This week began with the closing of one of my favorite roads I drive on when I need to clear my head but it ended with an Easter message of hope. I also fell a tree, so I at least picked up that skill this week.
Day 24 – Monday, April 6th
The Dam Road
Today should have been the national championship basketball game, hopefully featuring the Jayhawks cutting down the nets as this team probably had the most legitimate shot to do it, but no – damn virus. On top of that, I was just commenting last week about Dillons not imposing any restrictions on its shopping regulations and then today they announced reducing capacity to half-capacity for social distancing. I had already decided I would go back to early morning shopping anyway, but now I don’t have much choice if I want to get in. I don’t what to try to go in the evening and have to wait in line just for the opportunity to purchase groceries. This evening, Douglas County announced it was closing the dam road, like literally the road on top of the dam on Clinton Lake. With the stay at home order, one of the few joys for getting out of the house was taking that drive right at sunset to see one of the best views in Lawrence. Knowing this road would be closed indefinitely, Amy and I made one last run to take a look at the sun setting on Clinton Lake before it closed 😦 .
Day 25 – Tuesday, April 7th
China, Out!
Today was pretty much routine outside of US officials warning this will be the worst week yet as the death toll in the US is now more than 12,000. Nevertheless, some states feel like the show must go on where Wisconsin decided to hold its primary as scheduled today despite public health concerns. I am no health expert, but I have come to the conclusion that the more of us who stay home, the better chance we have of getting back towards somewhat normalcy so holding elections during a pandemic seemed reckless to me. If we look to China, the country where the Covid-19 pandemic began, no new deaths were recorded for the first time since late January. These results (assuming China is being truthful) gives me something to believe in! Combine that news with today being National Beer Day and things are starting to look up!
Day 26 – Wednesday April 8th
Staying Home Isn’t About You
I thought things were looking up but the death toll in the US is more than 14,000 after the U.S. recorded the most new virus deaths in a single day of over 1,800. And now of course, Kansas just can’t seem to get out of its own way as a debate breaks out about church gatherings. Despite the Governor’s declaration of stay at home extending to churches, every Republican in the state voted against this measure and essentially repealed the order citing an overreach by the Governor. I enjoy church as next as the next person but I think God wants us to stay healthy and is willing to give us a pass for a few weeks, I understand this may be beyond a religious issue and more concerned about restrictions of liberty, but my University of Arkansas advisor, whose hand was the last I shook four weeks ago, lost his father to Covid-19, so the effects are real and personal. Too much uncertainty exists about this coronavirus to not be serious about taking precautions. A mass gathering is reckless and I have no doubt a Kansas Supreme Court challenge is imminent.
Day 27 – Thursday, April 9th
Some Hope, but it Still Means We Ain’t Going Anywhere
So some good news, the main US model for tracking the coronavirus is now showing fewer projected deaths from coronavirus — down to about 60,000 people by August. The lowering of numbers suggests that social distancing has been effective but it also demonstrates that we are probably going to be at this until August 😦 . However, top US doctor Anthony Fauci said we may be able to take summer vacations if mitigation strategies continue so once again, there is some hope but we are still going to have to be locked down for awhile in order for that to happen. Given that information, I think its probably time to find my next project which would be to paint our house. If you have been to our house then you know this is a project that will occupy my time for awhile. Sadly, I have the time to do it so no excuses not to get it done, so long as the weather cooperates.
Day 28 – Friday, April 10th
My Patience Has a Limit
So it is back to my 7 AM grocery run and since this upcoming week is supposed to be the peak, I planned to gather about two weeks worth of supplies so I would not have to go back out again. For a family of five that includes three teenagers, it looked like I was hoarding at the store but I can assure you I was not! I did put on a mask that my mother-in-law sewed for me and went to the store since it is recommended to wear one in public. I arrived at 6:45 AM and there was already a line out front, but when the doors opened at 7 AM I had no problem getting in. The store was fully stocked and I was able to get everything on my list minus two random items – enchilada sauce and frozen orange juice. They had everything else that is usually in short supply like toilet paper, Clorox wipes, eggs, milk, meat, chicken but no hand sanitizers which I don’t even bother looking for anymore. The trip took about two hours because of the social distancing requirements. If somebody is staring at the cans of soup for five minutes, I can’t just say, “ope, sorry, ‘scuse me while I reach in there and grab this can.” Buddy, grab your soup and get the hell onto the next isle, this aint the time to be checking the labels! Between the mask, the social distancing, the 7 AM runs, the chance of waiting in line to get in and the task of avoiding the irritatingly slow shoppers that park their carts in the middle of the aisle and stare and compare labels for five minutes, I really do not enjoy shopping, but somebody has to do it and although Amy would go, I am already familiar with the process and there is no point in exposing more people than just myself. So I go. Sorry about the rant but here is a bit of good news, Dr. Fauci says antibody tests — which show who has already been infected with the coronavirus — will be available in the US soon. Also, I decided that one of the large trees in our yard should come down. I dropped it without hitting any of the cars in the neighborhood and I am not going to lie, I was pretty impressed with my effort.
Day 29 – Saturday, April 11th
Tiger King = WTF?
Satisfied with our landscaping efforts on Friday, Amy and I and the girls made s’mores over a fire pit and then Amy and I had a late night in the sunroom which led to a lazy Saturday morning. The weather cooperated so I was able to start caulking the exterior of the house and then that evening we decided to finally finish watching the Tiger King. I am not sure what to say about the Tiger King other than I would constantly turn to Amy and ask, “Are these real people?” Also, I have a question about big cat people: Are you crazy and then buy tigers or do you buy tigers and then go crazy? There is a cause an effect in there somewhere but I am just not sure which way. As for that damn virus, the pandemic has infected 1.7 million people and killed more than 107,000 around the world. The U.S.now has more than half a million cases and New York state alone has more cases than any other country Also, the US also has the most coronavirus-related deaths in the world. Granted, the U.S. is a big country but that is still not a distinction any country would want to own.
Day 30 – Sunday, April 12th
A Message of Hope
Easter Sunday has arrived and it is just a gloomy day which has led to the laziest day yet during this pandemic. The Pope, who has been telling people to stay at home from the get-go (despite what the Kansas republicans may think) has reminded the world to “not yield to fear” and we enjoyed an Easter mass on-line, which broke with centuries of tradition to livestream Easter Sunday mass The Easter bunny avoided both the virus and Carol Baskin and hid money-filled eggs around the house for the girls. We cooked a ham-featured meal with the portions we usually have for a larger Easter dinner gathering even though it was only going to be the five of us this year due to the stay at home order. We enjoyed a quiet day together with absolutely nothing on the agenda and were comforted by the Pope’s message of hope and recovery. he reminded us the world has emerged from crises before, “thanks to a concrete spirit of solidarity that enabled it to overcome the rivalries of the past.” We will get through this.
Current Mood:
As the news of death projections have been decreased, I am hopeful that the peak is near and we can begin a recovery. Communities won’t look the same for awhile as social distancing will be a norm for some time, but we will need to follow the guidelines and trust one another to put our communities back together.
#ucandewitt 