Every day in Washington state is the end of the world as we knew it. And most of us still feel…healthy. With more concern, overblown or not, new developments take place every time we blink. Everything, everything must be canceled, moved online, or delayed. And with that folks, the 20’s prohibition has begun. This time alcohol is not outright banded, but when the last bar closed this morning, no bar that is regulated by the state will reopen until Gov. Jay Inslee degrees it. Not that I drink, but I do enjoy night life now and then, especially with nothing much else to do.

I’m an extrovert. I need people. Real people, not just internet zoom sessions. I want to walk you through my day. Mostly so I can air my frustrations on this whole sitch. I hope that if you’re feeling isolated because “social distancing” has canceled your life, you can rage with me. Cause of course this isn’t the only topic you talk about when ever you come face to face with people.

This morning I was on the internet, doing nothing. I could have studied for my last final, but since it is optional, dew to corona, it seems pointless. In fact, I haven’t had a class meeting since Tuesday. That makes school feel really pointless. I mean the point of my life right now is to get though school. If it’s not meeting in person, I put less value on it. Not that I mean to, not that I should. But the place, sitting in the same room with someone matters. Classes where wrapping up for me when corona hit Bellingham, so it hasn’t affected me academically much. A few of my classes where canceled, dew to the nature of the class don’t make sense online. Shout out to anyone else who feels your vital classes don’t work online! I could have done work, some of which is good to do on my computer. But I didn’t. A. I’m lazy or more likely rather emotionally stressed by the prospect of losing my human interactions. Cause without in-person classes, or school clubs, or the in-person part of my job, what have I? Answer: not enough to satisfy my extrovert need for people. So emotional distress. B. It’s the sabbath, and one dose not keep the sabbath holy by doing work, especially when one fins it emotionally rather pointless, see point A.

Then at 11 AM, I got on to St. Marks livestream. The opening hymn was “Come, thou fount of every blessing” and I choked up with tears. A. I could see that the church was empty. What to know what a dying church looks like? I didn’t. B. I value worshiping in church. I know that God and the goodness of God can be found anywhere, and I should look for it. But sad. I miss the physicality of it. The beauty of St. Paul’s. The passing of the peace. C. That hymn is one we have sung recently in EPIC. And it reminded me that EVERYTHING social in my life is canceled, including my favorite club. Which I do admit would have gone on hiatus for spring break anyway. Two good things about church. 1. St. Marks, Seattle, has been doing livestreams for a while and was very good at it. 2. Shout out to my friend, who was singing in the service!

Then I went back to nothing. Well I switched it up a bit and did some art for fun for an hour.

Next, I went downtown, to patronize some businesses. Downtown B’ham isn’t very big or busy on a normal day, but it was empty today. I will report I went to the store Everyday Music and Mod Socks, but finding nothing of interest, didn’t buy anything. I got ice cream at Mallards. Hey this is a reminder that if you can afford it, patronize, local expressly, businesses. Not to be too procapitalism but do try to support people who are most affected by this virus. Also, why toilet paper?

Then I ran to dinner. I ate hurriedly, as I had a next event to get to. The university is still open, so the library, gym, dinning halls are all open for the convenience of the students. After that a very special treat awaited me. A viewing party! A social event! I was in a class that was about video production, and we where going to show our final videos at the Pickford, a local artsy theater. The theater is still open. But we had to cancel our showing. So, the students organized, and we put on our own showing, which lasted from 6-9. Great lot of fun.

After the viewing party ended, it was a little past nine. I’d invited my roommate to come along, as she helped me with my project, we walked home. I’ll say that until her quarter ends, I can count on having one person in my life to talk to. But she’s not obliged to stay in Bellingham after her quarter, as spring for her will be online. So that is why I’m going home and not staying here. At least I can have my family. Feel free to take a moment to rage if that is not you. But anyway, after we walked home it was about 9:20. Which leads to the next event.

I enjoy going to the Sunday night drag show at Rumors, which, while running where SUPPOSED to start at 9:30, on evenings when I don’t have class bright and early the next day. Such as tonight. Cause what are finals? That was when I learned that it was prohibition eve. And now, at 1:30 AM, I’m writing this. As I said, I’m not mad about prohibition because I’m worried about my ability to drink. I just don’t do that. This time around prohibition is on gathering. Gathering in places where one might want to drink. All the performers and employees will not get paid (regularly) until prohibition ends. At the end of the night, I felt I wanted to cry the second time that day (the first being church) when I heard Closing time. I’m mad because I can’t live without interacting with people. Hopefully the busses continue to run till Tuesday…cause I’m skipping this town then.

And with that, I find I have one more thing to say. It will be OK. There have been many pandemics, and humanity outlived all of those. With as much mitigation as possible, we will get though with out much more than a scratch. Hold your breath for two weeks, but…I mean someday this will end. And there are work arounds. Complete quarantine hasn’t set in yet. So, make sure your healthy friends and relations are OK. And care for those who are sick.

We will survive this.

Also Playlist from my day: Come, thou fount of every blessing, Surely it is God who saves me, I heard the voice of Jesus say, Guide me, o thou great Jehovah, Closing time, It’s the end of the world as we know it, I will survive, Radio active