3/4/2020
What a day.
Today was an interesting one.
Our plan was to wake up, clean the apartment, and for me to get a hair cut. We then would have two interviews within our home with a lunch break in between. Once finished, we were going to split up. Rachel would go off to visit a friend, I would go to visit my brother.
Except that’s not how the day played out at all. Broken cars, stressful thoughts from quarantine, stigma, and a lot of sub-conscience thoughts. Many people are making decisions on who we can and cannot see, and people we know are afraid to be around us.
Getting ready for interviews!
We both woke up around 0800, still groggy and not quite caught up from the past month of disorienting quarantine. Before, we would go to sleep around midnight to 2am, and wake up around noon with knocks for breakfast, temperature checks, housekeeping, etc. We never really had a constant sleep schedule. Now, we can go to sleep at a regular hour and train ourselves back into reality.
We cleaned our apartment – a seemingly never ending wasteland of nic nacs, suitcases, and laundry from our trip over the first few hours of the day. After the hard work, I was ready to get my haircut.
Yesterday, Rachel’s car broke down.
Plot twist #9001!
Today, I went down the garage, ready to get back into my 2018 Acura TLX, excited to hit the road in what felt like a brand new car after quarantine. There was just one thing..
My car was 100% dead.
I was wishing I had a battery charger at that point!
Keys? Dead. I manually opened the door with a key, but was stuck in a fun situation when the door locks wouldn’t work when I pressed buttons, the garage wouldn’t open, etc. Not having either car working had Rachel and I begin to think about the quarantine. We weren’t able to go anywhere, similar to the ship and Lackland. The stress from thinking back to the quarantine hasn’t really hit me until today.
Boost, please! People to see, places to be!
I called AAA to give me a boost, and headed to the dealership to get a rental car and get a replacement battery. We had interviews scheduled throughout the day, but still needed to get my car fixed + find a wheel lock for Rachel’s car. This was too much to handle in a day, so we moved all interviews till tomorrow.
Rachel stayed behind while I went to the dealership. At the dealership, I was wondering if anyone would recognize me and be concerned. My service manager was professional about the quarantine, and due to clearance by the CDC he wasn’t worried at all. He and I have been pretty cool with each other since I met him in 2018. More on the dealership later.
I tried to find wheel locks at various places for Rachel’s car with the part number + a picture, but was turned down everywhere. Our only option was to cut the wheel locks.
How about the best meal in a month?
With the rental car ready to go, I hit the road back over to our home to pick up Rachel, get some grub, and head to National Tire & Battery. After lots of driving, we headed back to the apartment to take a nap.
Chili’s! Triple dipper appetizer – you should try it next time you go! It’s my favorite.
Right before napping, Remy made his place RIGHT where I was going to lay.. silly dog.
The social stigma is real.
Around 1800, I headed to the dealership to drop off the rental car to get my car back, which had just finished service. I noticed that everyone was tucked into their office, and no one walked up to me to help as they usually do every single time. When I walked up to a desk to drop off the keys, I found my service manager who greeted me with a smile and a handshake.
He informed me that word had got around about me being quarantined, and that people were very concerned about me being around. This was the first time that I ran into social stigma in person, and presumably not the last.
I saw my brother for the first time in two months.
I visited my brother and his fiancé at their home to talk about wedding plans. He wants to march in Mardi Gras style and have me playing clarinet. I taught high school/middle school for several years, and played gigs every now and again before I was put on night shift. Sounds like a fun plan! They will be married in October.
I got to see their cats – one of which I rescued as a kitten during nursing school. It was a pediatric Headstart clinic. I heard a meow walking in, and didn’t think much of it. On the way out four hours later, I heard it again and pulled this little guy out! His first thing was water from Chick Fil A.
Meet “Groot!”
All in all, today has been a bit of a rougher day at the Torres home. We experienced stigma, some stress related to thoughts of the quarantine, and just in general are looking over our shoulders in case someone realizes who we are and is afraid of us.
We’re home, but it doesn’t feel like home quite yet.
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Instagram: thetorrestravels
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Tyler Torres
I saw a gentleman who was still in quarantine interviewed on Fox tonight. He said he, his wife and family have been receiving death threats. I hope you haven’t experienced this. Please be careful when you are out and about.
Yikes! I mentioned this in the news and tried to reassure everyone. Thank you!
I’m so sorry y’all are having to deal with even more problems now that you’re home! I’m praying for you guys. Hang in there! There are many people in the metroplex, like me and my family, who are absolutely not worried about you being out of quarantine and in the community.
Comforting to know – thank you!
I’m glad you got home safely and so sorry the first couple of days have been rough. I’ve been praying for you from the beginning of all of this and will continue. Praying things get back to normal soon. Have an amazing day!
Thanks, you too!
Oh Man, I am sorry that you both are having to experience this. I have mentioned before, People can behave poorly out of fear and ignorance. I am not saying they are not intelligent just ignorant as far as understanding this virus or any virus and how it functions. And the unknowns fuel it. Just try to rise above it. It will not be easy. But know it will pass. Unfortunately it is never fast enough. But it will. Keep that in mind when it happens again. This too shall pass. You and Rachel have done many kind and generous actions. I do believe that it will come back to you both in time. I wish you could be surrounded by just positive, informed and empathetic folks but that’s not life. You will also see the best in people in your circumstance. I hope they show up soon for you. Keep the faith, support each other when it gets to be just too much. Sending best wishes for the both of you.
Glad to see you are slowly getting back into daily life. The Chili’s Triple Dipper is great. My wife had this for dinner yesterday as she was hungry for Chili’s. Small world.
I am so sorry for what you are going through..Keep your chin up. Please stay safe, just remember, “God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry its weight.”
― Reggie White American Football player
I hope today’s a better for you, and hope you dont get any retaliation from your lockdown.
I understand that people are worried, but what I have read about and seen on the news of people literally attacking people because of covid19 is absolutely vile.
We had a pretty good day today! I’ve just posted about it.
You’re absolutely right. We’re ready for this to all blow over!
I am not surprised integrating has proven to be difficult, but I am sorry it has been. I am sure the thought of being “trapped” is going to be something that sticks with you for awhile. You have been through a lot of stress and anxiety, some of which your brain couldn’t process while you were in the situation (survival of the fittest).
People are in full panic mode and frankly acting like idiots because of it. We have our first confirmed case in the county I live in (NC)…people are acting unbelievable (I am not proud of my fellow Carolina neighbors.).
Eat well, sleep even better and adjust as best you can. Thinking of you both.
Thanks! Both cars are fixed, so no more being trapped for us.
Yikes – stay safe!
We’re sleeping great in our own bed, just not enough!
I am not surprised integrating has proven to be difficult, but I am sorry it has been. I am sure the thought of being “trapped” is going to be something that sticks with you for awhile. You have been through a lot of stress and anxiety, some of which your brain couldn’t process while you were in the situation (survival of the fittest).
People are in full panic mode and frankly acting like idiots because of it. We have our first confirmed case in the county I live in (NC)…people are acting unbelievable (I am not proud of my fellow Carolina neighbors.).
Eat well, sleep even better and adjust as best you can.
Yikes! I’ve been following y’all from day 1 and I’m so glad you’re home! But my goodness you two need a break! I’m praying for the day y’all wake up and everything goes as it should – cars and all!
Love and prayers from Lubbock
Thanks for following!
PS, graduated my BSN from Texas Tech!
It’s nice that you two have each other. There are some from quarantine who have no one.
You’re absolutely right!