March 18, 2020: Remote learning is extended throughout the rest of the Spring 2020 semester. I was already coming up on having been stuck in my house for almost two weeks–just as a precaution with the threats of COVID-19–and this was another hit to my heart.
While I am grateful to be home and healthy with my family, my heart being physically home has not been quite the dream. It is hard being ripped away from my friends and independent life at college, and coming back to where my freedoms are far fewer. Just because you go away for a couple months, doesn’t mean that family quarrels won’t start back up again and old annoyances won’t still be there.
My sister had strep for the first couple days of me being home, so I moved into the basement. I took my desk, my art studio things, set myself up in the bed in our basement and made it my own little apartment. Now, it has been awhile since she has recovered and I still haven’t moved out…on purpose.
My relationship with my family is by no means, bad. We have family dinner, movie nights, and help each other out with chores. We have our funny moments together, but we also have our small fights. Differing opinions on the COVID-19 has been the main source of tension. I prefer to not get into it anymore, and my basement “apartment” has become my retreat when any sort of conflict arises.
My space downstairs has become my only little escape from the everyday craziness that unfolds. I’m not allowed to see my friends, nor am I allowed to go out to the store to get supplies or food. My day consists of waking up and trying to follow a routine to keep me sane, and of course MANY Facetime calls to my friends. My heart hurts because I miss them so dearly; I miss my college routine and I miss the bliss of ignorance to real life. My heart may be home, but it yearns for the life and people I had to part with.
On a lighter note, I have brought some of my shenanigans home from college. At night I always get antsy around 7:30pm and I throw pseudo-fraternity parties in my house. We have a huge, and I mean HUGE, Bluetooth speaker and I BLAST my wild party music for my family and stand on a chair/elevated surface, reminiscing about the frat basement parties, formals and dated functions that have all been cancelled. Surprisingly, the family doesn’t hate it! I have declared our fraternity to be called “Lambda Rho” after my dog’s initials, and my dog is such a cutie because he gets the zoomies when all of us are dancing around.
Things aren’t all that bad here and my complaints absolutely first world problems. I know I am so blessed and fortunate to be in the situation I am. I am praying for those who are dealing with the plague of problems caused by the virus and the virus itself.
I foresee my next couple blogs will be regarding to life back at the homestead, or Lambda Rho 😉 and I will keep you updated.
xoxo