Buongiorno Italia!

Every day is a day of getting to terms with the situation that is now hitting all the world.

We are on our second week of full quarantine. Every day, I take my temperature and check the numbers on the WHO page. I used to gasp at the crescendo of cases in Italy, now I gasp at the numbers of other countries as well. Spain and Germany did a big jump up today, and the USA is not much far behind.

I still feel a lot like Cassandra, but I keep recommending my US friends to STAY HOME (#STAYHOME! With or without a hashtag!).

I do not when that simple recommendation will really sink in.

In Italy, regardless of the gravity of the situation, there are still too many people out.

We are requested to fill out an auto-certification (downloadable from the Ministry of Health), when we go out, explaining the reasons for our “gallivanting;”

Proved work-related reasons;
Health reasons;
Serious needs (I suppose they intend to attend aging relatives);
And returning home (supposedly after being stranded somewhere);

Despite all this, there are still too many people around. In the Lombardy region, authorities are seriously considering checking people’s movements via cell phone data.

The “Blues”

Sometimes depression sets in, but then my “blues” are nothing compared to the extraordinary effort of the people that are working to fight this. Meds, medical staff, medical researchers, the first aid people, and let’s not forget the cleaning staff that is keeping hospitals clean and disinfected. To those also we now have to thank the military that is installing hospital-camp tents.

No Hoarding

I did not stuff my house with food, Supermarkets are open. But I decided that this is a good time to finish everything that I have in my pantry and freezer. A little creativity will go a long way…, and helps pass the time.

Baba Ganoush

Baba ghanoush, or baba ghanouj, the Levantine appetizer of mashed cooked eggplant mixed with tahini, olive oil, possibly lemon juice, and various seasonings. Recipes are easy to find, and it is also easy to make. I should add that since I started to make it myself I don like the store-bought one.

Obviously fresh vegetables I do buy regularly while respecting the rules.

Yesterday, as I went to the store I saw that Spring is now here, beautiful as always. I thought of cleaning up my windowsill herbs & plants. Also sharing the meals with the neighbor helps, and it does taste better that way.