Tag: Social Distancing

Missing My Family These Days While Social Distancing

tanghal family

What can I say, these days I miss my family and especially my mom and dad.  I communicate with them as much as I can by calling them or writing them a letter.  I let my mom talk to me on the phone.  She is hard of hearing so she can’t hear me when I speak to her on the phone.  Same with my dad.  When we talk on the phone, I let him talk because he can’t hear me on the phone.  I text or call my siblings and we checked-in with each other the last week.  It’s important to do that.

I received a call from dad today and he says he realized after catching up with the news that I have had the coronavirus.  He concluded that with the news and all the letters I’ve been sending him while I was sick listing the symptoms and how I was feeling.  I’m not saying I have been validated or tested which I had not, but I was ill with the symptoms over a month ago.  It was a harsh flu for me which had me indoors for several weeks.  I even had the flu shot which makes it even more unexplainable why I got sick.  (The past 5 years for work when I get the flu shot I don’t get the flu. If I don’t get the flu shot, then I get the flu.)  So this flu laid me out with a fever at the beginning, fatigued, weak and aching, depressed, sinus migraine headache, asthma irritation, congestion in my sinuses and throat, and nausea.  I wrote to them about it and blogged about the symptoms back in January. 

Here in Seattle, the coronavirus has been circulating in our community early January where we had no clue what it was back then and people complaining about the ‘crud’ that wouldn’t go away.  Today the news is catching up for everyone around the world how serious and fast this virus spreads.  I will have to say I started feeling sick around January 14th and got better by January 31st where that weekend is when I had started to go outdoors feeling a bit better than I had the last few weeks. 

I told my dad that today I have no fever and not feeling sick. Just the normal allergies symptoms that has my sinuses flared up and hyper sensitive about irritating smells.  I have no problem staying indoors as well keeping myself busy doing what I can to keep my skills up to date and studying many great new things to get my business established.  When the sun is out I like to get out and ride my bike around my park and down to the beach to get fresh air. 

My dad wanted to make sure I stay in and stock up with supplies.  I said we are fine, we are thankful that our nearby stores have what we need and we buy what we need on a weekly basis.  We don’t have space to stockpile nor is it economically feasible for us to buy more than what we need. 

So it’s just hard to hear my dad tell me he is just calling because he is finally catching up with the news and is concerned for me.  It’s also hard to hear my mom asking when I’m visiting with them in California.  It’s hard to say right now and I try to tell her it’s not safe for me to travel now for one thing in case I might be a carrier of the virus coming from the locale I’m sitting in Seattle.  I don’t want to infect no one.  Also, I don’t think it’s healthy for me to travel now for myself.  Governor Inslee is pretty much telling us to assume we all are infected and we need to act accordingly.  Practice social distancing.  My family live over 800 miles away from me.  I miss them dearly.  I write to them often and it’s what helps them to connect with me vice versa and for me to unload what’s on my mind in a thoughtful way.

Social Distancing Works For Me and My Pup

Social Distancing with a Fierce Pup

Having a trusted companion when I go out keeps everything in check with “social distancing” here in Seattle. My tough pup keeps everyone away! 

tough pup keeps everyone away

What is social distancing?
Select link to local Seattle news website King 5 to get the details:

I ride my eBike around my town in West Seattle and down to the beach at Lincoln Park to get fresh air and exercise.  I’ve been packing up my 30 pound pup with me at the back of the bike in a basket.  She loves it too!  A lot of people that see us smile and point out how adorable she is, “a puppy on a bike in a basket”.  I would have to agree with that! She’s super cute!

Pup on an eBike at the back in a basket

Although that cute dog gives growling warnings to strangers to back away if they get too close or reach out to pet her.  So for the most part, I stay a good distance (6 feet away or more)  from others when I bike.  I smile and nod to people and pedal on by going about my ride.

anxious cautions full of energy mini aussie

I’ve been doing different methods to train my pup to be more acceptable to strangers, but she’s not having it.  It’s in her breed as an Australian Shepherd, they are known to be anxious, cautious, and with lots of energy.  Aussies need to be busy at work protecting the herd and spend time running.  So I try my best to not get her in situations where there’s a lot of crowds and especially with unattended toddlers that may want to grab or pet her cuteness.

beware of super cute pup

So bringing it back to current circumstances in Seattle, I am doing “social distancing” and taking personal responsibility to help slow down the coronavirus from spreading. I have a fierce helper with my Red Tri Aussie that keeps everyone in check.