IT’S Wednesday lunch-time and, normally, I would be sitting around the kitchen table at my parents house tucking into mum’s cooking.
The previous night’s cross-channel football results would be up for discussion with dad as would the obituaries read out on Highland Radio that morning. An update would also be provided on my aunts, uncles and cousins while, in return, they would enquire about what was making the local news that week.
However, we’re not living in normal times and for the past number of weeks mum and dad have been ‘cocooning’ against coronavirus at their Letterkenny home.
Cocooning, which involves vulnerable persons minimising all interaction with other people, is now required for everyone in the State over the age of 70.
The most recent data on this new disease show that up to 20% of people diagnosed with coronavirus may develop severe illness and that disease severity increases with age. While most people recover from the illness, one in eight over 60 may be hospitalised and that rises to one in five in the over 80 age group.
Both my parents are in the latter age bracket and they have been asked by the Government to stay indoors, to avoid contact with others and to have their food, medications and other essential items delivered to them.
Their next door neighbour, Adele Hayden, delivers the newspaper and milk to the door each morning while my sister, Margaret, and my daughter, Megan, have been looking after the weekly shopping.
Daily Mass goers and extremely active for their age they initially found the restrictions tough as walking along the Ballyraine Road, in and around the LYIT and Letterkenny Shopping Centre formed part of their daily routine.
“We’ve a path worn around the garden these past few weeks,” mum laughs.
The weekly trip to the Trawlerman in Moville or, on alternate weeks, the Squealin’ Pig in Muff to dance have also been curtailed.
“We miss the craic but sure I’m on the phone to one or two of them (fellow dancers) most weeks,” she explained.
Dad is back cutting the grass while mum is also kept busy in the garden.
“We’ve plenty of time on our hands and the weather has been good but I can’t get any peat moss or plant any new flowers. Nearly all the daffodils are pulled and in the house at this stage,” she said.
My brother John and his family keep in touch with mum and dad via Skype or Face from England as does my older sister Bernadette and Margaret too while I still prefer to pick up the phone.
“We take it turn to ring one another (mum has three sisters and a brother) while dad is also in regular contact with a brother in Tipperary and sister in Wales. I don’t know what the next phone bill is going to be like,” mum said.
A keen baker, mum is finding herself in the kitchen much more too although she’s concerned that maybe she’s eating too much!
“We read a good bit and watch television if there’s anything good on. We also listen to Country and Western music on the tablet.
“We get Mass from the Cathedral every day except Saturday online while we talk to one another more than we ever did,” she laughs.
“We get mixed up on which day is which at times and I can’t believe it’s April 8 and we miss the run down the Greencastle (mum’s home place) every weekend,” dad adds.
A retired nurse, mum was working during the Dagenham rail disaster in 1958 which claimed 10 lives which she has also nursed people through typhoid and polio.
“I’m still upset that they haven’t the proper gear for nurses. Even in our day we had long sleeved gowns with our hands covered when we were working in infectious diseases,” she said.
What about the weekly interaction between a mum and her number one son (me of course!).
“When you were away travelling the world many years ago all we used to get was a phone call every Sunday and regular letters. There was no Skype or Face time back then and we managed alright.
“You’ll be able to give me a hug when all this is over. Look after yourselves and follow the HSE’s advice to the letter,” she said.
Wise words indeed. And still I wonder at times where I get it from!!
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