At Sunshine Key RV Resort we were enjoying life with John's Dartmouth NROTC buddy Dave and wife Pat and are all planning on attending Dartmouth Reunion in Naples Florida the end of March. It is great having friends in the RV park with us and we so enjoy getting together with the Geri/Bill and Peggie/Tom and their friends. All activities in the town and in the campground come to an abrupt halt as governments begin to follow CDC guidelines to lock down and stay home.
Miami Hearld Headlines
Florida Keys closed to all tourists and visitors because of the coronavirus spread
With deaths being reported in Washington state and NY in early March, panic hits stores with runs on toilet paper, hand sanitizer and anything to make homemade sanitizer. We start stocking up on nonperishable food, making numerous trips to grocery stores where long lines leave shelves bare. There is NO chicken to be found. School systems start to close and Spring break hits Florida bringing thousands of students and families who are now home schooling, pack the RV parks, hotels, beaches and bars bringing the first covid case to the Keys and the Keys lock down. On Friday, March 20 the news reports.... if you don't live here or have a long term lease, leave by Sunday at 6 p.m. Friday afternoon we in middle getting the RV polished and Deb panics, worry about scenes of hurricane evacuations taking 8 hours to get off the keys, petro stations, cars, trucks, RVs running out of gas blocking highways, etc. etc. So we pack in 21/2 hours, kick out the guy polishing the RV (he only half done John NOT HAPPY with Debra for this but knows that once I in all out panic mode there is no stopping me) and we get on the road.
Boy was I wrong, we hit NO traffic all the way out of Florida. Second night we camp in a Cracker Barrel Restaurant parking lot with 4 other RVs (so far) after being on the road for 10 hours. We try to appreciate the sunset and block out the horror that is yet to come.....hurry home. Just before stopping for the night, wearing my hot pink rubber gloves and mask, I pump diesel while John checks the tires. The pump won't work so I have to go in and pay and then disinfect the credit card. Still doesn't work, have to go in again. Over loud speaker, clerk calls for maintenance to go check the pump, as I walk away he asks if I "pushed the button"..... Ah, No. Then over the loudspeaker he says, "never mind, she didn't push the button". About half hour back on the road I admit to John that I don't know how to pump gas......a little stressed out am I. Next day we drive home all the way from Lumberton, NC. A 12 hour day, 10 1/2 hours of driving for 713 miles. Very strange, NO traffic in NYC! Only takes us 2 hours to get home from NYC, normally a 3 hour trip on a good day.
Two months ago Covid was just a concern in China, having not acted on it early, now it is devastating countries all over the world. Stock market is crashing as people fear deaths in the millions unemployment, and personal and corporate bankruptcy and economic depression. The government is pumping billions into the economy, sending stimulus checks to everyone in the $1-2,000 range depending on your income, all of which helps a few businesses who can survive online. Mail order businesses like Amazon are booming as are delivery companies. Nobody is flying, stores are closed unless selling food, booze (deemed essential), and medical supplies so airlines stocks and retail store stocks plummet. Most businesses are working from home in order to remain open which if efficient, will change the future work paradigm.
2020 will be a year of highs and lows in the world and in our personal lives.
As we leave for the Florida Keys in early February the rumblings of a new virus called Covid 19 gets louder and louder as thousands are dying in China as it spreads like wildfire. My generation has seen nothing like this having been born near the end of the polio crises. Wikipedia says, in 2008 a team of researchers identified 335 diseases that emerged between 1960 and 2004, at least 60% of which came from animals. The resulting transmission of disease from wildlife to humans, is now “a hidden cost of human economic development. Humans are moving into largely undisturbed places and being exposed more and more." This could be the new norm.
GOOD NEWS
Zoe and Gabe are finally buying a house on the 4th house they put an offer on. Never saw a real estate market as crazy as White Salmon, Washington. High demand, low supply so prices are ridiculous. They are buying a wonderful home on 5 acres in Cook, Washington about 10 miles from where they live now. More on the house later as WE WILL BE THERE FOR THE MOVE!!!!
Jack and Michele ARE PREGNANT AND ENGAGED! Things are moving much faster than they had planned but they and we are very happy. I always said the diamond ring John gave me for our 20th Anniversary in Hawaii would go to Jack and the sapphire ring would go to Zoe. With jewelry stores closed due to covid, I took the ring off my finger and mailed it to Jack.
After the whole crew was quarantined on the ship (still USS Chung Hoon) at the dock for 2 weeks (covid precaution) then on sea trials for 5 weeks, Jack is home! June 5 we get a text "I'm home! Can you guys Face-Time in 30 minutes so I can learn what my child is going to be haha?" Michelle is "so sweet" as Jack is always saying, she wanted to include his family and zoom the reveal. She baked a cupcake and when he bit into it there was blue frosting. Little league, little league he repeats as he gives Michelle a big hug and kiss. The tech's have told them that baby boy Hanley is VERY active and in the 85th percentile for size. Hummmm, wonder where that came from Jack:)
Boy was I wrong, we hit NO traffic all the way out of Florida. Second night we camp in a Cracker Barrel Restaurant parking lot with 4 other RVs (so far) after being on the road for 10 hours. We try to appreciate the sunset and block out the horror that is yet to come.....hurry home. Just before stopping for the night, wearing my hot pink rubber gloves and mask, I pump diesel while John checks the tires. The pump won't work so I have to go in and pay and then disinfect the credit card. Still doesn't work, have to go in again. Over loud speaker, clerk calls for maintenance to go check the pump, as I walk away he asks if I "pushed the button"..... Ah, No. Then over the loudspeaker he says, "never mind, she didn't push the button". About half hour back on the road I admit to John that I don't know how to pump gas......a little stressed out am I. Next day we drive home all the way from Lumberton, NC. A 12 hour day, 10 1/2 hours of driving for 713 miles. Very strange, NO traffic in NYC! Only takes us 2 hours to get home from NYC, normally a 3 hour trip on a good day.
