Shelter in Place, San Francisco, California

This is the middle section of the “s” curve in our path: back shed to the left, house to the right, we’re facing west. From here, you can see our big hydrangea in the foreground, and another, smaller one next to the crazy jade plant by the fence. Both of them are beginning to bloom. I love coming around this corner and seeing there is more to go.

After yesterday’s run for the hills, we’re back and feeling a little less stir-crazy but no more optimistic. Other than the freakishly empty highways, San Francisco from the front seat of a car looks so dang normal, it’s tempting to think the worst is past. And while today’s local headlines are self-congratulatory, the analysis reminds us that the reason the city’s death rate is comparatively low, is exactly because we all stayed inside earlier and longer than anybody else. We are not (yet) experiencing the spikes that are happening, as predicted, in the places that opened up too soon. Already I am feeling guilty about our little break-out, and worrying about whether I washed my hands enough when I got home. It sucks to be this old.