We are nearing the end of month 5 of being prisoners in our apartment. I write this Blog not because our experience is particularly unique. I write it so that when this is finally over I will have a record of some of my activities (or lack of them) and thoughts.
Realities: We are allowed no visitors from the outside. We cannot be legally barred from leaving these premises but we are under urgent appeals to just stay home. Jane has left this facility only twice in all these months. She and I went to friends Dick and Cheryl one evening for an outside gathering (6 feet apart ) where we shared drinks and broiled steaks. I have left once a month: I drive the car to get the battery recharged. It has already died twice because the car just sits idle. Jane joined me on one of those little trips just up and down the freeway. I went to the grocery store twice and to an eye doctor once. The administration here does not want us to go to any neighbor’s unit for a visit and/or cocktails and we have honored that.
An attempt was made to open one dining room. That lasted about 4 days as it just didn’t work. Our daily allotted time for our meal was 11:40 am and we just skipped that as we still had the option of food being delivered to our room. We have a daily choice of a couple appetisers, an entre, a couple vegetables, a dessert and a drink. The quality and presentation vary, some days wonderful; other days attractive to neither the eyes nor the palate.
Fitness centers are closed. All group activities halted. The administration tries very hard to adapt. Just this morning they announced that the fitness center equipment will be moved outside under tents and will be available by reservations. Of course, there are 15 minutes between users as everything has to be wiped clean after each use. This afternoon I may try ping pong for the second time in over 25 years -outside while wearing a face mask
After a couple months of not having maids come to clean our units we now have that option available to us. New move-ins had been halted but are being resumed with all new residents subject to two consecutive negative test results. Packages are being delivered by staff after they have been sprayed and sanitized. The number of packages being delivered is very high as almost all shopping is now on-line
Our congregation has held no on-site worship services. Online there is a full Sunday morning service and an abbreviated one on Wednesday evening. Jane and I set up a beautiful little altar each Sunday. We place the bread and wine on a lovely small silver tray (courtesy of Hong Kong International School).We have an appropriate ivory figure of Christ looking down upon the communion elements.
The Calvary Men’s Support Group (9 of us) which I helped organize more than 10 years ago now meets for an hour each week via phone. It is good to share joys and concerns and whatever topic is chosen for the evening.
As I was typing this the doorbell rang. It was staff coming with special treat options. This time they included coffee, tea, hot chocolate and coffee cake. At other times we have had choices like ice cream cones, Mai Tais, Margaritas, Bloody Marys, candy, et sim. Twice a week we get fresh fruit, breakfast rolls and hardboiled eggs. We are not going hungry or losing weight. In this community of well over 1000 residents and staff we have had 8 cases of infection, none requiring hospitalization. None of the infected were residents in our Independent Living section.
The owners have not laid off any staff but had to make many reassignments as the required duties varied greatly, especially in matters like food and package deliveries, cleaning all railings, door entries et al. While a group of residents gathered names for a request that monthly fees be frozen for next year management responded that that was not possible. They warned that increased costs especially for insurance, food preparation and delivery and hundreds of tests will result in a fee increase beginning in January.
Much alone time is used by Jane and me in a variety of ways. I make lots of phone calls to fellow residents and to members at our church. I read at least one book a week on Kindle and hard copy. Jane has finished her 500-piece jigsaw puzzle and is now working on a very detailed 1000-piece one. Both Jane and I walk about 6 times a week. For the first time since we have been here at La Costa Glen we have watched movies on the closed channel which shows films selected by the staff here.
Every morning in our daily devotions we give thanks for the incredible blessings we experience in the midst of all that is going on. We pray for a stopping of both racism and inexcusable violence, even if it is in the name of seeking some needed cultural changes. We ask for people to act responsibly and for God to act graciously to stop the spread of the virus. We parade before God the names of family members who are very ill, of friends who have experienced deaths, of those who have lost income. School children and those who teach them are very high on our list of concerns. And so the list goes on. In the midst of it all we rest contentedly in the arms of One who loves us and in community with any of you who might actually read this Blog.
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