This marks the beginning of the eighth week of isolating at home with my husband.

The coronavirus keeps presenting us with information that is disturbing, and for which we have no explanation. Keeping up with emerging information is like drinking from a fire hose. One thing is sure: the complexity of the coronavirus is going to change our world in significant ways, even as people continue to die.

Day after day in front of the computer has left me hungry for human rather than digital contact, yet we have internalized the three coronavirus maxims: stay 6 feet apart when not at home, wear a mask to protect yourself and others; and wash your hands frequently.

My students reward me when they show their faces while I am teaching — and their questions and comments make each class richer. Going into the fifth week of the quarter, I am feeling confident enough to ask what else I should be doing other than sitting in front of a computer to work.

Ignoring task-related options, I am going to try to focus in the coming week on some gardening and perhaps a spell of watercolor painting. I haven’t painted since early December and it’s possible now to begin again, perhaps in the garden.

Tomorrow morning I’m going to Green Lake Park to walk. I trained at Green Lake for two 3 Day Walks in 2007 and 2008, and it is my place of choice to the habit of walking take over while my mind floats free. The lake and its park were carved out in 1903 as part of the Olmsted brother’s plan of interconnected green spaces in Seattle.

Once I get good again at gardening and painting and walking, perhaps I’ll take the time to start ruthlessly cleaning out closets and drawers. From what I know right now, there will be plenty of time for cleaning.