Living the Pantry Lifestyle -- What I'm learning from the pandemic

We are almost entering week three of self isolation.  We have developed somewhat of a routine as we get out one day a week, wearing masks and keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer in the car.

When I walked into Meijers last Monday, an employee was disinfecting the grocery carts and showed me where the carts were that had already been disinfected.  I think that really brought home the seriousness of the situation even though less people have died than past pandemics (except in a few countries), I am well aware that being over sixty and a diabetic puts me at great risk.  So I am very careful.  Not fearful.  Just careful.

Now that we are under a mandatory isolation, we can go out for food, to a pharmacy, or to a doctor's appointment.  I am very thankful we already had two of the masks that have been out of stock for a couple months, thanks to my husband's environmental allergies.

Since we were stocked up as much as possible, our trips to the grocery store have been short.  I shopped one day, my husband shopped the next day, we took a list... and got in and out of the stores as fast as possible.  Not out of fear, just out of wisdom.  I am thankful that we can "top off" our pantry items with fresh food. 

This last week, I was trying to remember some of the lessons I've learned through all of this and a light bulb idea came to mind... I need to write the lessons I'm learning down on paper.  I always think I will remember things and then I don't.

So I have used a small-ish notebook to record not only pantry lessons but life in general lessons regarding living through a pandemic.  We really should, you know.  On paper, not online.  So that someday, should Jesus tarry, our grandchildren and their children will have a record.  Much like we enjoy reading about from the Great Depression and WWII.

I have it ready and I'm going to begin with my thoughts from first hearing of the outbreak in China up to this weekend.  Our world has changed so much that it is hard to believe for many of us, the affects personally have only been for a month or so. 

Included will be Pantry Lessons that I'm learning, which will be useful to me and to anyone else who reads it.  For instance, some of the things that were unavailable right away that surprised me (potatoes, meat, Kleenex, etc.) and what went fast that did not surprise me (TP, milk, eggs, bread, flour, sugar, butter, etc.).

Perhaps my biggest surprise was the pandemic itself and how very very fast our world could be changed.  I knew from writing about emergency preparedness a long time that a pandemic was possible, I just didn't realize how quickly it could cover most of the planet in this day of globalism and world travel.

I think the Pandemic Journal will also help gather my thoughts.  I am probably one of the few writers who does not keep any journal.  I did so for decades but decided in my 40s to burn all of them.  I didn't want my personal reflections such as they were to be read by anyone else. 

This is different.  It is being written to share what is being learned. I hope you decide to write such a journal, too. At the very least, it will help me remember what worked and what did not from my pantry.

Stay safe.  Stay blessed.

Image:  The High Hills, Brambly Hedge  (I have to admit, I looked at this and thought CROWDED ROOM!  Sheesh.)