First day "back" to school July 31 height of FL pandemic with Isaias looming over Bahamas heading our way

Being at school yesterday was so seductive. I love my classroom...with the chalk board and white boards still written up like a time capsule of where we were in the semester just before Spring break. Fielding emails from students--"hearing" their voices, missing them. Couple of friends and colleagues stopping by to "check in..." Taking care of paper work and all the normal stuff of school with the unusual "pick up a web cam," and 20 desks two feet apart and it's eerie on the one hand and clearly inadequate on the other....

The seduction was in how good it was to be in the presence of people I care so much about. Getting used to talking with a mask on all day, and standing 6 feet away at least, was the reason I went in. Chip away at the anxiety. Start practicing vigilance as routine.

The seduction is coming home and still feeling healthy and well. Wanting so much for school to be normal. BUT IT'S NOT. It's volatile. Vigilance with an invisible threat is unsustainable.

You know that moment when you realize there's a streak of pain across your throat and you can't swallow and there's the panic of knowing you now have strep throat? Race your mind back to which friend or student who is out sick today that you got it from? Ten days ago? By the time you know you've got it, it's too late. How many other people are going to get it from you now? (and it doesn't matter who it was, it only matters that you know it's got you.) Even that is familiar and you know exactly what it is and exactly what to do and you attack it with gargling and antibiotics, etc.

There will be those students and teachers who will come to school even if they don't feel well...it's what we do (big change not to for we who have a life-long practice of stiff upper lip). But there will be students and teachers and staff who will come to school with the virus and not even know it...or infect others days and days before knowing they themselves are infected.

Any idea how many symptoms are related to COVID-19 infection?

Excuse me, now that it's getting light, I need to bring in backyard potted plants and chairs and frontyard plants into the garage.

The stress. The prep. The vigilance. The distraction. Unsustainable. And in themselves damaging.

(I know---I am reading...writing...walking...meditating, yogaing, taking care of myself...but expressing this is part of how i do that.)

God save us.

Amazon refuses to post negative review

I honestly don't understand what guideline i broke with this review. You tell me.

Thank you for submitting a customer review. Thank you for submitting a customer review on Amazon. After carefully reviewing your submission, your review could not be posted to the website. While we appreciate your time and comments, reviews must adhere to the following guidelines: Amazon Community Guidelines

from Kimba on June 14, 2020 actually sent it all back months of no toilet paper can make you desperate. don't be this desperate. i have wrapping tissue paper that's softer and more absorbent.

A few common issues to keep in mind: Your review should focus on specific features of the product and your experience with it. Feedback on the seller or your shipment experience should be provided at www.amazon.com/feedback. We do not allow profane or obscene content. This applies to adult products too. Advertisements, promotional material or repeated posts that make the same point excessively are considered spam. Please do not include URLs external to Amazon or personally identifiable content in your review. Any attempt to manipulate Community content or features, including contributing false, misleading, or inauthentic content, is strictly prohibited.

Imprint

She lay in bed staring at the dust particles shivering in early sunlight through her window. If she didn’t move, nothing would change.

Her father lightly tapped a knuckle on the partially open door and came in. He was well dressed with the scent of Old Spice evoking guilt that if he could go to work surely she could go to stupid school. She resisted, hated that place. High school. What was “high” about it. Except half the students.

“Hi hon, not feeling so good?” She shook her head. Words would have opened the flood gate of impossible tears. His palm and fingers were so large that it covered her eye along with her forehead and across her hairline. Felt like he had her whole head nestled in the palm of his hand. “Hmmm, don’t feel feverish.” She tightened her lips; she wasn’t “sick.” He lingered there with his hand on her head a moment, then gently smoothed her hair. “I might know how you feel. It’s better once you get there. Anticipation is always worse.”

The weight and warmth of his hand sustains her still.

050920