DAILY ROUTINE DISRUPTED ROSE ADAKAI
The virus that had taken the life of so many has sur-
infected with the virus that they recover fast and for the virus
faced in New Mexico. It is now the evening of March 11, 2020. I
not to spread beyond their area.
come home from work exhausted, but I still managed to do my
work out before starting dinner. I know If I wait until after dinner
helping customers. I can see the worried expression on their
most likely I would make an excuse so that I could avoid doing
faces and hear some of them talking about their concerns about
my work out routine. So, I make it a point to them right away.
coronavirus. I am thinking should I tell them not to worry, but
After preparing my full course meal, after a long day of working
then again, who am I to say not to worry about it cause the
and then working out, who has the energy for that? I do not
virus is dangerous. So, I told myself if they should ask then I will
have the time to make such a meal for myself or my family, may-
let them know to stay calm until they get home to their family
be if I had a personal chef, smiling as I am saying that cause that
where they will feel safe. Because at this time I had not received
is something I could not afford. But I could dream about it and
any direction from my own supervisor as how we should handle
that is ok. So, just a simple meal will suffice my family and me.
this situation like this. I did not want to cause anyone to panic or
Later that night I had turned on the news, something I do every
have an anxiety attack due to giving the wrong information to
night before I go to bed. It is part of my daily routine, so that I
our customers. Just as any workplace there are always proper
can catch up on what is going on in New Mexico. My worries
guidelines to follow.
of the virus making its way to the state has become a reality.
Before the virus surfaced in Gallup, New Mexico, I was thinking
from the main office. After reading it, I was puzzled about some
and hoping that it would not affect the people of New Mexico,
parts of the letter “implementing limited operations.” But what
let alone my hometown.
did they mean for my department, limited operations? I was get-
ting worried because I still had not received any communication
The news anchor announced that coronavirus had
It is March 16, 2020, I am working at the front desk
Then I received an email that was sent to everyone,
surfaced in New Mexico with four positive cases in New Mexico.
from my supervisor as what this means for our department. But
I was shocked and upset when I first heard about it on the news.
I knew in any type of chaotic situation, you want to remain calm
You will probably think, why is she upset about it cause the virus
and not cause anyone or yourself to panic. I did not want my
kills and it may kill the ones that have been infected with the
staff or customers to know I was worried, so I just always smiled
virus. Yes, I have empathy for them, but my first thought and
and assured them things will be ok once we got more informa-
concern are the safety of my immediate family, and my elderly
tion from our higher echelon personnel. But based off what I’ve
mom. My initial thought when I first heard about the 4 positive
hearing in the news, when someone had mentioned that they
cases was, how can these people be so selfish and just go about
were worried I told them not to touch their face at this time and
with their travel when there is a virus out there that is unknown
to wash hands often.
to man and no cure available yet. Of course, after trying to rationalize the what ifs and nots about the news, I realized that I cannot change anything that has already happened. So, instead I prayed for healing and good health for the people who were
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