Because I Want Everyone To #STAYTHEFHOME

Use all of our great tech, facetime, video chats, take up an old hobby
photo Bruce Mars

So, I have not been blogging all that much as of late because I have been busy cooking, teaching other people to cook, travelling and writing about cooking and travelling. In fact, I was all packed and ready to go on a 2 week adventure to Northern Italy on Feb 24 when everything changed.

By 8pm, the night before our flight to Paris (we were going to spend two days in Paris before catching a train to Turin where we would pick up a car so we could road trip), all of our hotels, the car rental and train tickets were cancelled an refunded - we did incur a small cancellation fee for the flights and the only hotel to refuse to refund, ironically, was our hotel in Venice, which was in the epicentre of the outbreak in Northern Italy. Our biggest fear, at that point, was getting stuck overseas in a quarantine or not being allowed back into Canada and we were leaving our 20 yr old son at home.

Instead, we thought it was safe to throw our packed bags into the car and we drove to Charleston SC, meandering, hitting DC, Asheville and Charlotte NC before landing in Charleston, where we thought we would stay for 4 or 5 days, maybe hitting the Outer Banks before starting for home. By the time we got to Charleston, we were getting worried. I had a cold and the news was alarming. We washed our hands and used so much hand sanitizer that the backs of my hands were red and raw. After two nights in Charleston, we bailed, packed the car back up and started for home. Instead of staying overnight in West Virginia, we drove as long as we could, spent a night in Pittsburgh, got up and came home the next morning. Thankfully, we drove instead of flying and we were over the top with our hygiene, our disinfecting of all surfaces, of our car etc, but that is not a fun way to travel, to say the least and I am so thankful that we didn't contract nor did we spread the virus while we were away.

I self isolated while my dr monitored me by phone and after about 11 days, I went in so she could listen to my lungs and she was 100% sure it was a cold and my usual post viral cough but told me to stay indoors and have my family do the same as much as humanly possible.  Pretty much all film and tv production has been suspended so he has no work to go to, I have no work to go to so we are staying inside and we hope that Shack will not go full on "Shining" on us by April. My son and I are introverts who have been training for house arrest our entire lives by my husband is a social butterfly who has a constant need to be on the move. Sorry dude, this is going to rough.

I have been having groceries delivered and stocking up on dried beans, rice, frozen produce, chicken broth and root vegetables that I am keeping the garage, where its dark and cool. It's time to start cooking and eating as a family again, ordering out as a rare treat but make sure the food is left outside the door and tip when you pay online.

I have been trying to warn friends and family since I got home and too many people have not listened, have laughed at me, told me I need to have a glass of wine and chill out, while they continue to go out for dinner, attend large gatherings, think social distancing doesn't include playdates, trips to the playground with a few friends to climb around on climbing equipment or work out at the gym.

So, now here we are. My province has just declared a state of emergency, we have almost closed the borders, all restaurants, libraries, public places, etc must close. Canadians have been told to come back to Canada "while they can still do so". That is not an idle threat, made casually on a regular basis by our Prime Minister.

So, dear readers, I am not here to get you to read my recipes or contribute to my SEO or whatever else one usually does with their blog.

I just want you to take this seriously, don't watch CNN but do watch CBC and pay attention. If you can work from home, do so. If you don't have to go out, stay home. It's not easy but don't have playdates, keep your kids at home, let them play as many video games as they want. Take them out for a walk and run around in the park as long as it's not full of people. If you are lucky enough to have a yard, keep them in the yard. Check in with elderly neighbours. Order your groceries online if you can. Order groceries for your parents, elderly relatives and people living alone.

If you feel unwell, stay home. If you feel well and you don't HAVE to go out of the house, stay home. If your kids are whining and want to go visit their friends, stay home. If your Aunt Mary is inviting the family over for dinner on Sunday, stay home.

For more tips on surviving this Covid 19 pandemic, you can read my article on Auburn Lane

Stay home, stay healthy and safe and keep your community safe and healthy by practicing social distancing and help flatten the curve so that our amazing health care system is not dangerously overloaded and everyone who needs care can get it. If I have to remind you not to travel, I don't even know what to say to you. I am still hearing stories of people who have flown to another country for March Break, to visit elderly relatives and potentially bring the virus to vulnerable countries just because they are blessed with nice beaches. STOP THAT.