From Italian Literature to Dirty Books

I suppose it was the Pope's idea not to announce the extension of the current coronavirus lockdown in Italy on Easter Day.  It wouldn't have been religiously correct. But the current decreto (decree) states that the lockdown lasts until April 13, and that's tomorrow. Talk of the new rules usually starts a few days before the current deadline, but since that's just talk, we wait anxiously for the signing of the official decree. Italians like making rules, changing rules and breaking rules.  And all of this involves a lot of time and paperwork.

According to the talk, our lockdown will be extended to May 3. Here's a translation of things that will change on April 14. Bookstores, stationery stores and shops that sell clothes for infants and kids will reopen. Forestry activity, industry involving wood and the production of computers can start back up. Parks and playgrounds remain closed in addition to the cancellation of all sports activities and professional training. Motor activity is still permitted in the vicinity of home, but only alone and maintaining distance.

One of the most made-fun-of items on the last several decrees is something called auto certificazione (self certification). Any time you're not at home, you're required to carry this paper. The form has changed four or five times since the beginning of the lockdown. With each change you're required to have the latest version. And with each new version, comes a new meme.

Our current lockdown says we can't be more than 200 meters from home with the exception of trips to the pharmacy, medical visits, grocery shopping or work. If stopped by the police these activities have to be declared, as does walking alone in a field. The auto certificazione must be signed and given to the officer for later confirmation of the validity of your response. If there's discrepency, you'll be fined.

The selection of shops that have permission to reopen on April 14 has left us somewhat befuddled. No one's talking about the kid's clothing shops being open, after all we're in Italy where fashion comes first. But the reopening of bookstores is getting a lot of press.

Apparently some intellectuals (that's what they say) and booksellers have signed a petition asking for bookstores to reopen. They say that reading books can be like talking to a neighbor and since many on lockdown can't do that, it's time to start reading. That doesn't sound so intellectual to me. Maybe their next petition will say: Why talk to your neighbor when you can read?

Bookstore employees, however, aren't so enthused about the reopening and claim there's no way to clean the coronavirus from a book. But the intellectuals have solved that problem with a new rule. Before going to the bookstore you have to know what you're going to buy. (Maybe it will have to be written on the new auto certificazione before leaving home.)

Opening bookstores means opening cartolibrerie (stationery shops) because in addition to pens and paper, they also sell books, and what's fair for one bookseller is fair for another. Cartolibrerie also sell office supplies and offer UPS, fax and photocopying services.

And we mustn't forget the ribbon cutting ceremonies at grocery stores that can finally cut the tape on their aisles of pens and paper. These aisles have been off limits since the beginning of the lockdown. It took some real intellectuals to decide that if you went to the grocery store you could only buy groceries.

Even though we're still waiting for the official decree, people have already started planning their new lighter lockdown excursions. First, the cartolibreria to make copies of the new auto certificazione because no one is going to work where they can make free copies. Second, the grocery store for some good reading snacks and a pen (because you forgot to pick one up at the cartolibreria and fortunately the pen aisle is now open). And third, a quick trip to the bookshop where book-buying must be efficient. You touch it, you buy it. Unfortunately, in coronavirus times, you have to judge a book by its cover.