Pandemic Walks In Ottawa
Mid-April rolled around indicating five weeks of isolation. How’s everyone doing? Week five has been better than four, and four better than three. The occasional sunshine manages to peak through the rolling snow squalls. The wind has howled as of late. Lyn and Ren thankfully find the same reprieve being outside.
We have navigated the shut down of our city, Ottawa, as best we can. Staying #physicallydistant is stressful. Over the past five weeks, we have explored every street, sidewalk and path along the Ottawa River. Everyday is an exercise in staving off boredom from seeing the same places as we spend time outside.
Westboro Beach is just down the road from us, connecting to the SJAM (Sir John A MacDonald) multi-use pathway. We meander along the side of the roadway. Every path is a “why not” moment. There is every reason to walk slowly and watch shit, just because we have time. And all the time outside is saving us.
The tangents I could off on are myriad. I never expected having outdoor space attached to your home as something I took for granted. We live in a small 600 sq. ft. apartment with windows that do not open. We have no balcony or outdoor space that is open to residents in our building. It’s hard. And that’s okay. We have adapted slowly and our mental health has improved along with that adaptation. There have been tears, anxiety and fucking rage rants on Twitter that got us through one day at a time.