Lock Down Day 12: Strange night, running errands!
Shalini Kumar, Ph.D, PMP
Project & Program Management Leader | Led Cross-functional Teams & Improved Collaboration by 23% | Driving Organizational Impact Across Diverse Sectors | Nature-inspired Artist
Tonight was a strange night as compared to all the past nights I've had since the lock down. I had to go out to run some errands! And it felt good!!
I had to lend a pair of headphones and a bottle of hand-sanitizer to my best friend, who also had some face-masks for me. I had to do some grocery shopping for an additional family as we form one bubble. Running these errands might not seem strange at all, as these are the kind of things I usually used to do on a regular basis. Why I call all this strange is the way I had to take care of these errands.
When I went to drop the headphones to my best friend, who is not a part of my bubble, we had to make sure our exchange of goods were contactless. When in normal times we would have hugged each other and stood close by, we both made sure to keep a 2 m distance between us. We wiped the bags we got off each other and went off in opposite directions after blowing some kisses to each other in the air.
With the grocery shopping, I had to make sure I wasn't coming in close-contact with people in the stores, I had to wipe my trolley, although I don't know how much or for how long and is it just the handle or the entire trolley? I had to make sure that I didn't just touch and leave stuff back on the shelves like how I would've done in normal days. So I ended up buying a plum that is very ripe and possibly bad, because I ended up touching it to feel how good it was. After the ordeal of more hand-sanitizer and panic of not knowing if I'm doing it right to ward off any germs off me, I get home, to do even more sanitizing! I wipe down all the things I bought, rinse all my veggies and fruits in soap water and rinse the soap off, and wipe them dry, before I drop it off with the family.
Strange times with strange habits to develop. But I'm ever so grateful that my family and my friends, including myself are still healthy and we are able to live well. With God's grace, I pray, less and less people get the virus and I hope this strange time passes soon. God bless you all.
Take care everyone. Stay happy, healthy and safe!