I’m nearly done with my work chores for the day — newsletter is done and sent, activities for Ian for his “spring break” are arranged, and boring paperwork tasks were crossed off the list.

Newsletters and paperwork were part of my life, prior to the plague. Now, I have to tick off the plague chores — take Ian for a walk, deep clean a bathroom, bake a cake with Ian, look around for mid-semester online college class for Jonah to take advantage of his free time. I have a list of people to call/text today, because they need a little extra contact.

It’s funny how we’re getting used to the new normal. After three weeks, I could do this for a lot longer, which may in fact be necessary.

Of course, my new normal is really the privilege of those with secure and boring jobs, with suburban homes, with youthful constitutions. We aren’t going into a hospital or riding a subway or bagging groceries on a daily basis. For some of it, we’re managing, and even thriving during these strange times.

If you’re in the lucky group, you might as well thrive. At lunch, I was telling Jonah that he should use this time as a gift. We’re talking about thinking through ways to scoop up some online college credits and/or learn new skills. No, the hydroponic garden in the basement is not up for discussion! I was thinking more about a CAD class or a programming boot camp. Expanding the kitchen garden is okay.

But we all can improve, too. Here are some ideas:

• Maybe start an Instagram account and take pictures of daily life for future historians. I set up an account for a local business last week and learned how to make “stories.”
• I’m planning on learning how to set up an accounting system for my strangely profitable online bookshop. I can offer a quickie class on building an online vintage shop, if anybody is interested.
• I want to reread Emma this weekend, and then watch the movie, which I heard is available for a regular rental fee now.
• A few months ago, I learned how to make my own newsletter. I’m finding it very fun, an interesting side venture where I can reach a different audience.
• I want to organize pictures and make some albums.