Italian Quarantine Chronicles, Day 71, May 18, 2020:
I loathe getting up early in the morning. However, we had a veterinary appointment at 9 am and I had no choice because Harry will not walk that far without the two of us. (As a rescue, he has had separation issues since day 1.)
With four kittens to feed, litter pans to clean, medications to prepare for Imp's asthma....I awoke at 6:30..reluctantly. It looked cloudy outside as if it might rain, but there was sunshine over neighboring towns to the East.
I took my time getting dressed so the clowns, otherwise known as kittens, would have some time to run around and play. I tend to move slowly in the mornings anyway due to rheumatoid arthritis.
In an hour or so, I had the dishwasher emptied, cat medicine measured and pulverized, pans cleaned, food out and ready to go. The clowns somehow sense this and wait eagerly for me to lift a bowl and head to the back room where their separate "rooms" are. Unfortunately, today, I had to lock them in their cages just to make sure my house doesn't get destroyed while we are both out the door.
It is a bit of a hike to the vet, so we allowed 35 minutes for the trek. By then the sky was beginning to clear.
Today is the first day that other businesses besides the post office and food vendors are allowed to open. The town was hopping! The lady with the gift store around the corner was washing down her front entrance. The shoe store man was dropping off his wife. Cafe Corso was open (coffee bistro that also runs the small coffee bean store attached) and we got big waves from the "main man" and his mother. Clothes were back on the mannequins in the clothing store adjacent.
Businesses are still adhering to restrictions. There remains limited access to the interiors. No more than 1 or 2 people inside, depending on the size of the space. Signs are posted on the doors. Masks and gloves are mandatory.
There was a lot of activity around the corner on the way to the posta and the supermarket. Quite a long line for the posta, but it is Monday morning. We crossed the busy street to the supermarket which is the same street where the medical offices are and the vet is further down the same road. I had taken a bag so I ducked into Il Vecchio Mulino - the best bread store in town. The earlier the better and they were fully stocked. I took four cornetti, two cream buns and a potato focaccia. Since I know I will be tired later, the focaccia makes a quick, easy and delicious dinner with a bit of tomato sauce, basil and oregano and sliced mozzarella. Stick it in the oven for ten minutes and voila!
There were a few gentle raindrops along the way. There were also a few people without masks or gloves..not many...three, maybe four. Could be they were not heading to any place of business. Everyone else was in compliance, even an older lady walking her dog.
Everything seems to be blooming! Roses, geraniums, elderberry bushes. Balconies are becoming very pretty.
In this part of town, we are no longer in the "historic center." Buildings and houses here are newer, modern. To the west are the mountains and all the houses on this block have spectacular views of Gran Sasso.
We got to the vet and he was just finishing up with another man and his pup. It was exactly 9am. In just a few minutes he was ready for us. Harry had to be hoisted up onto the table - no fancy equipment here. I held his back end and blocked him from moving backwards with my body...I had my head on his tail. My husband held him fast in the front while the doctor drew his blood. (Harry has had a couple of very short but real seizures. The cause could be simple and treatable or something devastating.) It didn't take long and Harry was back on the ground and ready to go. We should have the result by Friday.
Strolling back I saw what appeard to be lemon trees, although I'm not sure.
I loathe getting up early in the morning. However, we had a veterinary appointment at 9 am and I had no choice because Harry will not walk that far without the two of us. (As a rescue, he has had separation issues since day 1.)
With four kittens to feed, litter pans to clean, medications to prepare for Imp's asthma....I awoke at 6:30..reluctantly. It looked cloudy outside as if it might rain, but there was sunshine over neighboring towns to the East.
I took my time getting dressed so the clowns, otherwise known as kittens, would have some time to run around and play. I tend to move slowly in the mornings anyway due to rheumatoid arthritis.
In an hour or so, I had the dishwasher emptied, cat medicine measured and pulverized, pans cleaned, food out and ready to go. The clowns somehow sense this and wait eagerly for me to lift a bowl and head to the back room where their separate "rooms" are. Unfortunately, today, I had to lock them in their cages just to make sure my house doesn't get destroyed while we are both out the door.
It is a bit of a hike to the vet, so we allowed 35 minutes for the trek. By then the sky was beginning to clear.
Today is the first day that other businesses besides the post office and food vendors are allowed to open. The town was hopping! The lady with the gift store around the corner was washing down her front entrance. The shoe store man was dropping off his wife. Cafe Corso was open (coffee bistro that also runs the small coffee bean store attached) and we got big waves from the "main man" and his mother. Clothes were back on the mannequins in the clothing store adjacent.
Businesses are still adhering to restrictions. There remains limited access to the interiors. No more than 1 or 2 people inside, depending on the size of the space. Signs are posted on the doors. Masks and gloves are mandatory.
There was a lot of activity around the corner on the way to the posta and the supermarket. Quite a long line for the posta, but it is Monday morning. We crossed the busy street to the supermarket which is the same street where the medical offices are and the vet is further down the same road. I had taken a bag so I ducked into Il Vecchio Mulino - the best bread store in town. The earlier the better and they were fully stocked. I took four cornetti, two cream buns and a potato focaccia. Since I know I will be tired later, the focaccia makes a quick, easy and delicious dinner with a bit of tomato sauce, basil and oregano and sliced mozzarella. Stick it in the oven for ten minutes and voila!
There were a few gentle raindrops along the way. There were also a few people without masks or gloves..not many...three, maybe four. Could be they were not heading to any place of business. Everyone else was in compliance, even an older lady walking her dog.
Everything seems to be blooming! Roses, geraniums, elderberry bushes. Balconies are becoming very pretty.
We got to the vet and he was just finishing up with another man and his pup. It was exactly 9am. In just a few minutes he was ready for us. Harry had to be hoisted up onto the table - no fancy equipment here. I held his back end and blocked him from moving backwards with my body...I had my head on his tail. My husband held him fast in the front while the doctor drew his blood. (Harry has had a couple of very short but real seizures. The cause could be simple and treatable or something devastating.) It didn't take long and Harry was back on the ground and ready to go. We should have the result by Friday.
Strolling back I saw what appeard to be lemon trees, although I'm not sure.
Heading back past the supermarket we saw the houseware store's owners (where we buy dog food) and they had to say "Ciao" to Harry. Closer to home we passed my husband's barber heading to his place. He used to leave his door open and men would wander in whenever. Now he is carrying an appointment book. My husband booked with him on the spot!
Another housewares store opened again...she is just down the block from us and offers up a slightly different array of goods. I checked to see that no one else was inside, we exchanged greetings "Sta bene?" Si, tutto bene!! I grabbed a couple of metal "glasses" that have secure lids since my husband has a habit of saving his coffee and putting it in the refrigerator in an open glass. The inevitable happened last week, the cleanup was not fun but I managed not to say "I told you so." Well, that won't be happening again.
Our town had completely stable numbers for two weeks until restrictions were eased. We now have 4 more identified cases but no deaths, thank goodness. However, we are worried and hesitant about the gradual reopening most particularly because there are people not willing to follow the rules.
Once home, the clowns were released, items washed and put away, hands washed and washed and washed. Door knobs wiped down. Time, finally, for Harry to have his breakfast and I need some hot tea very badly. Then Harry and I will go to the living room so he can take a rest on his favorite bed.
Now we wait anxiously for Friday.
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