First of April. April fool’s day. We are all fools this year, only this is not a lie, it’s true: we are in the middle of a pandemic, and God knows when it will end. Yesterday and today I stayed indoors. The weather helped. We had rain and cold – temperatures dropped by quite a few degrees! The sea looked like lead, reflecting the dark clouds above. The rain hit the windows hard, and I concentrated on my work. …
Author: Teresa Vale
Love in the time of Coronavirus He’s leaving the city and heading for the highway to the North. He brings some of the files he’s working on with him, just in case the police make him stop and ask why he is travelling. He will say it’s for his work but it’s not. He’s travelling for love; he’ knows it’s crazy, with the quarantine and all, but he can’t help it. He has to see her, to have her …
DAY nineteen, Sunday I woke up crying. In my case, anxiety usually strikes in the morning, when I am awakening, and all sort of thoughts cross my mind. There were times, that seem so distant now, when life was promising, or I was living through a particularly happy phase, and these moments before having to get up were leisurely spent dreaming; rather daydreaming, and looking forward to the day, and weeks, and months ahead. Making plans. For a …
Today would have been another perfect spring day, if it weren’t for the fact that this year no one cares if it’s Spring or not. Spring usually means we come out of our homes and enjoy the open air; this year we must stay indoors and wait, wait, wait. Never has time passed so slowly. Tonight, the clocks will move forward one hour, something that we usually welcome even if it means a Sunday with one hour less, but …
DAY sixteen (Thursday) Yesterday I had to go to the office in Lisbon. There are always two persons working there and one of the directors, or managers, will also have to be there, naturally. Even though I’m now in a particular situation, working part-time, I volunteered. A day at the office I got up early and from my window I saw a cloudy day, but as I got to the highway the sun was shining and it was …
Day fifteen. It seems a lifetime since we had our normal life. Since Mimi came in the mornings and we chatted while I had breakfast, discussing what she should cook for dinner and the latest news. Afonso had been home in the last two months because of his operation and Pedro usually had classes later so when I left for work, they would both still be sleeping. We had a tough time, yes, because of the boy’s injuries during …
DAY thirteen, Monday I get up early. The sun is shining, the sky is blue. I have a busy day ahead of me. No chance to go out. Today, if life were normal, I would be in Malta for some meetings, that will now be held by videoconference. Working day When we are all in the conference, a few small squares on the screen, we greet each other with alacrity – so good to see everyone is …
DAY eleven, Saturday It was not the relaxing day I had imagined. In the morning, the lady who helps me with the beach apartment called and said she was cleaning everything, so by the end of the day I would be able to move in. I decided I would leave Lisbon tomorrow. Then a friend called and mentioned the Government will be releasing a new package of restricting measures as from midnight, so I thought I’d better leave today. …
Rainy day. During breakfast, I acquaint myself with the rules established for the State of Emergency. They allow you to go out in some cases, like going to pharmacies, supermarkets or to buy food, walk your dogs, go for a walk in empty spaces (alone), so I decided that was it – I was going to go down to the newspaper kiosk and get my HOLA magazine. Going out feels like an adventure I took the opportunity to take …
Father’s Day. A sad day for me as it has been for fifteen years, since my father passed away; then, two years later, I also lost my grandfather, who was like a father to me. So, from having two special persons to celebrate with on Father’s Day, I was left with none. Like a dear friend who recently and very unexpectedly lost her father; today she dedicated such beautiful words to him that she moved me to tears. It’s her …
