"This is not going to be forever"
by Delfim Correlo
First week of confinement.
Second day after the "State of Emergency" declaration by the president of the Portuguese Republic.
“I had to go out and buy some basic goods”.
I decided to avoid supermarkets and go to small stores near my office (places familiar to me). I think I was searching for some evidence of normality and comfort meeting strangers I know for years and I saw every day. Until last week.
And yes…I brought a small camera with me.
Working at home is weird and demanding. Sometimes Is difficult to define boundaries. At the same time, we find ourselves making some confidences, sharing words and feelings of hope: "This is not going to be forever". We experience this odd new reality in an environment where we feel safe. And, staying at home, we follow the succession of daily news on social media about what’s happening out there.
Even so, when I left home that morning, I was not prepared to see it.
March 20, at 9.30 am.
The city that was once full of people, largely due to the tourism boom that boosted the economy after the economic crisis (2008-2009), is practically lifeless.
We don't see any more the streets full of young and beautiful people, with their travel trolleys, laughing loudly and taking selfies. What draws our attention now are homeless and old people. They become more visible now.
Homeless people still live on the streets or, at least, try to survive there, even though they are a group with immune deficiencies. I know the effort the city is trying to make to increase the capacity of some homeless shelters, but we were not prepared…
Older people try to maintain their routines, going to the butcher, the fruit store and the grocery store. This probably gives them a feeling of security and normality.
These people don´t put on a mask or wear gloves. Unless we are already infected or have a more debilitating illness - as well people who take care of those groups - we are neither obliged or encouraged to use those kinds of stuff.
Nevertheless, who attend us at stores usually wear a mask and a pair of gloves. This gives us confidence and a sense of security we need to feel nowadays.
This was what I saw that morning during my shopping shot walk.
Short walks – alone - and exercise in the open air are yet allowed and encouraged. I ended up next to the river before I returned home.
