Pandemic Journal: Key West Edition

I'm relaxing on my little patio enjoying the nice weather, when two guys walk by on the sidewalk. Although they're hidden by the fence and a screen of buttonwoods, I can hear them talking and I don't think they're three feet away much less six. My distancing alarm goes off. But this is it - I have to accept I live in a city now (no longerthe 1/4 acre of suburban separation I had before). So yes, I live in a city. And I can already hear it humming back to life, (scooters buzzing, trucks rumbling, cars booming bass out open windows). There's talk of Florida "reopening" for business. The natives are getting restless.

Masks are going away. I find the cheery normality with which it is happening frankly creepy. I don't drink near enough alcohol to numb the feeling.

Just found out the onset of our COVID infections follow the track of 2 cruise ships that were carrying COVID -19 passengers aboard when they docked on Key West in early March. 

Their port of call dates, March 5th and 6th, lines up with the 2 week track of the first positive tested case in Key West on March 19th. 

The Celebrity Infinity also had a crew member die on the exact same day as the first community death here.

The ships went on from Key West to travel around the Caribbean. My heart breaks knowing this. These poor islands don't need this.

​And Hurricane season is coming.