Five years ago today the schools were closed

Five years ago today was a day I will remember forever.  I was subbing in a math room where the students were almost exclusively seniors.  My own daughter was among them.  We had lots of conversations about the coronavirus, and we suspected the governor was going to announce that schools would be closed.  I remember reassuring those students that of course there would be a graduation as it was still two months away.  I could not have been more wrong.

I remember sitting at home that evening just feeling a little lost...I suddenly was without a job, and of course it just felt so surreal.  While schools were given a couple of days to work things out, we had to close immediately due to a suspected case.  And it was the beginning of so many changes in life.  While it was so hard, I also remember how much fun we had together as a family.  We played games and hung out and were just always together.  While I remember the fear, I never forget to be grateful for the time we had together.

I doesn't feel at all like it has been five year.  FIVE YEARS??  My goodness.  In some ways it feels like just a year or two ago, and of course in another way it feels like a different life.  And in some ways it was.