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18 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | MAY 2020 By Sharon Cates, Resident I'm writing this in the first week of April and hoping by the time you read it in May, the isolation required by the coronavirus will be over. Whether you are religious or not, let's pray it will end soon. I realize cabin fever is an exaggeration of our modern-day situation, nevertheless, pioneers who coined the phrase had feelings like we are experiencing. The anxiety, stress, and social isolation while trapped by weather in one room cabins were most likely similar. They certainly didn't have our comforts and probably had to venture out in the snow to relieve themselves. Possibly "stir crazy" is more applicable for us. The feeling that our walls are closing in does not have to end in boredom. Many ideas have been suggested to pass the time. Of course, we have a variety of television programs and movies to watch. Pay applications like Netflix and Prime offer us escape also. Suggestions like books, puzzles and games are another choice to break the monotony. I have an ongoing project. Leafing through photo albums left to me by my parents and grandparents has brought me welcome nostalgia and several surprises. Some of these albums contain photos as small as two-inch square, taken no doubt with a boxy Kodak camera. Relatives of long times passed, their homes and places visited during my childhood bring back happy memories. Photos that are not identified with people I don't recognize go to the waste basket. When I'm done, eight albums may be down to two or three. I've talked with friends who complain they will be fat by the time this is over. Believe me, I know the closeness of the refrigerator can be a problem. Ordering prepared food deliveries frequently is tempting but may be hard on the bank account and offer us too many calories. If you haven't started walking around our community, try it. It's a rewarding activity and we can all use the vitamin D. Talking to our neighbors at six-foot distances is safe social interaction. Call your loved ones. This is a good time for those real conversations that your children and grandchildren never had time for in the past. You can't hug them but if you have Facetime on your cell phone or a computer app that lets you view them, it's almost as good. The officials say we shouldn't hoard but we can't ignore that a well-stocked pantry is comforting. Authorities assure us TP will be available when we need it. I'm passing on a joke that was messaged to me. A mom asked her six-year-old son if he knew why his school was closed. He replied, "Because they ran out of toilet paper?" Please don't think I'm making light of our situation. Humor is sometimes the best medicine. Coping with Cabin Fever A poem by Sharon Larson, Resident No bingo, no billiards, no tennis, no bocce Stay glued to the TV to hear Dr Fauci No meetings, no parties, our clubhouse is closed But we follow the rules and do as we're told So, we cover with masks, our mouth and our nose We walk the paseo while keeping our distance And see doggies on leashes and strollers with kittens I miss all my friends and the things that we do I feel like I'm trapped in a cage in the zoo No Mah Jongg, no poker, no bunco, no cards No golf and no pickleball, this is getting so hard I'm cooking and baking and eating and drinking I should try to stay healthy…. what was I thinking? Are Wine Wednesday and Charades things of the past? Knitters and quilters, how long will this last? Stay home, stay well, and stay alive My Solera friends, we will survive Sheltering at Solera