That doesn't mean I'm completely relaxed going in at Borough Park. Arriving in the neighborhood is no problem; I take the car, and I can usually find a parking space about a block from the bank. Then comes the tricky part--avoiding the piles of garbage swirling around on the sidewalk and the unmasked people walking around the streets. I can usually weave my way through and wait in the vestibule until my co-worker comes in and opens the door.
Once inside, I feel like I'm probably in the safest place in Brooklyn. Nobody has been in the bank for over a week, and not even a super virus can hang on for that long. As long as I wear gloves to handle the cash and checks, I can relax and just do my work. In an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, it's weirdly comforting.
****************
I'm also responsible for supply runs for the family. Our local supermarket is two blocks away, an easy and relatively stress free walk. Over the last few days, they've implemented a "customer capacity" policy, and you have to wait outside (six feet apart, of course) until enough customers have left the store.
It's incredibly sad walking along 13th Avenue in broad daylight on a Friday afternoon, to see everything but a few stores closed, the streets nearly deserted except for anonymous figures in masks furtively scurrying from place to place. It's like post-apocalyptic science fiction--except it's happening today.
We've got at least another month to go. Hold on, everybody.
(Not everything is perfect, though. I've been experiencing chest discomfort after meals and sitting/lying in certain positions. I may have the beginnings of a gastrointestinal/esophageal problem that will need attention when the world is no longer ending.)
I am still working, about one hour a day, processing the ATM at the Borough Park branch. I was asked to process ATMs at multiple branches of the bank until more employees come out of self-isolation. I flatly refused. With my wife still in an immuno-suppressed condition, I can't go bouncing around the city, possibly picking up the virus along the way. After they received my email, management decided not to press the issue. (I think I'm okay.)
That doesn't mean I'm completely relaxed going in at Borough Park. Arriving in the neighborhood is no problem; I take the car, and I can usually find a parking space about a block from the bank. Then comes the tricky part--avoiding the piles of garbage swirling around on the sidewalk and the unmasked people walking around the streets. I can usually weave my way through and wait in the vestibule until my co-worker comes in and opens the door.
Once inside, I feel like I'm probably in the safest place in Brooklyn. Nobody has been in the bank for over a week, and not even a super virus can hang on for that long. As long as I wear gloves to handle the cash and checks, I can relax and just do my work. In an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, it's weirdly comforting.
****************
I'm also responsible for supply runs for the family. Our local supermarket is two blocks away, an easy and relatively stress free walk. Over the last few days, they've implemented a "customer capacity" policy, and you have to wait outside (six feet apart, of course) until enough customers have left the store.
It's incredibly sad walking along 13th Avenue in broad daylight on a Friday afternoon, to see everything but a few stores closed, the streets nearly deserted except for anonymous figures in masks furtively scurrying from place to place. It's like post-apocalyptic science fiction--except it's happening today.
We've got at least another month to go. Hold on, everybody.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-04 07:19 pm (UTC)Smart to turn them down on that. Relieved you did. I did the same thing when my boss tried to get me to go into the office for a bid opening in two weeks - instead another manager convinced him to put it off until August.
I foresee three months - I'm watching Italy and China - they started in January and Feb. And Italy didn't manage to flatten the curve until now. That's three and half months.
Glad your wife is better. Hope the family in Jersey that came down with COVID-19 is okay?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-04 08:53 pm (UTC)I'm only dealing with my own bank. (Sterling does have a branch nearby.)
I'm kind of dreading when the higher ups decide to reopen my branch. I just know it'll be too early.