Wednesday 1 April 2020

Insecure Writer's Support Group #4

It's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group again. You can sign up here.

The co-hosts this time around are Diane Burton, JH Moncrieff, Anna @ Emaginette, Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter, Erika Beebe and Lisa Buie-Collard. So, thanks to them.

Every month there is an (optional) question and this month it is: what's your favourite piece of punctuation?

I'd have do go with either the interrobang or-

April Fool!

No, of course it isn't. The question couldn't really be anything other than: "So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world?"

Crikey! What a month. OK, who ordered the global pandemic?

I'm currently in isolation as I would imagine a great many of you are. I originally isolated because my wife was in an at risk category, but we both started showing symptoms. We had headaches that just wouldn't clear, very snotty noses, no sense of smell and a dry cough, but so far no fever. It wasn't much fun.

I saw lots of people complaining of boredom, which irked me because I have a one-year-old and therefore no more free time than before. Still no time to write. While people whinged about having to watch boxsets or learn to paint, I resented them a bit. At the same time, I discovered that I was a key worker, and so while everyone else worked from home I would be expected to brave the outdoors. Before the election I was considered unskilled, now I'm key to success of our nation's efforts to beat coronavirus. Nobody tells you that you are a key worker until they want you to do something and this is not a job that pays well enough to warrant risking your life. I was worried that my 'joke job' would get my family killed.

While we waited inside, we saw people hoarding food, panic buying, fighting over toilet roll, vandalising ambulances, stealing hand sanitiser from hospitals, robbing schools, throwing away perfectly good food and wilfully ignoring the scientific advice to prevent the spread of the virus. Maybe we don't deserve to survive this.

My isolation is due to end this Friday. Wish me luck.

In the meantime...

- Don't go out if you don't have to. Work from home if you can.

- Wash your hands more often and for at least twenty seconds.

- Don't buy more of anything than you need.

- Don't be selfish. Think of others.

17 comments:

Patsy said...

OK, you got me! Probably because an interobang really is my favourite piece of punctuation. I don't use it, but I like the name and knowing it exists.

Dave said...

I feel the same way, it's somehow reassuring.

Anne Higa said...

Sending positive thoughts to you and your family. I was just telling my friend the other day that I think anyone who *has* to go to work should - at minimum - get double their usual pay if they really are *necessary*. You do what you need to do.
Anne from annehiga.com

Dave said...

Thanks, Anne. I'll invoice you.

Karen Lynn said...

It's definitely a shock to realize that you're "essential" after a lot of time being nothing. I'm in the same boat. People appreciating me left and right. I might get used to that.
Happy IWSG day.

Michelle Wallace said...

Who ordered the global pandemic? Very interesting question. One that's on many minds. Answer? Everybody will claim: It wasn't me. So it's probably Mr. Nobody.
Take care, Dave.

Dave said...

Karen, I don't feel very appreciated yet. I'm glad that you do.

Michelle, for the record: it wasn't me.

Erika Beebe said...

I wish you and your family the best. I haven't seen the terrible behavior you have. So far, my community seems to be handling the process well and I love how the grocery stores put limits on how much you can grab. Happy IWSG Day.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Hope you and your wife feel better soon. Be careful when your isolation is up. My husband and I are in self-imposed isolation. I would hate to think I'd go about business as normal only to either catch or give it to someone else. Yes, these are strange times.

emaginette said...

Good Luck! I hope you are freed.

In my world, it's pretty quiet. But the numbers are low around here and it isn't in town yet. So there's that.

Anna from elements of emaginette

Donna Hanton said...

I hope you're feeling better. Stay safe, now and back at work.

Doreen Mcgettigan said...

You definitely got me there, I almost had to Google, lol.
I was exposed and had to stay in, ugh it's so scary but it's been 24 days and I'm good and so is my husband.
Have fun with that baby!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Whether it was or not, glad you're feeling better.
I'm considered essential and been working every day, so no extra free time. Bored? I'd love to be bored! Actually, I don't know how anymore.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I've felt a bit cranky about people who are "bored," too. Everything picked up for me. I now have to work with the public (when I usually work from home). So on and so forth. So yeah, no boredom here. Just a lot of trouble with motivation outside of the things I have to do.

Book Review Tours said...

Take care and stay in unless you absolutely have to go out.

mshatch said...

I guess it's the same no matter where you live, ie hoarders and idiots. Stay well!

Diane Burton said...

I hope you continue to stay safe. We self-isolated because we're in that higher risk category--older and have health issues. I miss my grandkids, my mind swirls so much I can't write (except blogs--short attention span?) Fortunately, we haven't seen the vandalism or thefts--or our media isn't reporting it. Take care of yourself.