The COVID 19... into Summer 2020...
The COrona (because shaped like a crown) VIrus Disease which started in the fall of 2019 in China most probably and arrives on our shores around January/February 2020.
The second week of March we start hearing real concerns about this virus.
On March 12, most events are cancelled. The representation of A Wonderful World at The Colony Theater is not cancelled yet but we decide not to go amid more and more concerns about keeping a physical distance: this virus seems extremely contagious…
On March 13, Trump declares the Coronavirus Pandemic a national emergency.
On March 14, all Apple stores nationwide are closed!
On March 16, France annonces a total lockdown. Miami schools close. I cancel the NYTimes delivery, better to read only online… We invited friends over for dinner outside, under the pergola by the pool, but no kissing or hugging and we keep a good distance between us all. It is definitely weird… This will be our last get together for quite a while… Isabelle started wearing a mask…
On March 17, the restaurants are still open but we cancel our dinner reservation at KYU which I booked 2 months ago to celebrate our 42nd anniversary.
People start working from home and go on zoom meetings. Arthur had already install his home office, did he know anything???
Schools go online. Danielle takes the time from work to take the girls on walks and do arts & crafts and activities to keep them busy.
March 19, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has ordered all non-essential retail and commercial businesses closed. All medical facilities, doctors' offices, and airlines will remain open.
March 20, all big parks, playgrounds, beaches and recreational facilities close.
March 21, 22 and 23, The Ultra Music Festival planned was cancelled but Miami Beach is still in full swing with spring break and party goers!!!
March 22 and 29, the kids come visit us in the park by our building. We all are confined so we keep our social distance. Charlotte wants to show off her bike skills.
It is also the New York stay at home effective date.
March 23, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that it is not practical or necessary to lock down the entire state. Yes you heard right!!
March 24, Fortunately, The City of Miami orders residents to shelter in place. When outdoors exercising, residents must practice social distancing measures at all times.
We are able to move out of our rented apartment on the 24, just on time…
Of course, we canceled our trips to Bali to visit Agathe and to Ile de Ré. We will follow the renovations of our house in Ars remotly. We were fortunate to temporarily rent a furnished apartment in our building to see this thing through.
The walk to the beach is almost spooky: There is no-one on Lincoln, no-one on the boardwalk. Miami Beach is deserted….
Agathe has to stop teaching in Bali and has plenty of time to surf!
Isabelle goes on very long walks along The venetian Bridge… we are lucky, our pool is still open.
March 27, The mayor Francis Suarez of Miami, who was the first person in Miami-Dade County to test positive for the novel coronavirus, shuts all nonessential businesses in Miami, the hardest-hit city in the state.
The city is empty. The Convention Center is being transformed into a hospital.
March 30, our pool and tennis close… :((
April 3rd is the Florida stay at home effective date. Everyone needs to wear masks to go to supermarkets, etc… Supermarkets reserve special times for persons over 60 and vulnerable persons and apps offer many options to order on line and have everything delivered. Banks have special instructions. Restaurants do take-out only. Liquor stores are considered essential businesses, funny when you think that the Prohibition was less than 100 years ago…
Every afternoons, the high school distributes meals… There is a long line… Lots of people out of work… Very sad feeling…
For some reason, toilet paper is a rare find! A nearby restaurant advertises 1 free roll for each take out order - creative marketing !!!
Isabelle goes on long walk around the golf course. It is peaceful, beautiful, the nature is reviving, instead of hearings the airplanes, we hear birds singing but watch out for the alligators on the golf course. Pierre keeps jogging every other day.
The Virus is hitting hard but the city lights are still bright and shinning, with messages of hope!
We spend a lot of time on FaceTime, phones, zoom meetings, etc… Doing virtual happy hours and dinners.
We play a lot of bridge, virtually between Miami, New-York, London and even Paris with Mamie.
On April 29, golfs and parks reopen. Only 1 person per golf cart.
In Paris, Elsa and Virgile decided to start seeing their parents and grand parents. Virgile and Jean-Luc finally reunited!
On Sunday May 3rd, we do the same! What joy to be able to hug! We go to the kids house during the week, we sleep over and on May 10 celebrate Mother’s Day together.
On May 3rd, we see this incredible rainbow in a shape of ? A crown… Amazing!
This is called “a glory”, which NASA defines as an optical phenomenon that "looks like small, circular rainbows of interlocking colors.
May 11, France starts to deconfine. We booked our flights to Paris for June 14. We will see… It looks like a somewhat more normal life could be back soon….
In the meantime, we enjoy the girls as much as possible, following instructions…
Riding in the neighborhood, pony rides (a lot of them!!!), etc… Little by little retails reopen… Bella gets a pedi…
We allow ourselves to have dinner with friends: Anne & Guillaume B., Michèle & J-P A., Diane & Olivier B.
On June 1st our pool and some beach reopen but not in Miami Beach where too many people would flock. Only residents of the building are allowed in the pool and keeping distances. So we take the girls swimming at friend’s pool and on rides along the beach but it is VERY hot!
On May 29 some stores on Lincoln Road reopened: Lulu Lemon is open with all required rules but most stay boarded up: Lacoste, Apple. Most Miami Beach is closed… On June 3rd, we take the girls to the lego store in The Aventura mall but it is quite scary!
Sunday May 31st, we make believe it is June 3rd and we celebrate Isabelle’s 3rd birthday! (she will have a pizza party in the park with her friends on the 3rd :).
Finally on June 10 we can enjoy the beach again!
June 14 THE FAREWELL PARTY!!!
On June 19, the kids are flying to…. and Charlotte seems very confortable wearing her mask…
Bye-bye Miami Beach, we’ll come back to you…
