SELF-ISOLATION, DAY 7

So this is the seventh day. It is also Monday, so I did not plan this very well, but I actually did not plan this whole thing at all. It is not one of my made-up stories.

Today I have been kind of tired and groggy, but not like I am sick. I am always tired after working the weekend but, like many people who find themselves working past their expected retirement age, it is not easy. But we all have to work for a living; many people work at something which does not give them pleasure but is just a necessity. So, late in life I am learning new things about Life and being a human.

Today still, I have very mixed feelings about our situation. I DO believe the statistics I read in the media. Cases are spreading fast, including in this country, with a real decrease in China. But the statistics are to some extent misleading because comparatively few people in our country are being tested: not enough test kits and no uniform system to test people, so there are likely many more already infected but not tested. But you likely already know this from the media.

There are no frightening pictures of the sub-microscopic virus. When we only know that we might have a disaster in the making, it is hard to be concerned. No skyscrapers falling, no giant waves crashing on the beaches, torrential rains or earthquake scenes. And, as a coworker from Eastern Europe reminded me yesterday, America/USA, is such a large country so we can have a horrific disaster in one part, and sunshine and chirping birds elsewhere. Right now, outside my living room window the sun is in fact shining.

But… WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE SCIENTISTS! The Surgeon General, Jerome Adams warns things could get worse and we really, really need to shelter in place as much as possible. Isolating ourselves is very important. I try to not make this political, although some of you know my leanings, but this should not be about politics but listening to our many educated healthcare specialists. If I were a healthcare worker in New York, I would likely be too tired to argue this point. There are so many who cannot avoid contact: bus drivers, taxies, police, fire dept, those who maintain the energy grid, maintain our heating and air-conditioning, groceries, and I already said healthcare workers.

Another group, I watched a short video from the Grayzone.com, about our huge prison system. I believe we have the largest in the world, and we take poor care of those in the system. Just because they are in prison does not mean we have a right to not care about them. Anyone here have strong religious beliefs about caring for the prisoners and the poor? No? Or maybe yes. Besides that many, many are people who are in some form of incarceration merely because they were arrested, could not afford bail, and may be innocent but they will sit there, in confinement with others, until they can have a trial. If you cannot pay traffic tickets or some other fine, you may end up in confinement. This only adds to their problems, and if there is a spread of the epidemic in the prison population, the workers there will contract it also and take the virus home with them.

As I said, I am conflicted. We should keep our morale up, keep our beliefs intact, care for each other and enjoy life. Teach our children.

I have finished my veggie smoothie and my potatoes are boiling. After that I will take the dog out again for some fresh air. Hang in there and be safe.

March 23, 2020