It’s certainly not Day 1 of coronavirus / COVID-19, but it is day one of this journal.
Notable milestones today include the announcement of the closure of Minnesota schools, the closure of Illinois bars and restaurants, and 3,000 cases reached around the United States.
Caren and I went to the dog park briefly with Ginny, hit the Ramsey County library in Roseville to stock up, and visited a grocery store for some more perishable items for some upcoming cooking projects. I’m pretty confident in our non-perishable stocks. Gearing up for a late afternoon walk now after an afternoon of writing and organizing.
You don’t realize how busy your schedule is until its all canceled (or cancelled).
It’s all gone:
- Lodge Spaghetti Dinner (Saturday, March 14th)
- Friends’ album release party (Saturday)
- Lodge Degree Meeting (Monday, March 16th)
- Impromptu Lodge Trustee meeting for Monday (I’m calling in)
- My dad’s 70th birthday party in Chicago (next Saturday)
- Business travel to Denver (week from Monday)
- Denver Foundation meeting (week from Tuesday)
- Audit fieldwork (as online as possible)
- Grand Lodge of Minnesota Annual Communication (April 3-4; not cancelled yet, but come on)
- MN Opera Don Giovanni in May
- Caren’s trip to NYC for meeting of Costume Society of America (June)
I’m pretty concerned, which is part of why I am starting this journal. I am worried about the health of my family members. I am worried about people who are just being willfully obtuse about social distancing and therefore defeating the purpose. I am worried about the long-term economic impact of this sudden stoppage of activity. Job losses are coming. Business closures are coming. If we do ‘flatten the curve’ then there will be declarations of “overreacting.” But of course, that’s how we know it worked. So we can’t win. I’m fine with that, but the long-term policy implications may not be pretty.
What I am not worried about is my financial health. I’m only 44 years old. I’ve got time.
Carl Oberg 