A Quarantine pass is more precious than gold (a continuation to my first morning of pandemic life)

After my nap, my mom asked me to accompany  her to the grocery store to again find some alcohol, canned goods and frozen food to help us "survive" the lockdown.

We arrived at 5:00pm and the Security Guard stopped us at the door and asked for our Quarantine Pass.

We said, we didn't have any and we have no idea where to get it and how come they are asking for a quarantine pass. It's just a grocery not an an airport.

While talking to the guard, I remember the men who were distributing papers in our street early that morning. Perhaps it's the quarantine pass that the guard is talking about.

We went home and I grabbed the papers and started to read. 

And yup, I was right...those papers are our "quarantine pass"

No...not "our"

It is the quarantine pass.

Only one per family is allowed to go out.

Written on the paper is the allowed time and the allowed days per week, of the person who is allowed to go out.

Seniors and kids are prohibited.

No doubt. My mom was the first to react. 

Grocery shopping is her "therapy"

She quickly add that she don't look a "senior citizen"

Which is actually true.

Written on the back it says, a representative is allowed to go out every tuesday and thursday only between 9 am to 3pm only.

So, I have to squeeze all the things I needed to do in a week outside our home in 6 hours for 2 days.

Wow...felt like I am in a race or a challenge. 

I felt like a prisoner too. 

I quickly filled up the pass with my information

and kept it in my bag.

I know my mom would try to get it from me.

Reminding myself not to lose it

Or else, I wouldn't be able to go inside any establishment. 

Yes... That was how it was like.

Suddenly... A quarantine pass became more precious than gold.

Even with gold, without the quarantine pass, I can't buy anything.

Who would have thought that a day would come when gold would lose its value over a piece of photocopied paper. 

Even the richest wouldn't be able to shop for gifts without this magical pass. 

First Morning of my Pandemic Life (a continuation to grocery hopping on a weekend)

     It's 4:00am...and my alarm is ringing

    I took my phone on my bedside table

    and I snoozed my alarm.

    5minutes more...

    It's 4:05am...I again hit snoozed

    Let me borrow 5 minutes more

    Please God...make each minute longer than 60 seconds.

    At 4:10am I sat up...and bowed my head.

    I always pray after waking up.

    I am not religious...

   In fact, I have done a lot of unacceptable actions

   But, I do know how to be thankful to the One who made me.

   I went to the bathroom...took my favorite shampoo and washed my hair

    I always wash my hair first.

    I hate getting my feet wet...But I always enjoy taking a bath.

    Every morning, I need to be in a hurry so my bath always take less than 20minutes

    I always tell myself, I will enjoy my bath in the evening

    I toweled myself and went to my closet

    I choose my clothes depending on my mood.

    I love pink , so my wardrobe is full of pink hues.

    While choosing what top to wear, I suddenly wonder

    Where is my mom? Is she sick? Why is she not calling me for breakfast?

I wore a baby pink shirt and loose white pants. 

   It's my "In a hurry outfit"

   I then went to the kitchen to see that the lights are still off....

Is my mom sick? Is my dad still asleep? Aren't they going to have breakfast?

I opened the lights and made some coffee. 

I wanted to eat some bacon and eggs but It would take time to fry

So, I just settled for some buttered toast and my favorite cereal with lots of milk.

While I was thinking whether to wake up my mom and dad or just let them sleep

Our dogs barked loudly...

Feels good that someone's awake other than me. 

Someone's at the gate. Two men

Should I open the door?

I took a peek....our neighbor was talking to one of them

I opened the blinds and the man turned around.

He saw me peeking.

I had no choice so I opened the door.

He introduced himself as someone from the local government.

He gave me forms that we should fill up

He said "Ma'am kindly fill this up for you and your parents....In the afternoon, we will collect them

these forms are for your quarantine pass"

I didn't know what to say...I was shocked to hear the word "quarantine"

While my thoughts are running, I took the forms and said thank you

I still can't get over the word "lockdown" 

Now, I have to deal with "quarantine"

Then it hit me...my mom and dad are not sick. 

They are still asleep at 6:00 am

Because there's no reason to get up early

All the offices are closed...including mine.

We are stuck at home....

We are on quarantine...

Damn....I shouldn't have washed my hair

Now, it's so wet I can't lie down and go back to sleep

I don't want to sleep with my hair still wet

and my pillows will get wet too

I cramped my brain with useless thoughts

I focused my worries on my damp hair

I can't go back to sleep.....

I turned on the TV and finished my breakfast

I settled myself

I calmed myself

I tried my best not to overthink

Because I am starting to panic

What am I going to do?

I am stuck at home

With no job...well I have

But I don't know how to work at home

I am programmed like a robot

That at that hour I am supposed to be on the bus already

On the way to my office

Checking my phone for important messages 

But, that routine suddenly cracked whole

Instead, I was at the kitchen munching my toast

Thinking what to do...

I sipped my coffee...It's gone cold.

Even my coffee frustrates me.

My toast got too much  butter

But it taste bland...should I add some jam? 

I remembered we ran out of jams too. 

We really should go to the grocery. 

It's monday but it feels like a weekend. 

I should be happy

But I wasn't. My thoughts are clouded with worry. 

I checked the time.... It's past 8:00am and my mom and dad are still sleeping. 

I better just change back to my pajamas. 

I feel tired from thinking too much. 

Or am I sick? Do I have covid? 

I think the first symptom of this corona virus is paranoia. 

I changed to my PJs and went back to sleep. 

What's the point of staying up anway for the first day of my pandemic life. 

I thought of the photo I took of the black dog I have been feeding at a mall near our house. She sometimes stares in space... Thinking perhaps of what's going to happen tomorrow. 

I am doing the same... While staring at my bedroom's ceiling.

    

Grocery hopping on a weekend (continuation to when alcohol is as precious as gold)

    We arrived at our favorite Supermarket 15 minutes before their closing time. And, it took us less than 10 minutes to stay inside (including going to the restroom) and get back to our car. It's a record breaking for my mom because her normal grocery shopping takes an hour or more. It's her therapy. She loves looking at each item...reading it's package - such as it's nutritional information, ingredients, etc etc. (yes she spends time doing that ) than reading a magazine or newspaper.

     My dad didn't have a hard time finding a parking space. The lot is almost empty. It's odd because it's a Sunday. In a normal Sunday night, the Supermarket is full of people till it's closing time. But, that particular Sunday was different. I almost believed I was dreaming and having a nightmare. My dad was shocked when we met him at the exit door just a few minutes after he parked the car. "Did they close early", he asked. My mom quickly answered him with " everything's sold out except for some candies and dishwashing liquids" even the meat section is empty.

      My mom began to panic. She remembered aside from not having enough bottles of alcohol at home we also don't have any facial masks or surgical masks.  We were not equipped. If we were in a battle, we didn't have any weapon with us except for a small knife. I then suggested that we should pass  by one of the 24 hour convenience stores on the way home. Perhaps they have bottles of alcohol.  Usually, they price their goods higher than grocery stores, so maybe people would have second thoughts to purchase more than one bottle from there.

    So, we stopped at the gas station where there's a 24hr convenience store and I went inside only to see a sign at the cashier that says "no alcohol available". I went back straight to the car and my dad suggested we should check other convenience stores on the way home.  I went to two more convenience stores only to get nothing...not even the smallest bottle of alcohol.

     On the way  home, nobody's talking. We were all lost in thoughts. We were supposed to have a relaxing dinner after going to church and buying what we need (and want) for a week at the Supermarket...But here we are, doing some  "Grocery hopping" and searching for a bottle of alcohol on a Sunday night.

       We saw a small pharmacy a few minutes away from our home. We parked in front. And, just as I was about to enter the door, a staff asked me "are you going to buy alcohol?" I said, yes, please. How many bottles do you have? She said, "already sold out. But we, can pre-order for you. It might arrive after 5 days." I said , oh thank you. I think I will just try another store."

    I feel like we didn't accomplish anything. So, I politely asked my dad if we could pass by a mall 30minutes from our house, where there's a stray cat I am regularly feeding. They said, it's okay. They don't feel like going home yet either. 

    It's already 10:00 in the evening. And there she was...waiting for me. She knows I always have something for her.

    At least, there is one soul who is not panicking and worrying....anxious of what is going to happen next and desperate to find a bottle of alcohol.