January 4, 2020
Happy New Year! This is my first journal entry of the decade. Time is flying by. I can’t believe I’ve been married for ten years. And I can’t believe the twins are already seven. Goodness.
2020 used to seem so far away. I always imagined myself as an old man in my 40s, wearing mirror shades, clothes inside out, flying around in my cool car. I assumed NASA would be sending passenger ships to Mars.
The reality is: I’m 45, I drive a shitty Rav4, NASA hasn’t done anything since the ’70s, and I’m wearing the same clothes I bought at American Eagle nine years ago. The only thing that’s changed is we have “smart” phones, and we like to take pictures of ourselves and post them to social media. My 16-year-old self would be disappointed.
I’m excited to start the decade though. I have a new job with the health department. I’ll be implementing wellness programs to help battle the obesity. I should be able to make a difference, which is motivating.
Christmas and the kids’ birthdays were awesome. It was nice seeing my brother and sister again. I wish my mom and grandma had the chance to meet Max and Eva. Makes me sad.
Everything else is going great. Everyone’s in good health. My workouts and diet have been going good, but I’m still a fat ass with a beer belly. Need to stop drinking IPAs.
January 31, 2020
I’m writing this from Starbucks. I come here everyday. I don’t even have to tell the barista what I want–as soon as I walk in, she starts pouring my tall blonde roast. Good service!
The kids are doing good. They are learning so much in first grade. I still can’t believe they know how to freakin’ read.
Work is going great, still enjoying the new job. I love working downtown. I never thought I’d ever say that. The past few days, a lot of people in the office have been talking about a new virus spreading in China. Apparently, someone in Washington state has it now. The president just cut off travel from China so no one brings it back here. Fine with me. Anyway, it’s probably just another SARS or H1N1. Social media blows everything out of proportion. People will do anything for ratings, views, comments, and likes. Annoying.
February 28, 2020
It’s nice to finally be home. I just flew back from a work trip in Hotlanta for a nutrition workshop with the CDC. Jaz and the kids survived fine without me for the week. Max and Eva looked older, bigger, as if I was gone for months.
My diet has been going well. Switching to White Claws has made a difference. So far I’ve lost five pounds in our company weight loss competition. Woot woot. I was able to workout in Atlanta everyday – so proud of myself. I jogged around CDC’s campus and it was crazy to see all the news reporters on the streets covering “COVID-19” – the name of the virus everybody is talking about. Don’t ask what the hell it means. The area around campus reminded me something out of Stranger Things. Deep roads and driveways were everywhere, and they all seemed to lead to secret laboratories. Everything was blocked off with gates and signs saying AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL or NO TRESPASSING. There’s something mysterious going on down those deep, hidden drives. For the first time, I got the feeling this virus is more than just the flu.
March 17, 2020
Holy crap a lot has happened since my last entry. I’m now working from home and home-schooling the kids! To prevent the virus from spreading, my work sent me home last week and the governor shut down all the schools until April. I’m not sure how this new routine is going to work, but thank goodness Jaz is also working from home and we’ll be able to coordinate our schedules and teach the kids. She took the bedroom office, and I’m working in the den. The kids “classroom” is in our dining room. Our dining table is now covered with all their school stuff. A mess. The governor also just announced, to further “flatten the curve,” he’s closing down all restaurants and bars. Good grief. Everyone is panicking and buying bread, hot dogs, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper. People literally must be shitting their pants.
At least it’s almost Spring and the weather is getting warmer. Daffodils are blooming. Other than not being able to come within six feet of someone for fear of being coughed and sneezed on, things are going well. Spending a lot of time playing with the kids outside. People outside are walking, exercising, socializing. Never seen our neighborhood so active and friendly. I put up our Christmas lights.
April 8, 2020
It has been hard to adapt to working from home. Too many distractions. The kids’ teachers keep pinging me throughout the day with lesson ideas, trying to help. But it only stresses me out more. I try to do my best to teach them, but instead, I find myself prioritizing work. They are spending too much time playing the Nintendo Switch or watching some loser on YouTube play Roblox. Am I a bad father for not prioritizing their education over my own job? Is my job safe? So many things to think about. Thank goodness alcohol sales are still allowed.
Jaz is working upstairs in our dark bedroom everyday, also stressed, doing her best to balance her work and the kids’ education. But there’s no line drawn when you work from home. The balance is faded.
It was 70 degrees today, so I took the kids outside to play ladder golf and drive around in their jeep and police car. Thank goodness the weather is nicer.
The virus is still spreading. Something like 10,000 deaths in the US. They expect the curve to peak in the next few weeks. The governor suggested we all start wearing masks when we go out in public areas. I’m not ready for that yet.
The stock market has plummeted, millions of people losing their jobs. Luckily, we still have ours. Dear Lord, thank you!
May 29, 2020
The last few weeks have been very tough. Jaz and Max both got sick with a cough and fever. They had all the symptoms of the virus, but our telehealth doctor didn’t think they were at risk enough to get tested, so they were instructed to take some Nyquil and ride it out. Eva was so helpful at taking care of them. Such a sweetheart. She really doesn’t understand what’s going on, but knows how the virus can make someone very sick. Fortunately, everyone was okay and back to normal after a week. Jaz goes back to work Monday. I think she should rest another day.
Aside from our struggles, things have been getting better with the “rona.” Many states have started to allow businesses to return employees to work, but everyone has to wear masks and reconfigure their environment to allow for social distancing. They don’t want the curve to spike back up. Honestly, I don’t think things will ever get back to normal until there’s a cure. When I walk or jog down the sidewalk, people still move into the street to avoid me. It’s a mind-fuck.
Happy 10-year anniversary to my beautiful wife. We were supposed to take the kids to Disneyworld this week, but we had to cancel.
August 3, 2020
The virus is pretty much gone. Thank God. The CDC thinks they can fast-track a vaccine by the end of this year. Somehow, thankfully, Eva and I didn’t get the virus. I wonder if we are immune?
Summer is going great. Society is finally getting back to normal. I went to the bar for the first time in six months. Got drunk with Greg and Sam. I didn’t wear a mask, and I didn’t care–it was nice to be able to breathe without my glasses fogging up. The economy (and my retirement savings) is recovering nicely. Kids are going back to school and start 2nd grade later this month, but they will have to wear masks. Most importantly, sports are back! The NFL kicks off preseason games this weekend. No fans are allowed to attend the games. That will be weird, but I don’t care. Go Browns!
November 20, 2020
Terrible news. There was an unexpected surge in the virus. It started in China, like last time, but it has been spreading across the world much quicker. They’re saying that everyone who has had the virus is getting it again. They aren’t immune, and no one knows why. Praying every day for Jaz and Max. Governor announced another stay-at-home order. Businesses and schools are all closed again, and the stock market is at the lowest ever. The presidential election was postponed. Looks like another holiday where we won’t be able to see our family.
Dear God, please stop this!
January 30, 2021
I’m very saddened to write that my brother got very sick last month and was unable to fight off the virus. It happened so fast. I wasn’t allowed to visit. I couldn’t even say goodbye! Where is the humanity in that?
It has been over a year since this shit started and there are no signs of it slowing down. Many more new cases every day. All the scientists keep twiddling their thumbs trying to develop a vaccine, but they are taking too long. The president is pissed. They’re saying the vast majority of deaths have been from people who had the virus last year. Doesn’t make sense. Don’t they have the antibodies? No one seems to know.
The death toll is now at half a million people worldwide. Thankfully, Jaz and Max are healthy–thank you God for answering my prayers. But I’m terrified for them. We have been super careful–paranoid–to make sure we don’t bring in germs from the outside. THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE.
February 17, 2021
It doesn’t seem real. I don’t know how much more I can take. My friend, Greg, passed away yesterday from the virus. And Sam is sick and not doing well. People everywhere are getting sicker, faster than last year. Plus, they found out all the ventilators that the car companies made last year have been failing, killing so many people in the ICUs.
March 10, 2021
Sam passed away Sunday. He was only 37. Had three kids. I talked with him on Facetime, but my phone battery died before I could say goodbye.
June 3, 2021
The president just held an emergency press conference. They are now saying the virus is an act of bioterrorism. It’s not organic, but nanotechnology made to look organic like a normal virus. No one knows who made it. It’s very advanced. Good God–this is something out of science fiction. Everyone is scared. We all feel like this could be the end.
My wife lost her job. I still have mine, but does it really matter now?
Please Jesus, return soon. Take us home.
September 26, 2021
Today is my birthday, but there’s nothing to celebrate. The virus took Jaz and Max last month. It’s just me and Eva. Alone. Scared. I’m trying my best to hold it together, to look strong for my daughter. But it’s hard. I break down and cry everyday.
The virus keeps getting stronger, smarter, more resistant. Grocery stores are closed and empty. Canned food can be ordered through Amazon, but the internet stopped working two weeks ago. We’re hungry, eating nothing but bouillon cubes and microwavable Rice-a-Roni cups. The world’s population is now cut in half. People are now using guns to protect themselves and keep their social distance. I can’t believe this is happening.
January 24, 2022
As I’m writing this, I’m sick on the couch, listening to the emergency radio that I’d never thought I’d need to wind up. The world’s population is less than one billion. I just heard they’re sending scientists and political leaders to White Sulfur Springs, WV–underneath some mountain. They hope to be isolated and protected from the virus. To focus on a cure. At least that’s what the news says.
January 25, 2022
It’s hard for me to breathe. Eva is doing everything she can to take care of me, but we don’t have any medicine. I can’t get through to a telehealth Doctor. My lungs hurt and my fever is very high–there’s nothing we can do to bring it down. I’m too weak to get up.
I miss Jasmine and Max. I miss Greg, Sam, and all my friends, my brother, my mom, grandma. Everyone is dead, but I’ll be seeing them soon.
I’m so scared for Eva, she’s only nine years old. What will happen to her when I’m gone? Please Lord, take care of my baby girl.
Mike Sieminski 
Leave a Reply