Hellobee

Yesterday was the third anniversary of Mr. Bee’s mom’s death, so we left home for the first time to visit her in the cemetery. Kids aren’t allowed to leave home during our quarantine, and only Mr. Bee has a pass to go to the market so we hadn’t left home at all. But the cemetery is less than half a mile away and before town where they start to check quarantine passes, so we walked. It rained all day, but just as we were about to leave for the cemetery, the sun peeked through the clouds, and the skies completely cleared up.

I have been pretty zoned out, staying busy with mundane daily chores. Taking care of all our many animals (chickens, bees, dogs, cats, rabbit), gardening, and cooking makes the days fly by. I’m not even binge watching anything, and there is an alcohol sale ban here. I’ve been in a state of perpetual uncertainty and unease because no one knows what the rest of 2020 will look like. I was worried for us, working in the tourism industry, but we can survive with a simple life here. I was more worried for my family in the US whose business depends on immigration.

Yesterday was also one of my closest friend’s birthdays, so I hopped on a Facebook messenger chat (my internet was too slow for Zoom) with 3 of my closest friends that live in New York. I feel like I’m much more worried than my friends and family are, even though they’re the ones living in the worst hit country in the world. Perhaps it’s because I’m reading news from afar, and I feel anxiety being so far away.

Living on an island in the Philippines for the past 4.5 years has actually prepared Charlie and Olive for this quarantine. They’re used to the provincial life without much to do, so they’re good at entertaining themselves and they’re used to homeschooling.

I have been cocooning and avoiding facing reality in some ways. But I will be sharing more of our quarantine life where we are getting back to basics. Hope you and your family are well wherever you are in the world.