Safer at Home: A Soothing Essay from Dahlia Lithwick

Yesterday SLATE published Dahlia Lithwick’s insightful and helpful essay on self-isolation "How to Spend the Time." It discusses the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and a mindset approach that is helpful for me.

https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/03/how-to-spend-time-quarantine.html

( Juicy quotes that I hope aren’t triggering and still behind a cut )

She references Marge Piercy’s poem "To Be of Use," which I love so much it was part of our wedding ceremony, two months shy of 40 years ago.

( 211 words under the cut )

peeswat is the new visiting

One of the good things that happens every week is a pal (massively offline) and I go for 20 - 40 minute excursions: she walks and I use my powerchair. Walking together supports a casual and low-key conversation.

But that's not possible now: neither the sidewalks nor even the bike path that's near my door are wide enough for us to maintain true 6ft/2m separation.

She's just invented: parallel-separated-walk-and-talk PSWAT pronounced "peeswat."

We have a phone date this evening: she's riding her indoor bike and I'm walking my treadmill.

I'll let you know how it goes.