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Chicago under lockdown

A desolate city of 2.7 million

By Aurimas Adomavicius

March 22^nd, 2020

March 22nd, end of week one

This week we switched to working from home. Not much of a change as we've been operating as a distributed team for a while now. Public schools closed, colleges are vacating their campuses. An airline client notified us that no invoices will be paid in 2020 and outstanding balances will need to be discounted. Driven by panic and fear people are hoarding supplies such as toilet paper and paper towels, pasta, rice, canned goods. They've been at it for a few weeks now, I suppose there's a certain level of TP stock one needs to reach to calm the fuck down.

Other than irrational behavior, my trip to the grocery store was uneventful. I was able to purchase all essentials, fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, and... wine. Can't forget wine. There was a lady that, eyes wide open with panic, was loading her overspilling cart with groceries without even bothering to bag them in plastic. Our clients in logistics & distribution are seeing the increased demand and, while making money hand over fist, chuckle at the irrational behavior. Truth be told, I bought two pounds of chicken instead of one.

The virus is impacting everyone. Globally. On our Zoom calls a certain unity can be felt, a "we got this" attitude that is very much the work ethic of the Midwest. Or perhaps just the attitude of all humans during a time of distress. I wonder if this is a state that will last or we will all lapse in our diligence as the war against the invisible enemy stretches into the fall.

There are positives to our condition, as well. We're spending a lot of time as a family, chatting during coffee breaks of the work day, Ashton interjecting his opinion during an ongoing team meeting. A few of us play online PC games at night, supplementing our human need for senseless banter. The needs are simpler, too; there's nowhere to go and so no desire for unnecessary purchases. Weather is decent and my weekly running mileage is creeping up. Not like I have a choice - all the gyms are closed. I'll need the mileage because someone has to eat all these groceries that we bought.