The ABC of Life in a Pandemic

We are now heading into our third week of living, working, and parenting at home. We’re still struggling, especially in the parenting department, but I am thankful that we are safe and healthy. My coping mechanisms are: alcohol, books, and collaboration. I call them my ABC of life during the pandemic.

Without alcohol, I probably would have gone insane. I have been making a Jalisco Mule a day. Since I had not been able to get out of the house, I could not go buy myself a copper cup. Fortunately, I found a copper bakeware in our kitchen to use as a cup instead. Why don’t I use a tall glass? It simply doesn’t taste as good. After a long day of working and taking care of the kids, I deserve that drink.

To help me get into perspective, I have been reading Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl. I almost finished with the book and what we are going through now is nothing compared to what she and her family went through. I will write more about the book later. It is such an engaging read. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something to read during your isolation.

As for work and kids, my wife and I have to collaborate in order for us to do what we need to do. When she had a meeting, I took the kids out for a bike ride around the block to keep them from distracting her and to give them a bit of exercise. When I had my meeting, she found something for them to play in our backyard. We took turns to watch the kids and to give each of us a block of time to focus on our work. Of course, having my mother-in-law staying with us is a huge help. I can’t appreciate her enough.

As if my full-time job hasn’t kept me busy enough, I have taken on a few small freelance web projects and a couple of advising gigs for Vietnamese typography. I am hustling to feed my kids. “I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell / I am a hustler baby, I’ll sell water to a well.” Unfortunately, I will never be as successful as JAY-Z. I just like to do new things.