Island Hermits

Trish and I returned to the island last Saturday after our last event for the time being, Patchwork Tales in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  This was, as well, the last public event there before both the schools and the public library closed down.

It feels very good to be at home here on our little island.  Out store is well stocked and Tommy, the owner, reports that there are no issues related to restocking and getting anything that we need (even toilet paper!).

Our wonderful medical clinic is having people not come in unless specific plans are made my phone in advance.  They have a “well time” first thing each day and then sick patients are brought in after consultation.  I was to have my annual physical today after having blood work done last week.  Instead of an actual physical, I will have a telephone appointment with Dr. Baker to go over my blood work, review prescriptions, and talk over my general health issues.  The in-person physical exam will happen at a later time.

All of our work events have been cancelled until into May at this point, so, there is no income for the time being.  Everyone in our storytelling world is in the same situation as wonderfully planned events must be cancelled for everyone’s medical good.  We will get through!

The good side of things for us is that our house is almost ready to begin to move back in from the garage where we have lived since the September hurricane.  Trim work is being finished this week, then the painters will come in, then we hope that the appliances and furniture can be delivered.  This time at home gives us the chance to clean things and move back in properly instead of just grabbing days here and there between work events. It is a very slow process.

The hard thing is that there has been no tourist income on the island since the hurricane on September 6 and people here are desperate for the season to start and to have a good summer ahead.  But...as of today the island is officially closed to outside visitors.  The only people allowed on the ferries are residents plus service and delivery vehicles.  We are closed down for now.

Trish and I feel safer here than we would anywhere else and we are thankful for that.  We hope that all of our family and friends are living carefully both for themselves and for others.  We need to keep in touch and continue to care for each other from afar as we move through this new adventure of life itself.