By Linda Cory Bazowsky
Winter/Spring 2020
It’s Here!
We all knew COVID-19 was coming! The big question was “When?” Trailing close behind and of equal importance were the “Why,” the “Where,” and lastly, the “How.”
Let’s start with the “When?”
History has shown us that pandemics have occurred for as long as mankind has been in existence. We only need to look at text from old books, census records, cemetery transcriptions, etc. The pandemics caused disabilities & fatalities in all demographics. A couple of examples are the Black Death and the Spanish Flu. It seems every generation has had to deal with disease of great proportion and consequence.
The National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg confirmed that a man in quarantine at Sunnybrook Hospital (Toronto) was the first documented case of the new coronavirus (January 27, 2020) in Canada. The following day, health officials confirmed the second case. The woman had travelled to Wuhan with her husband, who was the first case noted above.
The first death related to COVID-19 in Oshawa was reported in the news on March 24th. This brought home the message clearly: It was now in our community!
Why COVID -19? The answer to that question is still up in the air. Speculation is that it began in Wuhan, China where the first person we know of died of the disease. Researchers have delved into the genetic make-up and a theory is that it originally came from an animal, possibly a bat.
Where? It is everywhere, whether it be a developed or an undeveloped country. It seems to be prevalent in people who live or work in close quarters (nursing/retirement homes) and in those who have compromised immune systems but that is not always the case! It has also shown up in people (young & old) who are otherwise healthy. It knows no boundaries!
How? It appears that transmission has been mainly through our global networking – specifically travel, business and social interactions.
The pandemic is a reality check. It’s a precise indicator of our vulnerabilities and a reminder of who and what is important in our lives.
The question is, “What have we learned from it?” More importantly, “Have we learned from it?”
Due to the severity, strength and speed of the virus, our life has changed drastically. Restrictions of who we see, where we go, how we shop are just a few of our day to day challenges.
So how are we coping or perhaps I should say, adjusting to this new lifestyle?
Patience, understanding, self-discipline and creative pursuits are the strategies that I’ve used to adjust to the “new normal.” A fear of the unknown and the frustration of not knowing when the disease will be eradicated is a genuine concern.
Many people are spending quality time at home with their loved ones, and yet there are others who are denied the privilege due to the restrictions that had to be put in place. As the old adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
We are going back to basics and finding out more about ourselves and others – more caring & more sharing. In the face of adversity, and in most cases, we have become one – one family, one community, one country, and one world. The virus has made us take notice of those who walk beside us, at a distance of course. It’s made us more open and friendly with others. We’ve tapped into our resources: creativity is in its full bloom. Just look at YouTube and you will find many song parodies, art projects, instructions for making masks and sanitizer, recipes, research – an endless list, really!
If anything, the “lockdown” has taught me to be mindful on a physical, emotional & spiritual level. I try to spend at least an hour a day doing physical exercise (walking) and am spending less time in front of a computer. That’s a good thing!
Most of my walks have been along the lakefront or in wooded areas. It feels good to take deep breaths of the fresh air. Unfortunately, the beach area was off limits shortly after the virus had reached our shore, so to speak. A few days prior to that I had started to collect “beach glass” with the intention of making a piece of art. (I learned of this craft from a friend in Nova Scotia who has made beautiful jewellery and pictures from “sea glass” that she collects along the seashore). Although my new interest was curtailed, I was happy that we were still allowed to walk through the park as long as social distancing was adhered to. My walks continued regularly for at least a month but the ‘old’ shoes were showing their “wear and tear.”
So were my feet! After a month of daily walks I had to put my routine on hold because I developed a painful blister. I did a small indoor workout in bare-feet, but it just wasn’t the same.
I resorted to giving some photos a touch of humour as seen in the next picture. It was a means of escape from the troubling news of the day.
Anyone I encountered along the lakefront trail or through the park stayed within the social distancing guideline. It pleased me because I was afraid that if the rules were broken then the privilege would be taken away. A few people had been on the beach, but I don’t think it was intentional. They just didn’t see the sign! In the beginning, I didn’t see it either but thankfully a kind man informed me of the sign as well as the presence of bylaw officers. If my memory is correct, the beach sign was installed sometime in mid-March.
The only downside of long walks at the lake is the lack of bathroom facilities.
I took the following photo a couple of weeks prior to the restrictions. Trust me, it wasn’t easy! My intention is to return and take more photos but it’s proving to be a rather long wait. That’s where patience comes into play!
Lakeview Park has been an important part of my family history; in fact my family’s fascination for it began long before it became a park. Since then, many happy events have been celebrated at the park. This year marks the 100th birthday of Lakeview Park. In recognition of this historical milestone I want to express my gratitude for the kindness of Col. R.S. McLaughlin and George McLaughlin. The brothers bought the land in 1920 in the name of General Motors of Canada Limited. It was then deeded to the Town of Oshawa for just one dollar with only one restriction, which was that the land be used as a public park for the citizens of Oshawa under the control of the Council and Parks Commission. They also provided the necessary funds to cover the initial improvements and a suitable park playground.
I made it a point to always visit the three museum buildings at the lake. I couldn’t resist taking photos of the daffodils at Robinson House. They were beautiful this year; in fact they were so beautiful that I decided to use one of the photos in an Easter greeting.
I also walked through various neighbourhoods within the city. I don’t recall seeing as many pristine lawns as I have this spring. I suppose it’s partially due to the stay at home/workplace rules. Many families had leisure time and several hands to work on their gardens and yard. We rejoiced at the arrival of the first warm, sunny day. It gave us an opportunity to socialize outdoors with family, friends and neighbours at a safe distance.
I heard many power tools in operation, so new spring projects (planned or unplanned) have come to the forefront.
Other Signs of the Times
Another past time is baking. I’ve been making banana and molasses ginger muffins forever, but I thought I’d try something different. My social media friends/groups have posted many recipes during the pandemic. Three of my favourites thus far are Amish molasses cookies, an apple fritter loaf and Hawaiian Banana Bread. I’ve even resurrected old recipes like marmalade coconut cookies.
My great grandparents would be proud of me as I was also doing my laundry by hand (minus a washboard that is) for several weeks. Some people might think that this is an extreme measure but really, it wasn’t too difficult as I wore the same thing (mostly of light material) over and over again. Nothing piles up but I sure missed wearing my jeans! My husband continued to do his laundry and the household linens in the communal facility.
I’ve done my own hair (dying & cutting) for many years as well as my nails so I haven’t missed those luxuries at all.
Moving right along to the present…
The beautiful month of May arrived and as restrictions are slowly and carefully been lifted, I’ve become a little less concerned and decided to go back to doing my washing in the communal laundry. Of course I use wipes upon wipes upon wipes on everything from the coin slot to the bottom of my laundry basket, all the while wearing my ever ready face mask.
My blisters have finally healed and I’m back to my daily walks. It’s surprising how resourceful one can be out of necessity. I have several gel inserts and have cut and glued sections in the worn out heels of my old runners. I’m also walking less heavy footed which has eased some of the pressure. So far so good!
I see spring slowly emerging from the shadows of winter. It’s great to see families out walking or biking the trails and paths. I take notice of all the signs of the season: the lovely gardens, children playing, painted rocks, chalk drawings on sidewalks, squirrels chasing each other, the birds chirping & rabbits hopping along their merry way. It’s nice to see dandelions in the parks, a sign that less chemicals are used in public spaces. Beautiful wildflowers and tulips are springing up everywhere. A healthy environment and lifestyle has become more important than it has been in a long time.
May also brought Mother’s Day – a time to celebrate & remember. It was nice to meet-up with our family after such a long absence. The day was bitterly cold and windy so I suggested we go for a walk on a safe wooded trail. We kept our six foot distance and the woods provided some shelter from the cold; in fact, the sun came out for short while. Due to the weather we encountered very few people.
Here are a few photos of the wildlife that I’ve seen on my walks:
The COVID-19 crisis has shown me the resilience of mankind. I admire the frontline workers and everyone else who has shown care and compassion for others. My respect and admiration of the parents, the caregivers and the children has only risen higher.
I thank everyone who has played a part in keeping us healthy and safe: healthcare workers, first responders, grocers, farmers, truckers, etc.
May 16th
I’ve decided to close now as I want to focus on Mother Nature. (That’s where the spiritual comes into play). It’s my favourite escape from reality albeit a temporary one. To be perfectly honest, I’m just tired of seeing and hearing about COVID-19. I was quite hesitant to write about it, but for history’s sake, I knew I had to!
Thank you to the Oshawa Museum for suggesting and encouraging Oshawa citizens to share their personal experience during these trying times. Be well and stay safe!
Addendum:
May 17th 2020
The news of one of the Snowbirds crashing in Kamloops was felt with much sadness. Capt. Jennifer Casey (Public Affairs Officer) died a hero – she was on the “Operation Inspiration” flight – a cross country tour to raise people’s spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pilot, Captain Richard McDougall is in the hospital in serious condition. My thoughts and prayers to Jenn’s family and to Capt. Richard MacDougall (Pilot) in his recovery from this tragic accident.
Please note that this write-up reflects my personal thoughts and experience of living through these challenging times. My intention is to keep a historical record for personal and local interest.
COVID-19 in Oshawa 