As we sit here in 2024, it’s easy to look back and think ‘what if’ and ‘why’. But in 2020 the world found itself thrust into the unforeseen grip of COVID-19; an unpredictable force that left no corner untouched. The pandemic was something that the world had never seen before, nor contemplated. But it was something we had to deal with. Like it or not.
Hindsight now prompts contemplation: did we truly comprehend the magnitude of what lay ahead? What seismic shifts awaited us all? One certainty remains – lives were altered in a myriad of ways, the impact ranging from the profound to the relatively subtle. In my case, as a primary caregiver for my terminally ill mother, the onset of the pandemic didn’t drastically redefine my daily routine; I had been within the familiar walls of home long before the era of COVID and lockdowns.
As restrictions materialised, the ritual of starting each day with my Dad over breakfast persisted. Coffee, news, and discussions about the unfolding global events remained our constants. In navigating the evolving guidelines for the chronically ill and elderly, we understood the imperative to adapt and make the most of an unprecedented situation.
Grocery shopping transformed into an unexpected adventure, brimming with lists and the constraints imposed by stores on quantities of essential items. A particular shopping expedition stands out in my memory. Anticipating chaos inspired by news reports of supermarket scuffles, I approached the task with trepidation. Yet, the pressing need for supplies overshadowed any reluctance. It became less about wants and more about necessities.
Armed with a list, a sanitized trolley, and a sense of responsibility, I weaved through a sea of anxious shoppers. Observing the panic in people’s eyes, I yearned to shake them by the shoulders, remind them that we weren’t at war, remind them that life persisted beyond the headlines. The canned vegetable aisle provided an unexpected spectacle – two individuals eyeing the last two tins of baked beans, a surreal standoff reminiscent of a Clint Eastwood showdown.
Venturing into the toilet paper aisle, I encountered a fellow shopper who shared my sentiments on panic buying. Our impromptu alliance led us to assist each other in locating coveted items, a temporary camaraderie amidst the chaos. At the checkout, I discovered I had inadvertently become the quantity-over-quality shopper I had silently criticized. Despite being reprimanded for exceeding the allowable limit per category, my cart was a testament to a successful mission.
Over another breakfast, my dad and I delved into discussions about classic films, sparked by the recent passing of Kirk Douglas. Reminiscing about his first cinema trip to watch “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” my dad’s vivid recollections transported us back in time. Old movies, from “The Jazz Singer” to “The Great Escape,” became the focal point of our conversations, each film a repository of memories.
During the time together talking old movies, we began labelling them as “movies I (Jo) should have watched but never had.” This generated a pile of DVDs that we continue to watch. ‘The World at War’; ‘Where Eagles Dare’; ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’; ‘Lawrence of Arabia’; ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and more.
Remarkably, for us, lockdown served as a catalyst for strengthening familial bonds. While the family connection was already established, the period of isolation unveiled forgotten aspects of each other, fostering a renewed appreciation for the ties that bind. In the midst of uncertainty, our sense of family emerged not just unscathed but fortified, a silver lining in the face of adversity.
