Even Storks Wear Masks
The day has shifted, from rising and retiring early to getting up late and going to bed later.
Living in a house large enough to accommodate three adults, allowing them each to have
individual space is a blessing. As is the weather in Belgium, mostly sunny, with glorious
spring days since 18 th March when the latest confinement measures came into force.
Walking around the local neighbourhood is surreal. Naturally sociable human beings
immediately cross the road upon sight of each other. In other times, this would be
considered rude. For the first time perhaps, we notice the houses and their gardens. Such as
our neighbour’s magnificent Magnolia tree in which is in full bloom, framed by a brilliant
blue sky. Daffodils, Muscari and tulips flower everywhere. But the most eye-catching sight,
was a stork high up a tree, wearing a mask. In Belgium, when a baby is born, people often
put a wooden stork in their garden to signify a birth in the house. Nice to see people haven’t
lost their sense of humour!
Domestic chores are bang up to date, the house is clean. Do-it-yourself projects are
beginning to flourish - or at least ideas for them. We are more conscious of not wasting
food, baking banana bread from very ripe bananas, or creating soup from leftovers.
I’ve started writing short stories again and reading books from the enormous pile which has
been sitting upon the bedside table for the past few years.
Now we are starting to watch uplifting nature programmes on TV in order to avoid
constantly seeing the latest bad news. At the weekend, the RTBF (Belgian French speaking tv
station) showed a news report from a hospital in Cremona, Italy, showing heart breaking
images of people lying on their stomachs in intensive care, hooked up to ventilators.
Exhausted and emotional medical staff spoke on camera, telling us to stay home. Scenes of
makeshift hospitals in sports halls and countless identical coffins begin driven to lonely
burials. No mourners allowed.
Staying home is no hardship compared to the suffering of our fellow human beings. We
have the easiest task and should never forget it.
Sheila - Kraainem, Belgium
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