Nature is Our Mother

Who would have thought the Earth would start to heal if humans stayed inside their houses!

I’ve always thought humans would drive nature to do something dramatic to save itself, and now we have a global health crisis!

For years humans have ignored scientists warnings about overpopulation. As our numbers sored, humanity’s need for more food, more homes, more highways and roads, and more stuff pilphered the Earth’s natural resources and put the planet on the brink of disaster.

But, today the Earth seems to be showing us it can repair itself if humans allow it to happen.

I have no faith in human beings to do this.

However, I wish we would.

Sadly people are dying from the virus and there is no cure available for awhile to come.  I am praying we give our planet enough time to make corrections we need to survive — not just this pandemic, but  keeping the environment human-friendly.

The New Normal

As this pandemic continues, I see positive and negative stemming from the experience.

The negatives include the following:

• People not be allowed to be with their loved ones. Either out of precaution or because they are sick with the virus.
• Isolation-related disorders on the rise. 
• Panic buying of food and household items.
• Increasing the divide in our country.

However, there is also the counter-balance positives happening, such as:

• People adjusting to using social media and collaboration tools to connect. So many people are getting creative and are using their imaginations to be together. 
• For example, my colleague who has a toddler told me about her plan for her daughter’s 3rd birthday party coming up this weekend. She has invited the neighborhood friends to the virtual birthday party and dropped off gift packages at each house with things the kids will be making together as a party activity. The party theme is Princes and Knights. After the items are made, the parents will parade the party goers around the neighborhood — keeping appropriate social distancing — wearing what they make. She will drop off cupcakes and favor bags the morning of the party for each kid. Sounds like its going to be fun despite the circumstances.
• I attended a virtual funeral via Zoom for my second cousin who died in NYC of the virus. The only people attending in person were his wife, daughter and the officiate and a helper. It was a moving experience and providing a zoom enabled me to attend — along with 250 others — something I probably wouldn’t have been able to do in person since the trip each way would be 5 hours.
• I have participated in a Passover Seder via Zoom with my Jewish relatives who live in another state. Holding this virtualluy ensured I could attend. And so did my brother who lives even further away and never gets to join us.
• I’ve been included in several virtual happy hours with friends whom I’ve been trying to get together with for a couple years, but our schedules never worked out!
• My daughter is a Clincial Psychologist working with trauma victims. She tells me they have continued to provide counseling sessions remotely and are even adding new patients as the need for support rises. (The down side is she’s working even more hours given there’s no need to commute!)
• Ample supplies have been available from Amazon and other providers who deliver to the house.
• Senior hours have been established at grocery and warehouse stores when extra measures are being taken to santize carts and enforce social distancing while giving the older and at risk populations first access to food and other supplies. I hope this practice continues as our new normal since its much better for seniors.

As for the great American divide, I think the political atmosphere has opened the eyes of some people as the response to this pandemic becomes more obvious. I’ll leave with this though, as our nation longed for leadership, some have stepped up in our time of need. It’s tragic and unforgiveable that people died because mistakes were made. Some would have, but perhaps not this many. Our numbers continue to grow and yesterday the number of Americans who have died from the Corona virus surpassed the number killed in the Vietnam war... 

Two More Covid-19 Deaths

It seems with every passing day, I learn of more Covid-19 deaths. Yesterday, we learned that my husband’s first cousin passed away from the virus, and a friend of mine’s father also died.

The growing list of the dead in my social sphere:
Irwin
Jen’s Dad
Nancy
John
Jody’s Dad

Those who have tested positive for the virus - 2 people I know, mother and daughter (who is pregnant the with her second child and has a 2 year old)

I write this because I feel it is important to 1) document what is happening during this pandemic and 2) Keep these families in mind and heart.

As my list grows, so does my anger at the increased pressures to reopen our country.

We don’t understand this sickness enough to accurately predict our future health status. Everything we’re being told turns out to be incorrect or worse, purposefully said to create a false sense of security when in truth we are only at the beginning of this.

Right now the most important thing to do is stay inside, keep healthy, and stay sane!

For Nancy Duncan Wohleber

Nancy is the 3rd victim of the cornavirus pandemic that I've known. I know three other people who have tested positive for the virus at this point in time.  Nancy is the mother of one of my best friends. Nancy was a nurse and a mother -- giving of herself her entire life.  Nancy was in a rehabilitation center recuperating when she contracted the virus. Nancy died a miserable death, gasping for air, alone.

I plan to report the tales of this pandemic from where I live. I believe it is incredibly important to record what is happening as we go through this. I know people are finding it very difficult to shelter-in-place for these past 30 days... yes, it's only been one month so far. I appreciate for many people it feels much longer.

That's where my sympathies end.

Crazy people are whining about how hard this is - but imagine how easy we really have it in these days of the internet, smart phones and smart tvs, food delivery services and facetime!

I know it is hard on parents to be home with their children while they are working. But heck, isn't that what all mothers throughout time have had to do?

Believe, me, when you know 3 people who have died so far, this virus becomes a very real threat. I'll do whatever I must to survive it.

For Mary Miller

Dearest Mary,

I just learned about your passing, I'd feared this was the news.

I've tried to call you without success... I knew you were sad and blue.

About dear Tommy's leaving you... I know you could't wait...

To be with him again.

To Mom and everyone you knew... You were the dearest friend.

I'm sad, but know you're in great joy... Again with all you loved.

God bless your soul and give you flight... That never, ever ends.

Where Are the Winners?

I like winners.

I hate whiners!

We are in a global pandemic right now and people need to get a grip! It's only been one month so far!

Listening to the experts who monitor how the virus is spreading across the planet, where it is and it's impacts, this thing is not yet close to being over. And yet people are already crying about having to stay inside, put distance between them and other people, and not go out to eat.

Is this what humanity has become?

What happened to the strong willed and resistant people who fought and won wars to end tyranny?  The self-sacrificing souls who withstood endless hardships without complaint?

Seeing how badly this country is reacting puts fear in me about our ability to stand-up to attack, take-over attempts and disasters.

Americans like to think of themselves as winners, but I'm seeing a lot of losers.  Time to shut-up, stand-up and get our act together!

We have hard times ahead of us and nobody is going to save us but ourselves!

For Irwin

Today, your spirit left you,
It went to soar on high.
Your time on Earth was limited,
And now its passed you by.

I like to think you're flying free,
Of all your Earthy pain.
Coronavirus stripped your life,
Your heart took not the strain.

We'll miss your smile and funny ways,
You cared beyond your means.
It breaks my heart you'll never see,
The woman Becca will have been.

Amidst our fear and anguish,
it's time to let you go.
May your name become a blessing,
Your love the seeds you sowed.

America the Disfunctional

The corona virus pandemic is getting worse in the U.S. I now know several people who have contracted the virus and are hospitalized. The reality that the rest of the world has been living is now hitting home.

My heart goes out to the medical care givers who are suffering because of the flood of casualties and do not have the right personal protection equipment, so they are now getting sick. My nephew is an emergency room doctor in LA and he's got two very young children whom he can't see out of fear of passing the infection to them. My daughter is a psychologist working in a Chicago hospital, but thankfully they are not seeing patients in the flesh right now... of course, this situation is exactly when people feel most traumatized and need their therapist most. My cousin's daughter is a pediatric doctor in the Bronx which is currently ground zero for the disease in the U.S. From them I'm hearing the reality of the pandemic.

So, when I read about people not complying with local and state government orders to shelter in place and stay home, I'm livid. When I see kids going to beaches on spring break, I'm livid. When I see people whine on social media about being bored, I'm livid.

When did people become this selfish?

Today I read that Dr. Anthony Fauci who is the country's leading specialist on infectious disease is getting death threats and needed to hire security, I'm livid.

When did people get to be so mean to each other?

I've also seen countless acts of kindness and caring happening, and for these I'm grateful.

It's very hard not to get into politics as holding some of the blame for the bad things we're experiencing. Politics is also responsible for mega trillions of dollars that will soon be going out to help people who are hurting and struggling to survive. Our current confused leadership, and I use that term lightly, is lacking in the very thing we need most right now. Someone we can believe 1) cares about all of us, 2) has the skills to move us as quickly as possible out of this crisis, and 3) shares the good stories to help us cope.

People are talking about getting back to normal. But to me, the recent normal is all messed up. We are much better not returning to the highly charged divisiveness this country has been experiencing. This pandemic is exactly the type of opportunity to bring everyone together again. The gift of time we now have because we're not all running around is exactly what we need to devise a better way to live after the crisis is past.

Are we smart and disciplined enough to grab these rare chances to make things better?