(A May evening before the pandemic)
One week since deconfinement started. At first the prospect seemed like light at the end of the tunnel, but the closer it came, the more I wondered.
Where we are: Paris is in a “red zone” where the virus is still very active. Middle schools and high schools are closed, non-essential group gatherings are discouraged, remote working encouraged. Restaurants, cafés, movie theaters and parks still off limits, all cultural events cancelled… But, we are allowed outside without a “permission slip” as many times a day as we wish, can move around freely if we stay within a 100 kilometer radius of our home. Public transportation is running at 75% capacity, masks mandatory, social distancing requested.
Pollution is down due to fewer commuters. We can still see the stars. Our street has filled up with parked cars and some drivers, not everyone is wearing masks or keeping their distance in stores and on the sidewalk. Hordes of people have returned to the banks of the canal. 75% of those polled believe we will be reconfined.
So, yes, more freedom of movement, but greater risk of contamination outside, continuing uncertainty, and negotiations with our teen, whose peers seem to think that closed high schools are an invitation to zip around Paris and party.
Our family is staying semi-confined until Paris is a “green zone” with less risk. Working from home, home schooling, not socializing, only going outside when absolutely necessary and then with masks.
Some confinement highlights…
–I loved my rhythm: Working in the morning, working out every afternoon, first time in years! Highly recommend Dance Cross Fit with Becky, Cardio Sculpt with Judy, Dance it Out with Stephannie and more:
http://ymcaulster.org/virtual-class-schedule/
-Teaching myself how to work Final Cut Pro software. Two new videos up on Youtube about visualization:
https://thankyouparis.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/paris-lockdown-turn-on-your-inner-tv/
How to use our imagination as a time machine to build the future. For more inspiration see this article about Astronaut Scott Kelly’s year in outer space:
Newest Final Cut project, a video for my most-streamed song, “Brooklyn” (cover image only on YouTube for the moment)
This required sorting through hundreds of family photos, with I never would have done without confinement..
To be continued…
Aliss
