Dealing with COVID 19 in Gainesville

It is official - our kids are both scared and bouncing off the walls.  We are trying to provide them structure in their lives but it is hard going.  They have a sense that things can get very bad, particularly for older people in town, whom they know and love.  So far, nobody whom we know has come down with COVID 19 but it is just a matter of time.

My middle daughter has her bat mitzvah in May. We hope it still happens. She is very sad because for a 13 year old, this is devastating.  We will watch the movie Sixty Six about the true life story of a bar mitzvah which takes place in London on the day of the 1966 World Cup final based on the true life bar mitzvah of director Paul Weiland.  The movie starred Gregg Sulkin and Helena Bonham Carter.  This, hopefully, will put things into perspective for her.  It could always be worse.  In terms of the bat mitzvah, as things stand, my parents would risk their lives if they were to attend so we told them not to come.  My daughter cried.  We all did.  

At the moment, all gatherings of more than 50 people in Gainesville have been banned and all restaurants are moving to takeout only. Bars have been closed, which really means something in a college town. This did not prevent a frat house from having a keg party on Friday with a slip and slide and a big inflatable pool. I am sure that they spread more disease than any other gathering in Gainesville.  Things are generally fine for now in some respects.  There is food, though some types of food have disappeared from the shelf.  Much like what Venezuelans have had to endure for years, there is no toilet paper in supermarkets in Gainesville.