LIFE ON LOCK DOWN: DAY THREE

I love you Jeff Bezos, but not in a weird, stalker-want-to-have-your-baby kind of way. No, I’m talking about Amazon and the ability to buy whatever essentials that I need right now but cannot find in the few stores that are open. Last week when the panic buying started in Madrid before the lock down went into effect, I was down to my last roll of toilet paper and couldn’t find any to buy. Could I have ventured out of my neighborhood in search of more? Sure, but on crutches it would have been difficult. So, I went to the one place I could – Amazon, and sure enough I was able to purchase a package of 4 rolls of toilet paper for €7. Yes, it was an outrageous price, but as a Prime member, delivery was free and guaranteed for the next day. Problem solved.

Last Sunday, the day before the lock down began, I went out to find dog food and came back empty handed. The one store (which will remain nameless for now) where I have consistently been able to find the only dog food that doesn’t make my dog sick had closed without putting any notice on its website (because I had checked the website to make certain it would be open before taking 2 metro trains and a long walk on crutches to get there). I arrived back at my apartment exhausted and angry, so after writing a strongly worded email to that store, I went online to Amazon. Amazingly for the first time, I was able to find my dog’s food without having to buy a variety pack of various flavors.  Two cases of Lola’s food were delivered by Amazon today.  Life is good now. So, all hail Amazon! I may be contributing to Mr. Bezos continuing to be one of the richest men on the planet, but I don’t care. He’s my hero of the moment.

I continue to venture out on crutches once a day for supplies, buying whatever I need that will fit into my backpack.  Yesterday I was thrilled that a small local store had toilet paper and I bought a package of 6 rolls. I was so excited about my find that I even texted some of my friends here in Madrid in case they needed more toilet paper. It’s amazing how you can get to a point in life that the purchase of something so ordinary is the highlight of your day, but such is life in lock down.

I stood in line again today to get into the grocery store and as I entered, there was an employee directing each customer to please use the hand sanitizer dispenser to clean hands before entering the store. Police cars patrol our streets with loud speakers playing audio recordings reminding people to stay at home unless they absolutely need to go out for work, food or other essentials. The stores that are open have signs on the front doors reminding customers to please remain a healthy distance (one meter according to the medical experts) from other customers and store employees. When I returned home later, I realized that people have been so scared about getting sick that the last actual physical human contact I had was 7 days ago at my doctor’s appointment when the surgeon removed the post-op bandage on my foot. I will see the surgeon again on March 25 to remove my stitches and I wonder if that will be the only other physical human contact that I will have during this lock down. What if the lock down is extended? Will it be 30 days or more? When will we finally feel that it’s okay to hug a friend again or even greet others with a kiss on each cheek?

I miss my friends. I miss being around people in general. Thankfully I have Lola, who I swear understands everything that I say to her, but she’s not much of a conversationalist. At least I can hug her without fear of getting sick, so I guess that’s the positive thing I have to focus on now.