Instead of getting closer as a society, we’re now told to “keep our distance.” That space a week ago was six feet apart – now experts are saying ten feet. I try to stay away from other people on the streets during my morning run, but they appear suddenly from around corners or find a way to interfere with my path. I’m not sure how aware of the situation the homeless of Portland really are, as they continue to wander the downtown streets? In some cases, they still approach me with questions, undoubtedly seeking money or food. However, I just keep running! I wish the same was possible in getting away from this deadly virus.

Oregon seems to being doing well in containing the Coronavirus spread, at least compared to other states. As of today, there are 165,539 cases in the U.S. and 2,860 deaths. Oregon has 606 reported, but our Washington neighbor to the north has 4,896 while California to the south notes 6,909. We’re definitely surrounded! Projections show that COVID-19 could ultimately kill 100,000 to 240,000 Americans before all is said and done. The alarming thing is that 25 percent of infected people may not show any symptoms. It truly has become the silent enemy and distance is our only ally.

With the exception of the morning run and a couple of short dog outings, I’m now inside most of the time. The days are running together, even though I’ve got  three years of retirement behind me. Those that are not used to a slower pace are undoubtedly going stir crazy. My newly retired wife is struggling with all the down time and can’t make enough trips to the grocery store to just keep busy. In our current apartment, we don’t have room to store much, so any overflow stays in the trunk of our cars. She was even able to get a single package of toilet paper, although tempted to grab more. It seems like with little else to do but watch TV and eat, people feel like they can’t have enough TP. The fact of the matter is that the greater the input – the more the output. We need to find ways to eat less and exercise more in these troubled times. 

Today is Curse of Oak Island Wednesday, at least some fresh but uneventful programming to watch. A History Channel mystery-hunting offshoot, The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, will thankfully offer another weekly viewing option. Maybe they’ll actually find something? Tuesdays are now solely distinguished through another season of Better Call Saul. These favorites are being released one week at a time, as opposed to Ozark that I binge-watched over the weekend. In addition, I’m now reviewing the first two seasons while tediously working on my Ancestry family tree at the same time. My wife is typically in the other room re-watching Homeland. In the evenings, we get together for dinner and Breaking Bad repeats. In the meantime, it’s a steady diet of bananas, soup, crackers, Diet Coke, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Rice Krispies Treats, and chocolate chip cookies. It was my turn to cook last night, pulling some steaks out of the freezer. I could only eat half of it since I was already full of junk food. “Date Night” has now changed to “Take-Out,” and it’s been two long, boring weeks since we’ve sat in a restaurant. No more “Matinee Mondays,” “Leadership Fridays,” or other get-togethers with friends or family. We avoid the news, with depressing stories of falling stock market prices, political differences, job loss, and rising death counts. Life as we all currently know it is all about isolation, the remote control, and keeping your distance.