Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Day 92 in quarantine: you’re starting to forget what day of the week it is, wondering if your jeans remember who you are, and thinking about when this pandemic might be behind us for good. It’s hard to think of a silver lining through all of this, but there are glimmers of hope.

Many are working from home and some are only beginning to return to work. At Rancho Mesa, we are lucky to have continued business as usual - well, as usual as it can be given most of us have not been in the office for months. Christina Haake, Account Manager, says she misses her friends and family in Santa Barbara most, but misses being spontaneous. “Now everything has to be planned and timed: going to the store, video calls, etc.” When asked what she has learned from the stay-at-home order, she said it has made her realize how important it is to show affection as much as possible because you never know the next time you will have the chance. Christina is a Disneyland annual pass holder and is counting down the days until she can sport her favorite pair of ears, once again.

*Pictured: Kimmie Parker and John Parker.*

Then, there are the anxious sports fans. Quiet nights on the diamond, the void of fantasy league notifications and reruns on Monday nights take the place of watching the ol’ pigskin fly live on TV. John Parker, Account Manager, from our La Mesa office, is currently sheltered-in-place with his family and has been collecting baseball cards to occupy his free time over that last few months. His wife, on the other hand, has been enjoying virtual baby showers for their first child, who is due this Summer! Their babymoon to Palm Springs may be on hold, but John says it gives them something to look forward to when life gets back to normal. Both of them love music and going to local concerts, so they can’t wait to be outside again enjoying their favorites with friends.

Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, is occupying his time by watching all the Avengers movies with his four children. As much as he loves having them home, Daniel is the office social butterfly and admits he misses the interaction with his co-workers. Through this ordeal, Daniel has continued to work from the La Mesa office, along with Account Executive Jeremy Hoolihan. “I’ve worked with Jeremy for years and this situation has actually brought us much closer.”

Personally, I can’t wait to hear the words, “may I take your plate for you?” Or, “would you like another refill?” But, in all seriousness, almost everyone I have spoken with about the temporary shutdown has said – don’t take the little things for granted like going to Costco without feeling like you’re standing in an amusement park line, leaving the house without a facial covering, hugging your loved ones, or sitting at a restaurant to eat. Our daily routines are far from normal, but we are getting there as more and more businesses and services begin to open up. The silver lining in all of this is that we’ve learned to appreciate each other and the things around us. I am happy to say I know most of my neighbors now, thanks to this!

In a world where everything is becoming automated, digital and rushed, this pandemic is reminding us of a simpler time. What are you looking forward to when this has passed? "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light," Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.