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| Teresa Clemons Office Manager |
My parents are 86 years old, live in a wonderful community
here in Williamsburg and are still quite active. When they moved here over 10 years ago, the
plan was that I would be near by to take care of them as needed, and when they
could no longer do for themselves. Never
in my wildest imagination did I think that I would be taking care of them
because of a pandemic that has somewhat paralyzed the Nation and has caused mandatory
quarantines.
With both of them being in the “high risk” population, I do
everything I can to eliminate any possible exposure to the monster called COVID-19. I am the only one allowed in the house. And
when I do, I where a mask, gloves and disinfect as I go. We have created a path from the driveway
through the garage and into the kitchen.
They are both on the other side of the room. We chat as I put away the groceries, wipe
down counters that have been exposed to the bags and then sterilize...me. My mom will text me with things she needs as she
thinks of them. I try to limit to one trip a week to the grocery store, again
to limit exposure. Sometimes I am not sure what she is going to do with some of
the items. But I don’t ask. I assume
like the rest of us she is getting bored and maybe going to create a new dish.
She is an amazing cook.
After a modem failure at their house, I had to step up and
become an internet technician, which is so about my pay grade. I had tried for
days to call Cox Communications but they were not taking calls because of the
mass influx of calls, totally understandable. After four days, and countless hours and text
messages with my brothers, who do not live locally, trying to explain what to
do still no wireless internet. But did get the phone up and working. I thought
that was the most important, a way to communicate. Of course, they have cell
phones but do not always have with them.
I explained to my father that there a lot of people with emergencies and
thank God his was not one of them. They have a hard-wired computer so he did
have internet access just not wireless.
He agreed but his face still said, I am annoyed. I couldn’t believe he
was being like about his laptop. Come to find out, it was more than that, he
couldn’t watch Netflix. Which when you are locked in the house, I guess is a
needed outlet. Finally, was able to
schedule a service call with Cox. Their new protocol was the technicians were
not allowed to enter the home but could come into the garage. Perfect, they would call me when they were on
the way and I would meet them at the house so my parents need not get involved.
I waited in the driveway. Not often does it happen but the tech was a little
early. As we walked up to garage there sits my father in the corner, 12 feet
away waiting to oversee the repair, as he always does with any work being done
on the house. I realized then, after I
scolded him for coming out of the house, that he felt like I was treating him
as if he could not longer do things for himself versus assisting him as to keep
him away from any possible contamination.
Even though the time to help came sooner than later, I am so
glad that I am here to help them though this unprecedented time and….always
will be. Love you Mom and Dad.
