Page 29 - Gilbert & Me_Neat

Kings Park has lots of shops, but they all sell the same stuff, mostly, so I had plenty of choice
about which store to use. I decided to use one further away today – I needed some exercise – just
to get essentials, in case things started to get a little frantic as people panic and cause a run on
supplies. If deliveries and movement restrictions on people get confusing, it could easily result in
a panic-buying situation.

So, here we are. Home.
First things first – coffee.

Gilbert’s on the couch patiently waiting for the TV to come on. Without any rugby to play, he’s
lost. His life is rugby and with the crackdown on any sports activities (because that would
require more than 10 people to gather and that’s now against the law), he has nothing to do. He
sometimes falls off the couch and rolls around trying to keep active, but it’s a sorry sight and I
usually end up picking him and placing him back on the couch. He says nothing, but I know he’s
unhappy. So am I.

Second – go check about getting internet installed. I brought my PC from the office yesterday
and have it all ready to go on my little desk. Just need internet.

Went to Sue and Frank’s place where my truck is parked (that’s my Boss’s place too) to get the
truck, drove to the ATM. First hitch in my plan – no money! Internet would cost around $75 to
install, and if I was going to receive installation, I needed to go to my provider before noon today
to pay for and arrange installation. No money meant that probably wasn’t going to happen today.

Got to the office. Emailed the Boss. Returned home. Depressed.

Parked the truck and was about to check emails on my phone when he called, so I explained the
situation. He replied that I should just take the day off.

Returned home and decided to try to relax.

Picked up a book “Strange Highways” by Dean Koontz and started to read only to be disturbed
by some noise outside. Got up and went out onto my balcony. Outside I saw people standing in a
line, most wearing those white or blue surgical face masts, although some had them on the top of
their heads or under their chins – don’t ask me why, makes no sense. Anyway, the line curled
around the corner of my road. Never seen this before. People queuing to get into the grocery
store. Queuing! Mostly Belizeans do not queue for anything; they heard together, pushing,
shoving as if the end of the world was coming and they had to be first going wherever that
particular crowd was headed. But not today.

Ironically, the end of the world (as we know it) was coming and here they are queuing! And
most were practicing the physical distancing regulations promulgated by the Health Ministry,
which required people to stand at least three feet apart. However, those using face masks that
were practicing physical distancing were considerably better at it than those whose face mask
had just become another accessory.