WorldTravelReynolds

Saw this flag as we were arriving into Los Angeles

We are hunkered down here in Bedford, Texas for the next 30 days. This cute 1 bedroom apartment is just perfect for the two of us. We have Netflix and Roku to keep us busy and free WIFI so we are all set. We picked up at least 2 weeks worth of groceries yesterday at Walmart. This was our first experience in seeing what was happening that we only heard about from friends and social media.

Living Room

The shelves were so empty. It was surreal, like being in the twilight zone. We were able to find what we needed for the most part but had to settle for items that cost several times more than we would normally buy. Example, there were only 3 dozen eggs left at $6 per dozen. On our way to the front of the store, Chuck saw some regular eggs in someones basket.

Kitchen with all new appliances

He asked the person where they got them and they said the stockers just put them out. Chuck hurriedly went to that section and picked up the $0.99 eggs and gladly gave back the gourmet $6 eggs. We picked up one of the last 2 loaves of bread and meat items, were 1 or two items on the shelf of each. Potatoes? only 2 bins left. The strangest thing we saw they were out of (other than the toilet paper) was cooking oil.

Vanity – Bath is next to it.

Why would they be out of vegetable cooking oil? We found olive oil that will do the trick. Just strange. We spent close to $200. I hope this lasts us a few weeks. We’ll have to replenish items such as fruit and milk and eggs but the other items should last a little while.

Bedroom

There is so much uncertainty around this COVID-19 virus that we don’t know what our next moves will be as of yet. Too early to tell. We both have the infamous cruise cough we get after every cruise. I guess massive doses of vitamin C, using copious amounts of hand sanitizer and spraying the cruise cabins with Glen20 just wasn’t enough to keep it at bay.

Cold and flu medications wiped out

Of course it could also be part of the airplane trip and long travel added to it. It just has to run its course. We don’t have fever (mine was just a 24 hour deal before we left Sydney), we don’t have body aches or shortness of breath. Just a hacking cough that keeps us up at night and drives us crazy during the day. So, the self quarantine was a good idea either way but we are pretty confident we don’t have the COVID-19 virus. They wont test us because we don’t have enough of the right symptoms. If we stay indoors we wont get sick or give what we have to anyone else.

Toilet paper and paper towels?

Its just frustrating to have to deal with this cough after each cruise no matter how hard we try to avoid it. Will this stop us from cruising? No way! We will deal with the after affects each time. We will also get a flu shot while here. That has helped us in the past and we missed it last year. We’ll also stock up on over the counter cold and flu medications to take with us now that we know many countries don’t have that stock readily available without a prescription.

That empty space is for cooking oil.

With over 21,000 cases in the US right now, we hope this peaks soon and the curve can start to flatten and people can get on with their lives. Driving around we found restaurants closed and fast food restaurants open for drive through only. Many businesses closed. When we went to the office to sign the paperwork for this apartment, it was closed with a note stating to contact by phone only due to the social distancing rules in place for now.

Potatoes.

This is a frightening time for our world. We have heard of 3 funerals so far that may be set to no attendance as you normally would to pay your respects or lend your support so the person may have to be buried alone. Hopefully a celebration of life will happen at a later date to help those that need to mourn and have support from each other. Another friend of ours is in the hospital ICU right now, thankfully improving (not from the virus).

Meat department.

His wife wasn’t allowed to be with him because of this isolation rule. Its understandable but I can’t imagine how fearful my friend was, not being able to be at her husbands side during this frighting time. Our hearts and love go out to both of them. We as a country need to be thankful to God for every day we walk on earth and look to Him for the strength we need to pull through this pandemic. Each moment is a gift He has given us. Don’t take it for granted.

May God bless and heal this world!

Chuck & Lea Ann