Day 1 Self Isolation

It's the first day of Mandatory Self Isolation.  As said previously, I self-isolate most days as a matter of choice. Still, I wondered if anything would feel different.  And there were changes. No traffic, for one.

I live on a fairly busy street. It's not big and wide, not in the middle of a large major city, but it is a commute route for folks trying to cut through town. Commute hours are the worst. But this morning, at around 6am, scarcely a car rushed past on its way to wherever it is cars go. 

It continued to improve. The workers on the mansion down the street, for the first time in nearly two years, did not arrive. A day without tile cutters, drills, machinery piercing the ears of all the neighbors, is better than almost anything I can imagine.

The day was off to a good start. Why not try and drive to the supermarket to see if anything was available? Those three cans of beans were not sounding so appetizing. Maybe they'd have toilet paper and hand sanitizer, although I doubted it, after last nights rush to Stock Up Before Mandatory Stay At Home orders. (which does not include shopping, but that did not seem to register with the populace.)

First, I made a quick stop at the 7-11 convivence store, for completely unnecessary items. Who knew that 7-11 carried eggs? Who knew I'd ever buy real food at 7-11? I then realized that I could forgo making a pointless trip into Safeway for another few days. By the end of the week, there might be foodstuffs back on the shelves.

I drove by a couple of CVS pharmacy stores but did not bother to go inside. On the door they had posted a large sign stating: No Toilet Paper, No Hand Sanitizer, No Bleach, and so on. 

On the way back home, I drove by Peet's Coffee and was surprised to find they were open. My coffee supply is running low, and although I have been reduced to instant coffee in many places I have traveled to around the world, it was not a thought I relished. I bought my pound of freshly ground beans in a store that had removed all tables and chairs. I sort of wanted to dance, what with all the open space.

As I sit here in the afternoon, (neglecting that latest book I should be pounding out), I keep marveling at the stillness in the air and the lack of engines revving up and down the street. It is very odd indeed. But quite wonderful.