The Coronavirus Apocalypse sets in, and I’m without Coffee

The deserted streets of Summerville, Atlanta as fears of COV-ID19 start to shutter local businesses.

When you can’t fall asleep until 3am and you wake up to realize the sky is falling and there’s no coffee. Ugh.

I tossed and turned Sunday night, unable to shut my mind off from fear of the unknown, and impending doom, while compulsively consuming every new news story I could. Finally Gavin and I succumbed to turning on the television at 3am and enjoyed some lighthearted escape courtesy of the Michael J. Fox classic Teen Wolfe. I slowly faded and was happy to wake and realize I slept uninterrupted until 10am, and I didn’t even have any nightmares to report. The last couple weeks have been full of terrorizing subconscious thoughts including family suicides and multiple attacks by cats, so it was a huge relief.

Phew, I was up and had survived the night. The sky was still falling but all seemed relatively OK, until we realized the friend we were staying with didn’t have a coffee maker. So I actually had coffee but no way to make it. I was in need of fresh air and despite not wanting to patronize any public places I determined that my need for coffee was worth venturing to Little Tart, an adorable bakery and coffee shop with a relatively new location in Summerville, a recently developed neighborhood that under normal circumstances I’d be yearning to explore.

It’s weird to come back to a city I know and love, one that’s rapidly developing with so many great new spots that pique my interest, but I can’t patronize at this time. I was holding out hope that Little Tart would still be open but alas, no such luck. It was closed along with everything beside it.

I turned around and started walking just to walk. I walked past the local Middle School, closed due to the virus, the campus eerily empty. I walked over I-20, one of Atlanta’s notoriously busy routes on a weekday at rush hour, with only a light stream of cars flowing beneath me. I passed Grant Park, admiring the quaint bungalows of the neighborhood and the bubbling water fountain at the entrance of the park, something that otherwise wouldn’t be too remarkable seemed simply amazing. They weren’t rose colored but I was definitely wearing a new pair of glasses, so to speak.

I made my way to Little Tart’s Grant Park location and despite the cafe being closed they were operating a small window for to-go orders. They were only accepting credit cards and we’re adhering to strict safety precautions and I was happy to give them the business, and desperately needed the coffee.

I returned back to our friend’s house and spent a few hours working, browsing social media to see how local Martha’s Vineyard businesses were adjusting to the new safety restrictions, or closing altogether. The threat to our local businesses is very real and very scary, and I’m grateful that although we’re self employment both Gavin and I operate businesses with virtually no overhead. The financial losses to our industries will be severe and widespread but as I like to say “or health is our wealth.”

I watched a local meeting via video conferencing and listened in as Oak Bluffs leaders spoke to their plans for preparedness, including the possibility of hotels to exist as potential “back up hospitals.” Meanwhile on a national level President Trump and leading health officials took to TV to recommend closing more schools, avoiding groups of more than 10, discretionary travel, bars and restaurants. There was talk of the effects of the virus lasting into late summer, a terrifying thought to someone who survives off the thriving summer business on Martha’s Vineyard. But I reminded myself of the mantra we all know, one day at a time.

Gavin and I packed our things and headed to our family’s for dinner. Our nephew Jack is celebrating his ninth birthday tomorrow and he had been looking forward to a special birthday dinner, especially after his roller skating birthday party was cancelled, for obvious reasons. He asked where we’d be going to dinner and we had to explain it would be another home cooked meal… it was sad to see his excitement fade but he’s been such a champ about all of this. He thrived today, his first day of “home school” and has been so understanding about all of the changes that are being made, especially on his birthday week. We’ll definitely have to go big for his double digits next year!

After dinner we “moved in” to our new temporary home in Atlanta, where we’ll be hunkered down for the next couple of weeks. Fortunately my in-laws have a second rental home that was unoccupied that we can take over. It’s spacious, cute, comfortable and provides some stability during these uncertain times, we’re grateful for it! Despite the cleaners having come earlier in the day we disinfected the whole house before settling in. If my count is accurate it’s the 21st place we’ve slept since we left home on January 29th, and it’s the closest thing we’ve had since feeling at home–we are incredibly grateful for it.

We got comfy and relaxed over a puzzle which featured a scene from a New England village. We might not be home yet but at least we can puzzle it…

News from the day: NYC and LA announce closure of restaurants, theaters etc., the Dow Jones hits -3,000 points, Trump gives himself 10/10 on his response to Coronavirus and alludes to it lasting through the summer

Best Thing I Watched: Rudy, one of my all time favorite feel good films