Fresh Air

They ask us how we’re doing, and I say, "Would you want to be housebound with him?!"

We get ready to go for a walk outside.

I must have my tiny bottle of Purell, some Clorox wipes, Kleenex and keys.

We stop at the trash room to deposit our daily trash bag and newspapers.

He opens the door for me with his cane.

I take a wipe and open the paper bin.

I then take a wipe and open the garbage chute door.

Then I wipe the door handle on the way out.

Now we enter our only elevator. The second one is broken.

He presses the button for the lobby with the bottom of his dirty cane.

We hope no one else gets on because there would be less than 6 feet between us.

Two people get on so we try not to breathe.

The doormen in the lobby open the door for us – a little too close.

They ask us how we’re doing, and I say, "Would you want to be housebound with him?!"

They both laugh, and emphatically say "No!!"

We go outside.

The streets are pretty empty, but when someone comes our way, he has to talk to them.

They move away – at least 6 feet.

We limp back.

"Now I get the mail, while he sits in a chair that’s probably contaminated."

I wipe my keys with Purell, and we go to the elevator. We get to our apartment. I Purell the door handle and my keys. I tell him to take his clothes off on the balcony and leave them there. We both do that, at which point he tells me he’s never going to do it again!! We wash our hands, I put Purell on his cane, and we assume we’re sanitized.

Looking forward to our next walk.