Easter Quarantine

April 12, 2020 Easter

Our Easter looked very different this year amid a global pandemic. Churches are all closed so we didn't have a Holy Week of busy evenings, heading over to church after school and work. We did participate in some online Masses and I pulled out our Arch books and other religious kids books to read to Johanna. We were grateful to have a new outdoor Stations of the Cross installed by Peter for his Eagle Scout project. Megan, Bridget, Johanna and I went on Good Friday with our "Way of the Cross" booklets in digital format. The wind was chilly and our singing was off but I was so glad we went.

Because we were all home, we had plenty of time to dye eggs, although the egg supply struggled to meet the demand shift from restaurants to grocery stores and eggs were regularly sold out. I did manage to find a few dozen so we set up the kitchen for some science and art. Rachael spear-headed a natural dye color operation, gathering things from the yard, fridge and around the house. It was really interesting to observe as the girls mixed and steeped and strained.  It was time consuming, so we did a set of regular Paas dyes as well. The results were beautiful.

Emma came down to join us and it wasn't until she was on her way, that I stopped and realized that we were not supposed to be having non-household members over. Never had I thought of Emma as a non-household member. It gave me pause but we continued and went against the health and government mandates. We were so glad to see her, and know she was well.

WBAL tv braodcast the Archdiocese of Baltimore Easter Mass, so we gathered in our living room to participate. Mary had put together a basket of Blessed Salts and Holy Water which she delivered a few days earlier, so that added to the solemnity. Mary has been going to church throughout the shutdown as the music minister, so she participated in the Easter Vigil and on her way home she brought us the Eucharist. It was so very strange to receive at home and I wish I had prepared myself better. But the beauty and the gift of Christ's flesh came to me and I am so grateful.

We had simple Easter baskets and shared our Easter brunch together. We played a new game called Sagrada which is a dice drafting game based on the Basilica Sagrada Familia. It took a little while to get a handle on the directions but once we got going it was fun.

That evening we had arranged a Jauquet family video call. It was great to see each other and talk. Dad had trouble with his video camera and then his mic and after Joe went over to help, he decided to bring Dad back to his house. They live really close by and decided to consider each other household members. Once Dad got to a place where he could participate we began with prayer. Johanna asked to sing, she has been missing singing together at church, so we did but the video delays made that a painful process. it was great to go around and check in with everyone and take turns telling stories.
We called the Grandma Kate and Pawpaw as well and we also did a video call with Bill. There was lots of discussion about school and digital learning and adjusting to quarantine and gaming.

It was a strange but fun day full of blessing.

We are an Easter People! Alleluia!

Covid-19 Pandemic

It has been 3 weeks since the wave of COVID-19 crested over our lives. It started with trickles of worry from international flights, to cruise ship quarantines, and nursing home tragedy. These trickles rippled out across our country, our state started canceling large events, then schools, then all non-essential businesses. March 13, 2020 at started to get real to us. Maryland issued a Stay at Home order on March 30th. People weren't abiding with social distancing recommendations and cases were spreading in Maryland so day by day more restrictions were put in place.

   Guinness canceled St. Patrick's day celebrations and then had to close completely. Guinness told everyone they would be paid for through the week, then they paid them until the end of March and then they put them on a laid off status that lets employees maintain insurance. Jim hasn't worked since March 12th. It's hard. I'm trying to work from home, and only going into the office once a week.
   The girls all had school closed as of March 13th, first it was temporary, then closed until April 3rd, then the public school system said they would be switching to digital learning through April 24th.  The colleges closed campuses even earlier as they have more exposure. Spring breaks in March were extended and then they were told not to return to campus.

Zoom Call - Johanna's Class

   The US quickly took the #1 spot in the world, most likely due to the testing that we started doing and the data from China being withheld.
    Rachael's spring break visit to MIT to see Josh was canceled, Megan's SWE National Rube Goldberg competition in Indiana was canceled. Those were big losses.  Religious Ed class is canceled, dance, scouts, choir, all canceled. I am thrilled to not be a taxi driver, and thrilled to have Jim and the kids at home, but we are all a bit sad. This is hard but I am so blessed with a good family that I enjoy to be with.

   Church also went through a reduction and then soft close, and then a firm close. I am sad that our church is not open. We have been engaging with lots of virtual options and have watched Mass each week in our living room. It isn't the same but I am still grateful for it.
   I am glad for the time we have to make masks, and do puzzles, and play games and build Legos. It is wonderful to have everyone home for dinner. We have gotten take out a few nights to support local businesses. Grocery shopping was anxiety inducing and supplies were inconsistent, eggs, milk, bread were all chancy, and toilet paper and cleaning supplies have not been on the shelves but we have enough and we have what we need and we are blessed.
   We are praying for the sick and the dead and for the safety of those who are on chemo, especially Aunt Heather.  We pray for Emma as she works in the restaurant and does carryout. We worry for them and we have been watching a lot of news, too much news. but we are blessed to be together and to have a safe place to live and work. I am so grateful.