Sisi
November 2019
The earliest case was detected 17 November but the world did not wake up to the reality of how coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, will change our lives forever.
No, it was far away in Asia, Wuhan to be precise. Lagos was too far off the radar to be affected or so we all thought.
The year was coming to an end, and I was struggling the vamp up my excitement level for the coming new year.
A lot still needed to be done at work and Christmas was about 5 weeks away.
December 2019
Three days to Christmas shared drinks and gifts to the last set of neighbours I must have missed. Christmas trees lit up three weeks before Christmas. I congratulated myself my Christmas tree always went up a few days to Christmas but took longer to remove. The task of dismantling and storing was not something I looked for but must be done.
December came to an end finally. There is a mention of Wuhan, a town in China in the news again.
January 2020
There is another mention of Wuhan a video saying it is more severe than the world thinks. I shrug my shoulders. They can deal with their problem, after all, Africa dealt with Ebola. On 30 January, The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
February 2020
Anyone with a symptom of cold was joked to have caught the Wuhu flu. Then it started picking up in Europe; Spain and Italy. It sounded close but appeared too far away from the African continent. Not until 27 February and Naija’s first case was recorded.
March 2020
March 11, WHO recognised coronavirus as a pandemic. Please what is the difference between pandemic and epidemic? The beginning of my personal research.
Reality check. Like a light bulb moment, the severity of what the world has to battle with is on our doorsteps. This is World War 3 without guns, but no one is saying so. The soldiers are the medical staffs, the affected, are the wounded and the dead are the casualties of the war. We are up from our slumber but a little too late.
Girl this thingy is no longer far o. They say wash your hands, sneeze into your elbow, and the list goes on. What about do not fear, stop the panic, and we will overcome. Films like Contagion and Outbreak became the most viewed. People were searching for answers. Exodus and Revelation became books that were no longer abstract. The story of the Passover in Egypt made sense.
Lockdown has become a 2020 term. Countries are locking down to stop the spread. Chai! No summer holidays!! My thoughts in a global crisis. Ah! Uncle Jide’s 70th birthday bash next month. Kai! I bit my finger. The length I had gone to represent my fashion ancestors and descendants o boy! O.Y.O lane ni mo bosi.
I thought about Lola’s wedding in June, a destination wedding on an island somewhere. Maybe this will help me save more. I was not sure I could afford the flight ticket and hotel.
When I thought about the kids! Ahhh how do I entertain 6 and 9-year-olds with no dangling carrots of taking them out for ice cream or grandma’s house in Ibadan?
I am palpitating at the seriousness of this lockdown. Hubby and I in the same house, 247. Well, that’s one thing to look forward too.
As I get to the economic implications of lockdown on the nation. I am in panic overdrive.
Oya o! Is okay. I can not come and kill myself. One day at a time. It’s the man who is alive that can complain he has not eaten. Take it slow I admonished me. Jejelaiye o!
April 2020
Three weeks lockdown! How did I survive? It’s almost over. But alas! Another two weeks. Desperate time calls for drastic measures. I am hoarse from shouting stop! I ‘ve watched as much cartons that PHCN will allow that I now see them in my dreams. Compulsory siesta if I have to rest but stopped when going to bed at night became a war with the kids.
My lockdown bucket list from today:
The kids
Stories of Nigeria’s beautiful history
Yoruba history and Folklore
Then work my way to what life was in the 70s, 80s, 90s
Moi
Need to connect with God.
Quality time with Olowo orimi
Manage the 3 projects I am handling in addition to working from home, a working tempo worse than working from the office. Sadly, working from home is not as glamorous as it sounds.
Workout – skipping X100 is enough. All those who want to be size 8 after lockdown. I will be watching from the sideline with envy.
Beauty regime. I will cross that need to work on my patience. I need that skill to be able to put on the layers and layers of make-up myself.
Reading cannot be diminished in lockdown. Kindle and Okada books o kare meaning well done.
21stcenturybelle 