Humble Pie: A coronavirus chronicle - Davis Enterprise

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March 13, 2020

Dear Diary,

Today is Friday the 13th and it sure feels like bad luck. I kept the kids home from school today because Corona is starting to spread. The news is scary but I’m sure we’ll figure it all out. Until then, we’ll enjoy a long weekend. I’ll probably send the kids back next week. I’m such a worry-wart. More to come.

April 9, 2020

Dear Diary,

Well, it looks like we are going to quarantine for a while. Or in our case, with four teenagers, we’ll call it “quaranteen.” Ha, ha. It will be good to spend more time together.

April 11, 2020

Dear Diary,

I’ve decided this is a great time for some self-improvement, to take care of myself and learn some new things. When this quarantine is over, I’ll be fabulous. Here are my goals:

* Have an hour of quiet time every morning before everybody gets up

* Write my memoir

* Learn to play the piano

* Find a fitness program that works for me

* Plant a flower garden

* Minimize the clutter in my life

July 5, 2020

Dear Diary,

Gosh, I never realized how small our house is. Thank goodness for the warm weather, sunshine and a big backyard. I spent all day in the hammock. Didn’t do dishes or laundry. It felt good to relax.

December 2, 2020

Dear Diary,

I love our little house so much. We are lucky to have a warm home when it’s too cold to spend time outside. It’s pretty small with six people, but thankfully, we all like each other. Such great family time.

December 3, 2020

Dear Diary,

AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

December 4, 2020

Dear Diary,

Today I went for a solo ride in the country. It was lovely to have some “alone” time and I returned home refreshed. It’s important to take care of yourself.

December 6, 2020

Dear Diary,

Today I went for a solo ride in the country. When I hit Rd. 25A, I unrolled the windows and screamed my lungs out. For 10 minutes. It was lovely and I returned home refreshed.

December 14, 2020

Dear Diary,

I’m worried my potential Mom of the Year award is in jeopardy. Today Mick casually mentioned that it was “OK” that I didn’t get him a little cardboard advent calendar like I have every other year since he was born. He told me that opening the little pill packs on his allergy medicine felt almost like opening those little perforated windows where the chocolates are hidden. I’m such a bad mom.

December 24, 2020

Dear Diary,

I felt pretty bad about not getting the kids advent calendars this year so I made some homemade gift certificates for a trip to Hawaii and put them in their stockings. I’m pretty sure we can’t afford a trip to Hawaii and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for COVID. We’ll probably never get on an airplane again. But the certificates turned out cute (I used lots of seashell and palm tree stickers) and I feel better for sure.

January 6, 2021

Dear Diary,

2021 is feeling a lot like 2020. Ugh.

January 11, 2021

Dear Diary,

Today I unfriended and then refriended and then unfriended a Facebook “friend” because of his political persuasion. What is wrong with me? Wait. What is wrong with him?

February 1, 2021

Dear Diary,

For the first time, I had to pull the plug on watching a television show with my kids. “Riverdale” is gross. It has absolutely no redeeming value and that says a lot considering we forced our way through a season of “Tiger King.” Thank God for “Punky Brewster.” Eighty-eight episodes of wholesome family viewing, circa 1984. We’re going to watch them all.

February 8, 2021

Dear Diary,

Three of our kids just got their driver permits. Three. At the same time. Isn’t that great? It’s the end of my “alone” time in the van, but great that Bob and I can take turns spending time with the kids in the car.

February 15, 2021

Dear Diary,

Turns out, teaching a kid to drive is similar to teaching a kid to ride a bike. Except for the white knuckles, clenched jaw and cursing. Similar. Also, when I said, “Yes, of course” to the question, “Can I play my music when I drive?” I didn’t realize the playlist would include songs like “Crash My Car” by Coin and “Running Red Lights” by The Avalanches. So. Much. Fun.

February 20, 2021

Dear Diary,

If there’s one thing I’m thankful for, it’s bib overalls. They are the only thing I wear anymore because they have no waistband and lots of pockets for snacks. I can fit a whole sleeve of Thin Mints in the bib pocket without crushing them. Also, they give the illusion that I may have, at some point, been working.

I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. I actually painted our bedroom, the hallway and the laundry room last week. It’s a little embarrassing that I kept wearing my paint clothes for two days after the paint job was done. It was like that time I wore my maternity clothes until I realized my “baby” was tying his own shoes. Not good. I did notice that today, when I finally showered and put on clean overalls, every single person in the family told me I looked nice. Sheesh. The things I need to do to get a compliment.

February 25, 2021

Dear Diary,

Tonight I had a lengthy and heated debate with one of my kids on the value of 1990 sitcom reboots. She thinks they’re awesome and I think they’re trash. One life stage of Lizzie McGuire is enough. We both went to bed mad.

March 1, 2021

Dear Diary,

Just read my April 11, 2020 entry. LOL! My new goals:

* Get out of bed

* Replace the flapper on the toilet in the kids’ bathroom

March 4, 2021

Dear Diary,

Today 17-year-old Emme and I rented a pickup truck from All Star Rents and drove all over Yolo County playing country music full-blast and pretending we were cowgirls.

March 5, 2021

Dear Diary,

Well, it’s been almost a year and I didn’t find a workout routine that worked for me, although I did watch a lot of promotional videos for workout routines. Can’t say I didn’t try. On a brighter note, I committed to applying white strips to my teeth for 12 days in a row, so I’m feeling pretty good about my sparkling smile.

Also, I didn’t learn the piano but I have perfected my impersonations of all the actors in the Prevagen commercials: “My name is Greg, I’m 68 years old and I do motivational speaking in addition to the substitute teaching …” and “I’m Patricia. I’m always busy in my life because I’m always doing something…” I’m quite good, if I do say so myself.

March 8, 2021

Dear Diary,

Thanks for being here for me. I know that in 20 years when I read this again, I will laugh and cry and miss these days. Until then, so much more to come.

— Shelley Dunning is a Davis resident and a mom of four. Reach her at dunningsm@gmail.com.

The Link Lonk


March 10, 2021 at 06:50AM
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Humble Pie: A coronavirus chronicle - Davis Enterprise

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