Notes from Tallahassee, Florida, on a Late April Day in 2020

Our daughter Margo, who lives in Tallahassee, FL, is today’s guest blogger, and shares her observations, and some photos, during COVID-19 with us.

Florida has been quite slow in its reaction to the Coronavirus – its effects likewise. Publix is a southern grocery store, where we often shop. It was one of the first grocery stores, before corporations like Walmart and Target, to enforce stricter guidelines on how one can shop.

Publix, along with Walmart, have now instructed customers that they can only go down aisles one way. A lot of Floridians see the signs, don’t care, and proceed walking down the aisle incorrectly. My guess as to why they have these guidelines is to reduce overcrowding and maintain the 6 feet distance rule.

The photo below was also taken at Publix. I walked by this woman who wore a unicorn costume for a hazmat suit. She also wore a face mask and was completely serious about it.

hazmat suit shopping

Last week, my partner and I went fishing at St. Marks in Florida, a popular tourist area. While trying to navigate our way through the area, we found camp grounds where people were grilling and hanging out together.

All in all, there  are some restrictions and limitations set by the governor of Florida. However, today on 30 April, some of these limitations have been lifted. So, now we can have people go to restaurants at 25% capacity, and you can sit outside of restaurants and eat.

Florida has not yet flattened the curve, and we might have to expect a second wave.

Spring Time in Germany in April 2020

Thanks to social distancing during COVID-19, I get to live a very different life. This special time also has its good sides, and I find many things to be grateful for.

We live in an area close to the forest, and within the social distancing frame, taking walks for pleasure is still permissible. The cherry trees are blooming, we’ve had sunny weather, and I’ve had many chances to get out and about.

Spring time in Oberursel

Even in the midst of a green leafed forest, if you happen to look up in the right spot, you can spot a cherry tree just as tall as the others. I would assume it was 10-15m in height.

I have the extra time to take morning walks, often with a friend on my side. I’ve noticed more Germans being friendly and saying hello while passing.

On a different note, once, we saw a female jogger heading our way. When she was about 10 m away from us, she suddenly left the way and ran into the forest, hopped on a tree stump, and stood there, as if she was getting ready for a ski jump. We passed by her, continued walking, and then turned around to watch her run off again. This was the most overcareful measure of safety precaution I had ever seen. This will remain rather unforgettable.

I know, some people are burdened by fear and anxiety because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Fortunately, I’m not one of them. I will make do with what I have, and enjoy it: a good sense of humor, wine in the bottle, and a good friend on my side.

A euphemistic term for this period of slowing down in German is:

die Entschleunigung.

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

– Anne Bradstreet (Writer, Poet, First woman to be published in Colonial America)

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