Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of journal entries from members of our community as we adapt to stay at home orders during the COVID-19 outbreak. I’ve gone back and forth wondering if these entries will fit the “Good Things” focus of Live in Everett, but everything about relating, connecting and learning from our neighbors is a Good Thing. ~Linda

JOURNAL ENTRY: 3

Britney Barber

Owner of Everett Improv
Bayside Neighborhood

April 16, 2020

Things I did BEFORE COVID-19 (A sad list of self-awareness):

Warning: These are not exaggerations.  Ask my wife.

• Wear gloves to pump gas and open doors 

• Wipe down our airplane seats/trays and entire hotel room with sani-wipes

• Use hand sanitizer directly after shaking someone’s hand

• Pretend to be bad at high-fives to avoid touching people’s hands

• Avoid medium-sized to large social gatherings

• Support my small business with my wife’s salary

• Wonder if I could “pull off” wearing a mask in public

• Buy as much weed as possible 

• Shop at Safeway as if my non-existent bunker is empty

• Ask my wife to take off her work clothes as soon as she comes home ;)

• Wash full loads of sweat pants and hoodies 

• Talk to our four dogs at length… and hear them respond

• Organize our junk drawers at 2am for fun

• Sanitize our door knobs, light switches, remotes, and phones weekly 

• Hold my breath to avoid inhaling when I pass someone on the sidewalk

• Philosophize about the end of the world on a semi-daily basis

• Have no human contact outside of my wife for days on end

• Consider ordering delivery as “going out to eat”

• Get an adrenaline rush when I see a package getting put on the porch

• Refer to our house and yard as “the compound”

• Be aware that my profession is the epitome of “non-essential” 

• Feel emotionally validated after watching “Contagion”

While Britney’s job may not be essential, we all need to laugh a little right now. Check out Everett Improv’s Eventbrite page to find out about virtual comedy shows and to order custom jokes!

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