Even though I have still been working out of the office (don’t worry I am more than six feet away from everyone), I have been going straight home and staying in my house, wandering like a zombie.
In addition to being home and away from everyone, the weather has been terrible (April 1 snow; April Fools my butt) to get out and try to clean the yard.
It’s to the point to where my two dogs are ready to kick me out of the house, since we have basically spent every living moment together since early March.
When I stopped writing sports in May 2018 to become the assistant editor of Winnemucca Publishing, I got to spend more time with them.
Things started getting crazy again in September 2019, when I had to step back in the dual role of sports writing and assistant editor, taking me back on the road all over Nevada.
Unfairly, my boys had to go long hours without seeing me and me seeing them. So, I am enjoying this time with them (even though they can be a pain in my butt).
Do I miss covering sports? Perhaps.
I have done it for almost 18 years and was ready for a change when the new position was brought to me nearly two years ago. I am still ready for the change down the road, if and when the world gets back to normal.
I do miss the athletes and coaches, they are the reason I kept going for so long.
A hug and a ‘hey how’s it going’ is always worth it. I am just covering the sports, but I can’t imagine how the coaches and players are feeling right now. There is a feeling of helplessness just about everywhere.
However, this pandemic is something we haven’t seen in a lifetime.
I will admit months ago, I was a skeptic about it and thought it would go away like the flu.
Now, I am the one wanting to tell people, ‘what in the hell is wrong with you’ — get inside and don’t go out if you don’t have to.
Also there is no need to take a family of five to go shopping or get dinner. Have one person go do that. Please, and thank you.
Last week, Arizona canceled the remaining spring sports for high schools and my question is how far are we from that in Nevada?
The NIAA has done a good job of keeping schools updated on plans going forward, but are at the mercy of this virus and the governor and the decisions he makes.
The most optimistic goal was to start April 22, but Governor Steve Sisloak issued a stay at home order until April 30.
This is going to get worse before it gets better. I am leaning toward the side of students in Nevada not going back to school until this fall.
The latest directive from the governor just put a big ‘if’ in spring sports returning.
The regional championships were scheduled for May 7-9 and state championships May 14-16. The NIAA stated it didn’t want to extend the season into June. Stay tuned, this will change day by day if not hour by hour.
It’s hard not to be depressed right now and I have been in the mode last few weeks. I think it’s okay to feel that right now. My mind has gone in a million different directions in the last 20 days.
There were thoughts of what am I going to do. I have been walking in the same door at work for nearly 26 years. I know nothing else if I go out in the real world. I stayed up one night, thinking to myself, what in the hell am I going to do.
I miss what life was, I miss family and friends, I miss baseball, I miss basketball, I miss soccer, I miss hockey, I am missing everything right now.
We need to take care of each other right now, so we don’t end up missing someone important to us. Life will return, we just need to be patient and take care of each other.
Winnemucca Publishing Assistant Editor/Sports Editor can be reached at t.erquiaga@winnemucapublishing.net.
