Ok. Only 4 more days. I can do this.
I woke up at 7am this morning. I thought about just lying in bed for the whole day and not getting up at all.
I really could… If I was to do it, now would be the time. Everything is being brought to me. I can literally do everything I want to do from this bed. I grabbed a pillow and put it over my face. I tried to fall back asleep.
I couldn’t so I pushed my blankets off me and got out of bed. Self Isolation makes you feel laaaaaazzzzzyyyyyy.
I opened the blinds. “Hi friend”, I said to the tree.
My friend, The tree, looked beautiful today. Like a painting. Set against beautiful blue skies. A soft golden light from the early sun was reflecting off the brown leaves. The rain has stopped. I feel happy that I will be able to go outside.
I made my instant coffee and instead of sitting at the desk to work on my computer. I decided to drink my coffee from bed and turned on the television.
The Good Morning Show was on with New Zealand accents of course. It’s been so long since I’ve heard my accent on the television. Especially on the news. John Cambell was interviewing a British man about his new series of children’s books. John is still here going strong. It was nice to listen to some news that wasn’t about the world falling apart.
Unfortunately that didn’t last long. A new presenter, who I hadn’t seen before, updated us on the world news. It’s quite amazing watching the news from here. From another country’s perspective. I learned about how covid is affecting other parts of the world. Africa, India and across the ditch in Melbourne. We don’t really hear about any news from other countries in America unless we put it on BBC world. I mean, there is so much happening there I guess, there isn’t really the time to show anything else. Arizona in America is now the epicenter of COVID 19 in the world. Over 3500 new cases per day.
I turned off the news and sat down at my computer to work.
Arizona is right next to California, which is also in a bad state.
Instead of working I picked up my phone and scrolled through instagram. Of course. Don’t we all?
A post from a friend. “I don’t know how to explain to you that you should care for other people”, Dr Anthony Fauci.
Another post. “Breona Taylor was killed 118 days ago. Her killers are still free”.
Another post. “Cases in Texas have risen by 68%. South Carolina cases have risen by 99%. Florida has seen it’s average new daily cases increase more than tenfold since re opening”
Another post: A friend wearing a mask hiking in the mountains.
Another post: “Majority of Seattle Council pledges to support police department defunding plan laid out by advocates” #keepgoing
Another post. News. Dr Fauci “States who have trouble controlling Covid rates should seriously look at shutting down”
Another post. National leader needs a cup of tea and a lie down.
Lol.
Another post: Sponsored. Caelynn Miller-Keyes from Bachelor Nation. Proud to be partnering with Fabelictics.
Another post. Friends in New Zealand out for dinner.
Another post. A friend sending love out to her friends in the restaurant industry in LA. #wecansurvivethis.
Another post. Breaking News. Prosecutors can now obtain Trump’s tax returns.
I turned my phone over.
Holy fucking fuck. Excuse my language but I do think they are the correct words to describe the current situation.
The World.
Deep breath.
I think to myself – when I leave here I will turn off social media for a little bit. I will delete all Social Apps.
The room was feeling a little bit stuffy so I grabbed my peppermint essential oils and dabbed it on my wrist and temples.
9am. “Knock Knock” Te Atatu was here to take my temperature. “Hi Amy!”, she said super nicely. “How are you feeling today? Any symptoms?”
“Heya, no I’m all good thanks Te Atatu!”
We caught up and spoke a little about the news. She aimed the gun thing at my head and took my temperature. 36.5 celsius. “Thank you Amy, have a good day today”, she said.
So lovely. Everyone is so nice it makes me want to cry.
I put on my mask, pull the room card key from the power slot thing and opened the door.
I went to the restaurant to pick up my coffee.
I walked out into the foyer to the restaurant and saw that there was a police officer having breakfast and he was on his phone. Hmm. Ok, so the police are also here now I guess. I look around. I can see three New Zealand cops. Gun free and friendly looking enough. Dressed in blue. Two young male cops with a sleeve tattoo each and one woman.
They avoided eye contact with me.
‘Hi Grace’ I said.
“Long black?”
“Yes thank you so much.”
I paid for my coffee and, to change things up, I decided to take my coffee outside instead of going back into my office/room. It was such a lovely morning I didn’t want to miss it.
“Morning Amy!” Said Emma from the Navy who was sitting next to Lizzie.
“Morning Emma!” I said. I’ll miss these ladies. Taking such good care of everyone.
I stepped outside into the fresh air. It was beautiful. The sun was shining but the air was still crisp and cold. I know I’m repeating myself when I say that, but the quality of NZ air is unbelievable.
There was a mother and son who I recognized from my flight, masked up and playing in the parking lot. Another woman from my flight was wearing bright tights while power walking. Lots of new faces who must have just arrived looking a little lost and unsettled.
Feeling at home, I walked in my slippers 100m across the parking lot to a pathway of pebbles and then sat on the ledge that is attached to the wall right next to my window.
I put my feet up and leaned against the wall, took off my mask for a minute and breathed in the fresh air. No one was around so it was safe. I was nervous someone would drive past and take a photo of me without my mask on and it would end up on Newshub.
I took 5 deep breaths and then put my mask back on.
The sun was shining. I closed my eyes, lifted my chin and soaked in the sun. It’s warm enough to even be out here without a jacket. Again, the air quality is delicious. I don’t think we realise this until we leave home.
Deep breath.
A tear falls down my cheek.
Oh America. My second home. The land that houses so many people I love. How will we get out of this mess?
I open my eyes and remind myself I am here.
I call Brett to say good morning. He answers and I ask him if he thinks the world is about to implode. He laughs at me, used to and loving my overwhelmed episodes. “We are going to be ok. It’s terrible but we will get through this”, he says. “I just can’t wait until November 10th”.
We talk about whether or not I will still be able to vote from here and if LA will see another stay at home order. “It’s looking like it“, he tells me.
“The good news is LA feels like it is being a lot more careful again”, he assures me. “Really?” I said. “America was just hit with the worst thing ever with the worst president in modern history”. He says.
“Just?”, I laughed.
“All of the governors and mayors have all been left to fend for themselves.”
I agreed.
“The good news is his polls are terrible.”, trying to assure me and himself. Brett always stays so positive. Yes, he can get worked up and fiery, but his natural state is very warm and calm. It’s what I love most about him.
We say our goodbyes and then I go back inside. On my way, I decided that I will get one more coffee.
At the restaurant an American woman who was on my flight said hi. I could tell she was eager for conversation and human connection. Tobi her name was. Tobi is a New Zealand resident but recently had to fly back to LA to see her Dad who was in the hospice.
“I’m really sorry” I said. Understanding what that feels like.
She went back to see him one last time and then had to quickly come back before all the flights stopped. We spoke about the feeling in LA before we left and agreed on the tension. Her son was in college in LA and is still there. She was offered a job here in NZ and accepted it with out thinking twice.
We spoke a little longer from a distance before we said goodbye.
I went inside and drank my coffee and read my book.
12pm – “Knock Knock”
Lunch. Today was a vegetable frittata
I put it aside for later and rolled out my yoga mat which fits perfectly in my entranceway. I was feeling squished so I decided to stretch it out and do hot power fusion ondemand yoga class.
I turned up the heating in my room.
The phone rang!
“Room service. Do you need anything today Amy?”
“Some dishing washing liquid and laundry powder please”
Later that evening my mum texted me to tell me that she’s on her way to Uncle Barrys in Mt Eden and that she can see a giant Rainbow over the hotel.
I ran outside to see the rainbow. I walked all the way around the parking lot trying to see the rainbow but alas I could not find it.
I walked towards the little grass area outside my window and saw two of the families from my flight. Two if the children were playing frisbee. That looks fun, I thought wanting to join in. I kept walking and decided to sit near my friend, the tree.
Just as I sat down, by accident, the frisbee went flying over the fence and into the forbidden outside world! “Oh no!” the little girl cried. Game over.
I suggested asking one of the security guards to go and collect it for us. I mean for them. Lol. They had not asked me to play in their game but I felt invested.
One of the brothers ran over to the fence to have a look. His father quickly raced after him to make sure he wasn’t about to climb the fence to get it.
A nice woman with her daughter walked past on the other side of the fence. The little blonde girl, who threw the frisbee asked them nicely if they could please pass it through. “oh, you guys are in isolation ?” the woman said. “Yes” The little blonde girl exclaimed. “But we are getting out very soon! “
We are.
The nice woman found a stick and scrapped it through under the fence to avoid picking it up with her hands. “Thank you!” The little blonde girl jumped up and down.
Phew. I thought. Happy that they got their frisbee back. I had seen them playing with that one toy for days now.
I went back inside and looked at my room. Should I sit on the bed? Or the Chair?
The bed. I lay down and dreamt about walking down the street. Looking in cafes and shops. Not scared. I dreamt about hugging my mum and my sisters.
I noticed how relaxed my body felt. My mind was calm. My breathing deep.
I don’t think I truly realized how stressed my body felt in LA until I arrived here.
I fell asleep.
Dance party song of the day: Signs. Drake.
