I gave myself a pass to do nothing. The first full day of lockdown and it was a Sunday. I live on the backside of Barcelona in a very residential area, and we chose this area because of its quiet nature. Normally, the only sounds we hear are a light constant buzz of distant traffic, a few motorcycles and trash trucks passing by, the occasional bus, and generally children playing. But this Sunday was different. It was so quiet that I could hear all of the birds, a door closing in the apartment below me, and even myself breathing. I simply laid in bed taking in this new silence.
The absence of the normal sounds was a little unnerving. I admit, I was a bit curious. I wanted to check out my new surroundings. Based on the rules of the lockdown, one person is able to walk the dog. One person is allowed to go to the store for groceries or pharmacy for medicine. There are exceptions but this is the basis of the lockdown – stay inside and away from other people. But Blue Jeans really needed to go outside for his walk, and, well, it was my time to also check things out. Owning a dog is like having your very own hall pass. It’s my ticket to a little bit of freedom.
But I was disappointed! Did everybody miss the memo, the huge broadcast, the Facebook posts and links to official websites? There were people walking everywhere! Couples holding hands, families walking the dog, runners headed up and down the hills, and a group hanging out at the local dog park. Clearly, the 3 meter distance between individuals was ignored. I kind of understand it because rules are a bit arbitrary here in Spain, but there has been a ton of information sent out. Maybe in a day or two, the rules and seriousness will set in. While I may not agree with all the rules, I do follow them. I will have to continue to check on the circumstances and report back. I read that the police were handing out hefty fines for violating the lockdown near the beach and groups of cyclists. I am also cheap, so I follow the rules to avoid unnecessary costs.
In the meantime, I took advantage of my time inside by organizing and cleaning the terrace, trimming the plants, and tackling 4 loads of laundry. I finally found my neighbors as they all came out to occupy their own outdoor space. These beautiful terraces and balconies are wholly underused any time outside of a lockdown. I may start waving to them in the future. I am also looking for the one that exercises on the terrace so I can follow along. Its been 48 hours and I am so bored…
The healthy applause was on point at 8 PM this evening and we have even started to blink our lights. It is like a bit of twinkling Christmas and I am looking forward to the next evening’s ovation! It is the little things when you are under house arrest…
Loosely Lucy 