Locked down and single.

I'm fine with it. I'm used to being alone. As are many single zeros.

But.

Add in the fear factor of Covid and being alone forces grim thoughts. "Well being checks" is a term usually associated with the elderly and those with mental health or substance abuse issues. During the pandemic, singles, "those who live alone," have been added to the recommended list of people to check on periodically. I've even seen news graphics that included "singles/those who live alone" on a bullet point list of people to reach out to during the pandemic.

I understand. I do. I'm sure people have our best interest in mind.

And, I mean, you know, no one wants a dead single person smelling up the building for weeks or months.

But that grim reminder in the form of "what you can do" recommendations on television and plastered all over social media adds a layer of sad self-awareness to self-isolation for single/zeros.

I'm hearing from family, friends and co-workers more frequently than usual, and I'm noticing a direct correlation between their texts/calls and the public service announcements on television and social media. I'm grateful and honored that they care enough to check in on me.

But it's kind of weird.

I feel obligated to answer the calls or respond to texts quickly. My concern being, that, if I don't respond quickly the well-meaning friend or family member will a) worry and b) call the police to have them perform a well-being check on me.

And that leads to thoughts of the police knocking on my door to find me in my comfortable but not-exactly-chic lockdown-wear, in desperate need of a haircut, no makeup, a couple weeks of laundry piled up* and other remnants of living alone** that are normal for singletons, but not-so-normal for those who haven't lived alone in a long time (or ever).

And yes, I'm lucky to have people who care about me enough to check to make sure I'm still alive.

But think about that sentence for a minute.

Yeah.

No matter how positive you try to spin it the underlying message is: "You're alone. All alone. So alone, in fact, that we feel obligated to call/text you to be sure you haven't died from Covid."

Pretty sure I'm on a few call lists that look like this:

Daily well-being check-in list:

• Grandma
• Uncle Ted
• The church organist
• That weird cat lady who works in accounting
• Trillian

I hear a lot about families coping - either coping well or not coping at all - lots of funny videos and memes, lots of "strategies" articles. But there's a dearth of coping and strategy media for single zeros. The metaphoric always the bridesmaid yet again. We're mentioned on the "check on their wellbeing..." lists, but that's about it.

For me, that's okay. I know how to cope. I have strategies. And I think, I hope, most other single zeros do, as well.

One of the reasons I decided to check in on this blog is because it's a voice from the single zero perspective, and it's my way of saying, "We are here, we are here, we are here!" And to reiterate a few reminders:

• Just because we're used to living alone doesn't mean we like staying home anymore than you do. 
• Just because we don't have kids to home school or marriages to maintain during all this togetherness doesn't mean it's "easier" for us. 
• Just because we're only one person with one mouth to feed and one bottom to wipe doesn't mean we don't have financial concerns and issues finding snacks and enough toilet paper. 
• Just because singles who are unfortunate enough to be hospitalized with Covid don't have someone waiting to hug them on their victory wheelchair rollouts from hospitals doesn't mean their triumphant recovery is less significant. 
• Just because we don't have a spouse/partner/BF/GF and/or children doesn't mean our lives are less than...or less important, less worth saving.

*Would you want to use a communal laundry room during a pandemic? yeesh. It's gross under normal times. Throw in a deadly contagious virus? Yeah. Laundry day becomes akin to a sinister day in the Hunger Games arena.
**Taco Tuesday leftovers that were so plentiful that they lingered long enough to turn into Throwback Thursday tacos.