COVID-19 in Seattle

March 22, 2020– My first mention, in my journal, of the COVID-19 pandemic, came on March 4, a Wednesday.  Journal entry:

“Pike Place Market is fairly empty of tourists. Our dentist cancelled our teeth-cleaning appointments, saying that for staff and patient safety she will only see people for urgent needs. Tom is told to work from home for the rest of this week (tomorrow and Friday). Microsoft just told people to work from home through 3/25, and that came from a new recommendation by the Washington State department of health — so Tom’s employer will do the same thing tomorrow, most likely. Ten people in this county (King County) have died from the virus so far. Lots of large organizations seem to be partially closing down.

“I was in the non-touristy part of downtown today, with my bike. That whole part of downtown — 4th Avenue — seemed as busy as ever, including the main library, which was open.”

Two days later, on March 6, I found out I could no longer visit my fitness-training client who lives in a retirement community. The facility had wisely decided to exclude all outsiders. The University of Washington and some other colleges here had gone to online learning, and big events all over the world were being cancelled or postponed. But I went to CrossFit that day. The gym has small groups and plenty of space. Everybody washed their hands before and after and wiped down the gear we used with bleach spray. As I left and sat in the car checking for any texts from Tom, I realized that I was going to have to stop going to CrossFit, even though I had just started five sessions ago. It was sinking in: don’t congregate means exactly that, and it applies to me.

Another two days later, March 8, I walked all over Discovery Park with a close friend. The park was busy. I was feeling anxious about Tom’s guitar-school end-of-session group performance, which was scheduled for the 13th. I wanted either the guitar school or the venue, a local nightclub, to cancel it. Instead they were then encouraging each class and teacher to decide for themselves whether or not to go. By then we knew it was important not to be within six feet of other people.

My friend, with whom I’d been hiking in the park, found out on the 10th that she’d had an exposure to COVID-19 and would have to quarantine herself for 14 days. (She never developed symptoms and is fine.) Also on the 10th the guitar school cancelled their student performances, and I was relieved that Tom and I didn’t have to decide whether to go.

Journal entry:

“Tuesday, March 10 — I bought some extra groceries today, including some cans of soup, and I want to see how long I can stay away from the grocery store. People are arguing on Facebook: Restaurants have shut down because the media stirred up a panic. We should support small businesses by continuing to dine out. We should get delivery of groceries and stay home regardless what happens to small business, at least for two weeks, because during two weeks we have the chance to flatten the curve of the increase of new infections. I’m in the latter camp and bummed not to go to CrossFit for two weeks. But I don’t want to catch this if I have not already.

“Tomorrow I’m supposed to see three clients.”

By March 12 I had learned a few things. One was that my work as a weight lifting teacher / trainer means a lot to me. That isn’t a surprise — I’ve been doing this work since 2006 and it is ever full of creativity, connection, and the reward of seeing people (mostly women) develop skill and strength they didn’t know they could have. But it’s easy to forget, in years of routine, about the rewards. And when our times together seem to be threatened to end, my trainees share about how they love our training. It’s a great reminder for me. (By the 12th I had stopped seeing my eldest clients and was keeping in touch by phone or text.) 

Another thing I’d learned was that I can rely on time in the natural world to ease anxiety. I used some of my free time by doing yard work and gardening, because the weather had been sunny for days and very beautiful. Enjoying daffodils and flowering plum trees is good for my health. Sunshine won’t give me a virus. Squirrels and birds don’t even know there are problems in the world.

I learned to see that people are stressed out in many different ways, and that this new stress reveals other, pre-existing stresses. People are speaking critically of each other on Facebook in neighborhood groups. People are sounding as if the new changes each day, such as schools closing, apply uniquely or primarily to them — to that individual. People complain about the behavior of faraway people (ie, for gathering in groups, contrary to advice) and about other things they have zero control over. With all of these behaviors, what they’re doing is expressing how stressed they are, and taking it out on other people a little bit.

I learned how fortunate I am to have the know-how and the equipment to keep myself healthy and fit, and I’ve exercised every day, either walking or riding my bike or lifting weights in the garage. I’m extremely thankful for these and other resources, including financial and relational, that I’m so lucky to have.

“How long can Tom and all the tech people work at home? Restaurants are closing like crazy, every day. How long can each person, like me, maintain this vigilance and isolation? I know my habits will drift back to normal and I’ll catch the virus. I doubt our Scotland and Czech trip is going to be possible.

“We have to maintain the ability to see the good things every day, when this starts to get really old and difficult. Like the yard, going to Seward Park, bike rides. Today we are still all jokey about our ‘siege.’”

Every day, though, starting around March 12, I had begun thinking each day would be the day I would find out that someone I know has COVID-19. It is expected to reach 40% to 70% of people everywhere.

“If it is my top priority to avoid it, what sacrifices am I willing to make? No CrossFit, even though I prepaid; no restaurants no matter how much I don’t feel like making dinner; no flying; no Thanksgiving get-together when the time comes? No coffee shops? And yet we could catch it anyway. Oh and no bus or train rides – car only. But the longer we delay it, maybe the hospitals won’t get overloaded. That’s a major public concern. I need to think one day at a time and enjoy home and the outdoors.

“I’m glad we have a garage gym. I’m glad I don’t hate to cook, like I did for decades. I’m glad Tom and I have been getting along so well, and I’m glad we have a big house now so we can also have space of our own, like when he is working.

“I can’t tell if I’m distracted because I want to be — it’s all very interesting — or if I really can’t help it. Everyone needs a meditation practice right now. I guess I should speak for myself.”

Between March 16 and today, March 22, almost all my clients and I have stopped or discussed stopping our in-person training sessions. I’m developing ideas for some of them to use for home workouts — the individuals who have some dumbbells, kettlebells, a barbell, or whatever they have. I have often lost track of what day it is, with Tom home all the time and with few or no trainees coming over.

The worst thing that has happened is that someone we know, a store owner who has been a true pillar of the local community for 40+ years, has died of COVID-19. He was the first person to have it whom I knew personally, and he died on the same day I had found out he was ill. We weren’t close to him, but it’s heartbreaking.

I’ve started writing down who I’ve had contact with each day in case I get sick. 

And finally, I was shocked and sad upon reading that as part of Illinois’ stay-at-home self-quarantining policy, all of the parks in Chicago are closed. Places where I spent so much time during the first half-plus of my life — it’s hard to imagine them unavailable.