hi·ber·na·tion

/ˌhībərˈnāSH(ə)n/

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noun

1. the condition or period of an animal or plant spending the winter in a dormant state.

   "grizzly bears gorge on seeds to prepare for hibernation"

   • an extended period of remaining inactive or indoors.

     "the fair-weather cyclists are emerging from winter hibernation"

Hibernation sounds really good about now. Wouldn't it be nice if we all could just curl up under a blanket fort for the next month or two and wake up when all this craziness is over?

How are things where you are? Are your kids' schools closed (yet)? How is the situation in the stores? How is everyone feeling?

Here in Boca Raton, Florida, things are changing every day. Our college boy was on Spring Break last week and by the middle of the week we knew he has an extended week for Spring Break and then will start online classes on March 23. He'll finish his first year of college at home.

The girls' school is closed as of today. Their Spring Break would be next week, so they have an extra week this week and then will start distance learning the week of March 30. 

I am still at work this week (I work at my girl's school) while the teachers prepare for distance learning. Everyone here is trying to practice "social distancing". Meetings are in bigger rooms so everyone can spread out. Things are wiped down, sprayed down and fumigated on a regular basis. It's a "one day at a time" approach right now for everyone. 

Update: I’m home as of today.

No one knows for sure how long the distance learning will last. Or any of these new measures needing to be taken. Update: The governor of Florida has ordered all K-12 public and private schools closed until 4/15/20.

The news changes day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute and like everyone else we are just trying to figure things out as we go along.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around "social distancing". I mean I get that we need to stay away from one another, should stay home as much as possible and avoid large crowds. But what exactly is ok and what isn't? I took my girls to the beach yesterday to get out for a few hours (beaches in Boca Raton are now closed) enjoy the sunshine and forget about all the craziness around us. I told them before we left the house that if it was too crowded we wouldn't stay. We were lucky and managed to find a nice empty area to set up our umbrella and chairs and no one was close to us. I honestly didn't want to leave. It just felt so good sitting in my chair, finishing up one book and starting another, listening to the waves and feeling the breeze. 

So glad I was able to get our toes in the sand. I’m sure that soon the beaches in other parts of Palm Beach County will close as well.

I keep thinking of all the people in Italy and France that live in apartments and are stuck in them with little kids. I feel we are so lucky since we have a pool, a good-sized backyard where we can run and do cartwheels - the girls, not me - and just spread out and enjoy some fresh air. 

Ally and I spent the morning cleaning up our pool deck and the pool floats and toys so we can enjoy this area while we are all at home. We have plenty of room to spread out but I’m sure after a few days of all of us “sheltering at home” we wish we could be back at work and school.

We will all get through this one day at a time.

Take care! Stay healthy! Wash your hands!

xoxo, Susi