You know this world is SUPER crazy when even my brow girl wants to talk politics.
"You know what I think is REALLY happening right now?"
No. But I have a very uneasy feeling you are going to tell me. And mind the hot wax.
Everyone wants to tell me their opinions and their feelings about all the
madness in this weird, weird, world. Voices all around want to be heard on all things.
So, obviously you have been waiting to hear mine.
Are you ready to hear what I think?
No. No one is. Not even the Internet.
But, with that, I am taking this opportunity to blog something controversial.
Get your hand fan; takes are heating up in this post.
Here we go.
I, Katie Sanderson, did NOT hate quarantine.
I said what I said.
If you take the death, panic, anxiety, financial ruin, dismantling of small business, destruction of the hospitality industry, systemic ruin of education, separating families, sacrificing front line workers, et al out of it, ..it wasn't that bad. Dare I say, needed.
I am a little bit worried that maybe I had accidentally "Secreted" this pandemic into fruition. I didn't read that book, The Secret, but I get the gist and I think I did it. Here are just a few reasons I needed this quarantine to happen to become the best version of myself:
1. Unpacking
The Sandersons have moved 3 times in 7-years. If I told you it had been done with optimal organizational design, I would be lying straight to your face. I moved, begrudgingly, to Phoenix so I basically just threw my clothes, some books and my set of The Office DVD's into a box and was like "Let's Go." Once we got there, we moved again and if we are being honest, I had never really unpacked the first time. Finally, we moved back to Kentucky and I was just so glad to be home, I didn't really care about stuff in boxes as long as it was home. That is, until I go to the basement. Staring back at me from every angle were bins and bins of everything from baby clothes to my grandmother's dishes. I would see them and think "I just need a weekend."
Lie. A weekend, even a 3 or 4 day weekend would come up and I could think of 100 things to do that did not involve cleaning and organization of my family clutter. It's too hot, too cold. I'm tired. You know what will get around all of those lame excuses? A governmental shutdown.
We have cleaned, stored, purged, painted, fixed and organized. It finally, after 4-years, feels like home. And I'd sooner burn it down than pack up and move again.
2. Cooking
I don't know about your family, but mine insists on eating meals every day. Which I hate. I don't like to cook, I am not a good cook. Before the quarantine, we were always so busy that when I said things like "There is no way I can cook a meal tonight" it wasn't met with much rebuttal. Panera for the win! But shut down my LIFE and suddenly, I have all the time in the world to cook.
Also, I am a cookbook hoarder. It is a real disease and please look for my upcoming TLC special. I am comforted by cookbooks. I am also always looking for "the next best thing." One meal, one pan? Yes. Whole 30 but not the Whole Night? Add to Cart. Dinner without the Dishes? I'll buy one for me and a friend. These books arrive and I am so excited to look at them right up until they try to come at me with things like a dutch oven or Tumeric.
Get out of here with your fancy kitchen. I have ketchup and garlic salt.
But then, we were home.
And while we still did tons of takeout, there was something kind of comforting about cooking. And turns out, if you SHAME your family into helping, because they are also not doing anything, it can be a fun family activity. I was so desperate some days to while away the hours, I even started baking. Don't expect any meals or baked goods from me anytime soon.. I said I got into it. I didn't say it was good.
3. Telemedicine
I have a love/hate relationship with going to the doctor. I love to go and get an "all clear." Frankly, if it were simple, I would have a doctor look at me every day just to make sure I am firing on all cylinders. I hate the parts of the doctor like having my blood pressure taken (too squeezie) and my weight charted (too sad). I don't like to pee in anything other than a toilet, so I will thank you to keep your cup.
Since the shutdown, I have had 3 doctor appointments using telemedicine. And it is GLORIOUS. Instead of "step on the scale" I get "About how much do you weigh?" No awkward touching, no small talk in uncomfortable situations and no crap music and outdated magazines.
Also, there is a nice, evening of the playing field when neither you or the doctor know/care if the other is wearing pants.
4. Streaming
Bring me ALL of the Netflix, the Hulu, the Disney +, the Showtime, your HBO, Bravo and even STARZ. I want to watch all of the things.
I want a documentary, a scary show, a comedy where I laugh so hard I cry. I want everything set in the UK and a hot detective is never going to hurt my feelings. I want to watch all the TV and I don't want to feel bad about it.
Even before this, I was pretty much addicted to TV. I can literally watch almost anything. But I somehow felt guilty because that is what I was doing with my down time. (Wonder why I could never clean or organize before?) I like TV for background noise. I like it for entertainment. I like it for learning. Sure, we cruised though Ozark, Dead to Me and I thank GOD for Tiger King. It got a little stale, but that is when I just throw on my old favorites; Friday Night Lights, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, etc. And you will never know a happier Katie Sanderson than when The Crown is on. And it is ALWAYS on.
Streaming has been my escape more than usual. I look to TV for distraction and that is exactly what I have needed, no, required during all this. I had to completely take myself off the news back in February because my anxiety isn't great on a day when things are going kind of ok for the world in general. I didn't imagine it stood a chance during a global crisis. You know where there is no pandemic? On a football field in Dillon, Texas.
5. Social Distancing
We can do a full cool-down after this because this is the HOTTEST take I will give you.
I love social distancing.
I love it so much I want to buy it a gift or write it a poem. If I had gone to high school with social distancing, I would have wanted it to ask me out. I probably would have married it.
I hate hugs. I do. I don't know why. I don't have some dark past with hugs or touching, I just don't like it. I don't like hugging someone and having their hair in my face or make-up on my shirt. I don't like the awkward bits before a hug; the "should we/should we not." I don't like having to think "Are we hugging friends?" when I see someone at Target. I am next level awkward ALL the time. I don't need the wonderings of social graces dragging that out. And I don't want to be punished for it. I don't like hugs or cilantro. It is who I am.
That's not to say I hate touching in general. I will take a high five or a fist bump. I will even give you a pretty impressive handshake. I just don't like the hugging.
Frankly, I am very in favor of 6-feet of personal space. Moms, are you with me? Not since she lived in my body for 41-weeks have Bee and I spent this much time together. It is a little claustrophobic, but to be able to say "Careful, 6-feet apart" has been nice. I know it doesn't count for family, but she doesn't. I will take my personal space where I can get it.
And this public personal space is like an answer to prayer. I don't have the guy behind me at Costco trying to get a piggy back ride from me and asking things in my ear like "Do you like those crackers?" BACK UP, TED. When I get my nails done, that buffer chair is like Christmas. I don't want to talk to you while I get my nails done. I came here to not talk to anyone. Do you not see my book and headphones? Social interaction was not the play here, Karen. I don't want to hear about your grandkids or the weird car in your neighbor's driveway. I hope you are right and it IS al-Quieda.
Living in a time when I, legally cannot have people hug me or stand IN my skin at Target is what I imagine Heaven must be like. The introvert in me has been waiting to get called up to this big show because it is my time to shine!!!
This has been a great time for all the introverts. Don't want to go to a birthday party? You can't. The governor says. Want to come to our cookout? Sorry, social distancing. No FOMO, no guilt, no remorse. Just good, old fashioned staying at home.
Whether or not this global crisis can be blamed on infectious disease or me needing time to organize my life and watch The Crown, we will never know. It hasn't been easy and it hasn't been fun, but it was entirely necessary for me, at least. I needed the full, power and home button hard restart.
And since my parents cannot ground me anymore, I guess the government had too.
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