My (parents') Quarantine Life

I have not personally been locked down because of COVID-19's rapid spread throughout the United States. I live in Utah County, Utah, which has only advised people to stay at home. Schools were closed, but most businesses are still open and I don't honestly see that much of a decrease in people out and about. I am sure it is coming.

My parents on the other hand both went through a 14 day self-quarantine at home in Haines, Alaska. My folks had spent a week in Hawaii before traveling to New Zealand to spend time with my oldest sister, and flew back through Seattle right when it was becoming clear that the outbreak was on for real in the states. My parents took this seriously, my dad is 77 with some underlying conditions and my mom is 70. There is no hospital or intensive care facility in Haines, and depending on the weather there is not even a way to transport someone out of town often for many days at a time. Usually there is a ferry system that connects the towns of Southeast Alaska, but years of under-funding has culminated in the remaining few ferries all requiring dry dock repairs at the same time this winter and there is no ferry service.

Knowing they might well have been exposed during travels, and knowing how devastating COVID-19 could be to their circle of elderly friends in small town Alaska, my parents didn't leave the house for 14 days. My brother and another sister live in the same town, and left them groceries on the porch. My niece Delilah is three years old and did not understand why she had to talk to grandma and grandpa through the window.

My parents are super cute so of course they devised fun ways to pass the time... like recording this video :) They wrote lyrics appropriate to their situation, set to the classic song "Our House" by Crosby, Stills & Nash.

I love the video, my dad carefully walking down the old creaking wooden stairs while my mom plays the baby grand piano and sings. I still think of that house as my house, I grew up there. I hope this song gives everyone else the same warm feels I got :)

Stay safe and use this opportunity to be creative if you can. Send fun videos to family and loved ones. Sing songs, make art.

I understand not everyone is so lucky to have food and shelter covered. I hope you all make it through this.

Love - Carl