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We considered ourselves to be fairly lucky so far during this epidemic. My husband and I are both retired, on pensions, and are not at all concerned about being in self-isolation for the duration. Our grandson/ward Sean, who lives with us, is taking it in stride. He's 17 but a fairly quiet kid. He's not into girls or romance yet (thank goodness), loves playing video games of the sports variety, and adores watching and playing basketball. He's in great physical condition and he has a very mild - so mild you don't notice it - case of autism. He has been keeping to a schedule of sorts, which includes going out every other early evening to play basketball at the local elementary school. When he first started going there last week he was the only kid at the basketball nets, but gradually more and more kids started joining him. Yesterday he and one of his friends got together to play, both of them wearing masks and gloves. I'm not sure it's a good idea, but until yesterday there were no cases of COVID-19 in our town, and then a McDonald's employee came down with it, but it's not near us at least.
Sean's mother, my daughter Olivia and her family decided to leave Vancouver a few weeks ago. It's a long story which I won't go into, but she had wanted Sean to go live with them only he didn't want to because he's used to living with us. She was hurt by his decision and I kind of wish he had gone with her because we are not going to be around forever for him, but I've learned that he has always responded the best to routines and doesn't take too well to change. Maybe that will be different when he is older.
Anyway, Olivia was looking forward very much to coming home. They left Vancouver on the weekend of March 14th. We were keeping in touch via e-mail and we were so excited that they'd be home soon! On March 21st she declared that they were going through Manitoba and I anticipated it would be only a few more days before they'd be here!
Then the axe fell. When they crossed from Manitoba into Ontario (our Province) they found that all of the washrooms in the rest stops were closed and all of the restaurants too. I don't know about the motels/hotels. She e-mailed me that they had an awful time! Her little kids, my other two grandchildren, are 9 and 6 years old so they're not babies, but it must have been very difficult for them. They would have had to use the side of the highway for a toilet! (Been there, done that, don't recommend it!)
Anyway, they had no choice, she said, but to turn around and go back! Oh my god, they were so close to coming home and yet so far! They went all the way back to Calgary and have found accommodation there. I know they liked Calgary when they passed through on their way west, but it's closer to B.C. than it is to here! I'm devastated and she is too. She said the kids are holding up well and enjoying the adventure. Bless them, at least they are OK.
Our Premier here in Ontario has been compared to Trump and I've never liked him, but even I will admit that he has been doing a really great job managing our Province during this virus outbreak and has now closed the borders to everyone trying to get into Ontario. He has managed to keep our cases very low compared to other places, and one hopes that we won't have a sudden outbreak like what has happened elsewhere.
In the entire Province of Ontario the latest number of confirmed coronavirus cases has reached 967, with 18 deaths, but they are investigating over 10,000 cases. In our region, Durham, 52 cases have been confirmed. I don't know how many deaths total but I know a grocery store worker just died yesterday, age 48. And here in Whitby, as I wrote above, our first case has been confirmed.
My brother and his wife were lucky. They have a condo in Florida which they were going to stay in until the end of April. They've been down there since after Christmas. When the shit hit the fan last week they packed up the car and drove home, clocking 11-1/2 hours in one day alone! I know it takes 2-1/2 days to drive to Florida from here normally, so they did well. They said the border was practically empty when they came back across and there weren't as many cars on the road as usual.
They were damn lucky because Premier Ford decided to close the provincial borders a couple of days ago, so it was good they made it back in time. Now we have to wait for Olivia, Greg and the kids. At least they are somewhat happy where they are. I know Calgary is a hell of a nice place to be and the kids will have fun there. It's a lot cheaper to live there as well, compared to Vancouver and Toronto.
We'll just have to get used to waiting this damn thing out. I shouldn't complain when others have had it much worse than me. I can't get any toilet paper, but that's nothing!
Sean's mother, my daughter Olivia and her family decided to leave Vancouver a few weeks ago. It's a long story which I won't go into, but she had wanted Sean to go live with them only he didn't want to because he's used to living with us. She was hurt by his decision and I kind of wish he had gone with her because we are not going to be around forever for him, but I've learned that he has always responded the best to routines and doesn't take too well to change. Maybe that will be different when he is older.
Anyway, Olivia was looking forward very much to coming home. They left Vancouver on the weekend of March 14th. We were keeping in touch via e-mail and we were so excited that they'd be home soon! On March 21st she declared that they were going through Manitoba and I anticipated it would be only a few more days before they'd be here!
Then the axe fell. When they crossed from Manitoba into Ontario (our Province) they found that all of the washrooms in the rest stops were closed and all of the restaurants too. I don't know about the motels/hotels. She e-mailed me that they had an awful time! Her little kids, my other two grandchildren, are 9 and 6 years old so they're not babies, but it must have been very difficult for them. They would have had to use the side of the highway for a toilet! (Been there, done that, don't recommend it!)
Anyway, they had no choice, she said, but to turn around and go back! Oh my god, they were so close to coming home and yet so far! They went all the way back to Calgary and have found accommodation there. I know they liked Calgary when they passed through on their way west, but it's closer to B.C. than it is to here! I'm devastated and she is too. She said the kids are holding up well and enjoying the adventure. Bless them, at least they are OK.
Our Premier here in Ontario has been compared to Trump and I've never liked him, but even I will admit that he has been doing a really great job managing our Province during this virus outbreak and has now closed the borders to everyone trying to get into Ontario. He has managed to keep our cases very low compared to other places, and one hopes that we won't have a sudden outbreak like what has happened elsewhere.
In the entire Province of Ontario the latest number of confirmed coronavirus cases has reached 967, with 18 deaths, but they are investigating over 10,000 cases. In our region, Durham, 52 cases have been confirmed. I don't know how many deaths total but I know a grocery store worker just died yesterday, age 48. And here in Whitby, as I wrote above, our first case has been confirmed.
My brother and his wife were lucky. They have a condo in Florida which they were going to stay in until the end of April. They've been down there since after Christmas. When the shit hit the fan last week they packed up the car and drove home, clocking 11-1/2 hours in one day alone! I know it takes 2-1/2 days to drive to Florida from here normally, so they did well. They said the border was practically empty when they came back across and there weren't as many cars on the road as usual.
They were damn lucky because Premier Ford decided to close the provincial borders a couple of days ago, so it was good they made it back in time. Now we have to wait for Olivia, Greg and the kids. At least they are somewhat happy where they are. I know Calgary is a hell of a nice place to be and the kids will have fun there. It's a lot cheaper to live there as well, compared to Vancouver and Toronto.
We'll just have to get used to waiting this damn thing out. I shouldn't complain when others have had it much worse than me. I can't get any toilet paper, but that's nothing!
