It finally got to me!

I thought I was immune to this isolation and restrictions and was, I thought, mentally prepared for the anticipated announcement from President Ramaphosa. We all knew that the three weeks wasn’t long enough to “flatten the curve” but when he announced on Thursday evening that the lockdown would continue for an additional two weeks, making it a total of five weeks, taking us to the end of April, it felt like the world caved in.

We are basically back to Day 1! No going for walks, only allowed out for food or medicine, no liquor stores open (which doesn’t phase me because as luck would have it, I have enough gin to last me!)

And to top it off, the last of the repatriation flights to the US left yesterday, which means that I am here until the airports open again. All international flights and domestic flights are grounded for who knows how long. Of course, if I had taken one of the last flights, the question was “Where would I go to be in quarantine for the two weeks when I landed?” as I am still technically homeless!

All that left me feeling really alone and I succumbed! I didn’t actually bury my head under the covers, but spent most of the day, lying on the couch reading a mystery novel, taking myself off to a different world. I knew I should phone people but was afraid I would burst into tears.

Today is a much better day. I’ve stopped feeling sorry for myself, got back into my routine and the weather, which always affects me, is gorgeous and lifts my spirits. And I know I can do this without turning into a pumpkin.

A lot of people in this country have it far worse than we can even imagine, as they have no option to practice “social distancing” living as they do in shacks in the townships. Many have lost their only source of income as informal traders, or street vendors. Kids aren’t getting, what are sometimes the only meals they have, as with schools closed, there are no meals provided.

This government seems to be really getting a handle on the situation, as far as we can tell. The infections aren’t sky rocketing and there aren’t that many deaths which is sad way of gauging how a program is working.

Numerous NGOs are stepping in to assist as well, making a huge difference with food and other supplies, quite often picking up from where the government assistance ends. And warring gangs are working together to provide food to people in the townships that in the past, they terrorized!

So out of the mayhem, there are signs of good emerging. I’ll take any kind of good news at this point.

I’m limiting the amount of news I watch or read, and try to stay off social media as much as possible. There is just so much s**t out there and so much negativity floating around and I don’t need to be bombarded with it. It’s a sure way of being dropped into the doldrums again.

And I don’t need that!

#Stayhome, everyone and be safe.