Day 0: Caffeine & Panic

I’ve known for a while that Corona was coming. I have some friends in China and I’ve read their experiences of being isolated in their homes. My wife stocked up on food and supplies last week. I knew that the school where I worked would soon close- that all the schools would close. I even registered this site: https://quarantine2020.blogspot.com/ so that I could record my experience. I was prepared, right?

An hour ago it all came to a head… I had a panic attack. Possibly the first panic attack I’ve ever had in my life. So what went wrong?

First, I will blame the caffeine. My body can’t handle the stuff, I’ve known that for a while. But that hasn’t stopped me from becoming a daily coffee drinker (a habit I picked up only 2 years ago). Today I had my morning coffee, but I also went to McDonalds during my lunch break and ordered a large Diet Coke without ice. Then I had black tea after supper. Funnily enough I am listening to an audiobook right now called “How Caffeine Created the Modern World” by Michael Pollan. So it’s probably mostly the caffeine’s fault- but the Corona panic also has something to do with it.

My child is immunosuppressed, so staying healthy is the number one item on my mind during this outbreak. I spent all day constantly refreshing my phone watching US States one by one close schools. Finally, around 5:00 Wisconsin announced their schools would close as well. My goal over the next 23 days (or however long the US in under quarantine) is to chronicle my experiences.

My primary reason for this Blog is to have a project- a way to stay positive. But after the panic attack tonight, after I felt that I couldn’t breathe, that I was going to faint or fall over dead- I realized that I need to Blog about the negative feelings as well. I realized that I need to capture the full experience of the Great American Corona Pandemic of 2020- Because this epidemic will be one of the most important stories of our generation.

One positive from this evening is that Cathy, my wife, made pizza dough. Our sister-in-law, Joanne, came over and we all made personal tiny pizzas for ourselves. Cathy and I ended the evening with an episode of Doctor Who. It’s mostly these little vignettes of happiness that I want to capture in this Blog. The things we do to feel safe. Lemonade made from sour lemons.

Stay safe out there, America.