Category: Isolation Diary

February, 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, although not yet widely recognized as such. I needed to renew my driver’s license and get a Real ID before my birthday on April 13. Because many people, probably with lots of travel plans, were trying to do the same thing, I couldn’t get an appointment at any DMV office in LA before May. Too late. Although complaining at the time, this worked to my advantage.

 Ignoring the stock market and the nomination race: today I patiently endured, not being able to secure an appointment, the DMV and succeeded in renewing my DL, with a RealID, and proved I knew my stuff by passing the written test. This is a weight off my mind. Now…taxes. Spring could be so wonderful if only……..

And then everything shut down. I had my new license, but where could I go?

In early March I was in rehearsal for a play, I was attending improv workshop, I was working with a friend on a show for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, I was going to the gym, taking tai chi class. I voted in person in the primary election. Celebrated daughter’s birthday.

Rehearsal on March 12 was canceled. We thought we could pick up again in a few weeks or a month. I was still doing prep work for the Fringe show.

Friday, March 13 the libraries closed, Sacred Fools, Center Theater Group, schools. I attended my last tai chi class on March 14. I found no toilet paper or water at the grocery store but I did bring home some food.

The news about Covid 19 was scary. Older people were apparently vulnerable. And so the isolation began. Which was hard on the family because we enjoy each other’s company.

(actually the 15th, I often posted late, after midnight)

I was lonely today so I got an in-person visit from Jessie and Duncan (daughter and grandson, for those who don’t know) We were very careful and I wiped doorknobs and faucet handles before and after. No hugging allowed. We met to set up a D & D game which we will play at distance. I am new to this game. Maggie (my other daughter) will be DM. This is the starter game; I have chosen to be the human Fighter. I don’t have many skills, good with a longbow, dextrous, and that’s about it; but I am determined. I sort of know this person.
Can’t tell you how much this visit cheered me.

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Allison F.S.
I’m so excited to learn about Ruth’s character, the human Fighter and how you enjoy D&D. Please keep us posted.

Marian G.
The Human Fighter from that set is my favorite character I’ve ever played. Humans and Fighters in that game are some of the most versatile, most adaptable. And you have the Folk Hero background, you’re famous! I think you’re going to really enjoy it. I bet Maggie’s a hoot to play with.I’m glad you got a visit today. That sounds lovely!

Lemon B.
Oh, my gosh! I’m so excited for you! I hope you’ll share some of your adventures with u

Kathi C.
Love this!

Rick C.
Ruth you are not alone….we are all in this together, and together we will get through this…..thank you for your thoughts

Tegan A.C.
D&D for Ruth?!?!? YAAAAAAASSSSS….!!! Fight all the things, solve all the puzzles, have all the fun! Proud of you.

Mandi M.H.
Oh my lord I want to play D&D with Ruth!!

Susan J.
Perfect antidote for loneliness.

I did not know so many people played D and D!

Isolation Diary: A beautiful day today, I was out in the garden twice, morning and afternoon, for vigorous weeding sessions. Ground is soft, good time for weeding Talked to a couple people in person! Had to visit a neighbor twice to pick up somethings for the library; and the librarian came to my house to pick up what I had picked up. (the library is about 75 steps from my house, maybe less.) Then I did tai chi, long form. And sort of puttered around in the evening in a rather unsatisfactory manner. I must get a project. Oh, and I did study the D&D process for awhile. Also, my optometrist is closing the office until April 6 and so I can’t get my new lenses until then. And i am going on like this because, although I do like having a lot of time to myself, this amount of time is too much. More later.

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Aaron F.
I just cannot stop myself for weeding!
I have so much to do on my house but I wind up spending hours and hours outside just weeding every day. I kinda get lost in it.

Susan J.
I was thinking about your lovely gardens and just picturing you out there. Lucky you!

Isolation Diary: I got a visit from Maggie, Adam, and Fig today. Fig is 10 1/2 months. He hadn’t been here in awhile so was looking around to check that everything was in it’s right place. Of course I held him a lot and when they left Maggie directed me, in her ‘Mom, do this.” voice, to wipe everything down and to change my shirt immediately. Which I did, and washed it. Maggie heard from some source she respected that one of the things to do to help spreading cold viruses from your school age children is to have them change clothes when they get home. Which reminded me that I had a pretty healthy childhood and we had school clothes and play clothes. I attach examples. After they left I went out to the garden for more weeding. I wonder if I could order plants from a nursery and have them delivered so I could do some planting, too. Our neophyte D&D group tried to get set up on Zoom but we didn’t coordinate, one tried…no one was there, another tried…no one was there. In the evening I wrote postcards to send to Democrat voters encouraging a vote for the Dem candidate in their district. And then, pulling a very minor project from the back burner, I covered a pillow with fabric rescued from a jacket that no one wanted anymore. Last thing…I have a rat. Not a pet, a pest. I got up from the computer and went into the kitchen and saw the creature disappear, just a blur, almost just sensation, into … well, where? Where did the thing go?! I found evidence this morning: a plastic bag of trail mix on the floor near the dining room where it had no reason to be and there was a hole in the bag. “Rat”, I said. “Rats!” The house as hosted rats in the past. It is very porous. I will set traps tomorrow. During a pandemic scare any intelligent rat would keep it’s distance.

The photos show School Clothes (that’s me on the left) and Play Clothes (that’s me on the right.

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Jeff W.
Thank you for sharing this with us. We were not allowed out before changing into our play clothes, either. Free-relating, I thought of all those years of drinking water from our neighbor’s garden hose — in my play clothes, of course — and wondered if it did anything to fortify my immune system.

Janet R.
Sounds like you need a cat !

Ruth Silveira
I do need a cat, for sure.

Susan J.
LOVE these photos!!
Plaid school dresses into striped play shirts. I can relate! Wonder where your 2 playmates are now?

Jeff W.
Any news on the rat?

Ruth Silveira
No sign today. Trap out. (Writing at about 11:30)

Ruth Silveira
Uhm…just heard the trap snap. checked. Dead rat.

Ruth Silveira
Sigh.

Betsy B.
So cute!! (Referring to the photos, I’m sure, and not the dead rat.)

Isolation Diary: After the rain came and went I got out to the garden again. Not vigorous weeding this time, vigorous pruning. Vigorous because I was beating back an attacking vine. ‘Vine’ seems like an innocuous word, even poetic. Not this vine. Vines can begin with delicate tendrils, this one also has quite attractive and colorful flowers; do not be deceived. The goal of most vines is to Take Over and Dominate and Smother and Make the World it’s Own. Not an exaggeration. A vine really makes a gardener appreciate a docile annual. Besides that encounter, I did my tai chi, and I put on a record and danced. Yes, a record. I finished the postcards in support of a down-ballot Dem. And, Maggie, Jessie, Duncan, and I video conferenced on Zoom about our D&D game. We begin the adventure tomorrow.

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Leon R.
Lovely.

DeAnne M.
What is it the Vine with a purple flowers? I always I have mixed feelings about that vine when I see it around. So beautiful but it really just overwhelms everything.

Jen D.
Morning glory? Although Passionfruit has a purple alien looking flower too.

DeAnne M.
Jen D. Yes! That’s it! Morning Glory. They’re so pretty but they also give me the creeps because you can see how out of control they can get if untamed

Joyce H.
Was it the beautiful but dreaded Morning Glory. I had my own battle with these vines yesterday too!

Ruth Silveira
Not a morning glory, bigger and badder than even that.

Holly B.
Dear Ruth, Your message yesterday inspired me and I got up and started moving around the house. I thought .you can still dance Holly.

Susan J.
Ruth Silveira Dancin’ Queen, you are.

(probably written just after midnight)

Isolation Diary: Coffee. I took a walk today to Larchmont to pick up a pre-ordered pound of coffee beans. Quite a few people were out walking. Families. Parents and children are all home, they have to do something. We all kept our distance from one another, smiling and waving to acknowledge the situation. Except for two young women, 20, give or take. They made no adjustment for the 6 foot separation. (Be careful if you run into these people) A good day for a walk. The tumble and jumble of the clouds above was a delight. Long chat on the phone with a friend, so important to keep contact. Later, more vigorous weeding, tai chi, and dancing. And reviewing what the Fox Trot is. I am pretty good now with that…..by myself. Then first D and D session. We overcame our first obstacle. Yay! I forced myself to do some work on my taxes. And I called it a day. (there is a lot of mundane stuff I didn’t mention.)

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Sandy R. posted a puppy blowing kisses

Susan J.
Mundane is the new thrilling.

(probably before midnight)

Isolation Diary: Isolated but not enough. I caught a cold, probably from my darling Figgy when Maggie and Adam and Fig came to visit on Tuesday. Just a cold.

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Ruth Silveira
My fault, I was missing them.

Susan J.
Ruth Silveira Can’t think of a better reason to risk a cold.

DeAnne M.
Feel better

Ronnie R.
Feel better, this self isolation sucks.

Natalie R.
Sorry to hear. Drink plenty of tea

Joyce H.
Feel better Ruth!!!!

Kelly O.

Isolation Diary: Earlier today because I am spending the day on my couch nursing my cold. And that’s all I have to say.

People were so nice to send well-wishes. These early days of the pandemic, we were missing each other. So unused to not being out and about.

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Jessica S.
Feel better, Ruth. Plenty of fluids.

Noel B.
Now is a great time to rest and just drink fluids.

DeAnne M.
Hugs to you. Feel better

Jeff W.
Get well — we’re going to need more of those longer entries.

Erin H.
Feel better Ruth!!!

Laura O.
Feel better! And rest until you do!

Addi G.
Hope you feel better!

Claudette W.
Understood. Hope you feel better soon. I’m enjoying your posts.

Anna M.
Feel better Ruth! Xx

Richard B.
Get Well!!!

Paul B. sent a get well graphic

Isolation Diary: Continuing to recover from my cold. Well enough to play D and D for an hour this evening. I got hit bad, had to be healed. But we ended up with a goblin tied up in a tree. We fed him maggots and he became quite chatty.

We were playing D and D over Zoom.

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Julie C.
EW.

Corey K.
That stands for “Excellent Work.”

Susan J.
“We fed him maggots and he became quite chatty.” Words I could never imagine seeing in one sentence.

Isolation Diary: Continuing to improve but staying in. Oh. I would be doing that anyway. I miss my family! I see them on Zoom but there are no hugs, no holding Fig, no cuddling. Fun D&D game tonight. How soon do we start ordering stuff we don’t need?

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Anthony B.
Zoom needs a hug peripheral.

Susan J.
No holding and cuddling. Welcome to my non-Corona world!
(Susan is Fig’s other grandmother and lives all the way across the country.)