Covid-19

Spectacular Sunset – ND #27

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Photo: L. Weikel

Spectacular Sunset

I realize I’m jumping on the bandwagon tonight, but seriously – how could anyone witnessing this evening’s spectacular sunset resist taking a photo (or 10)? I saw so many photos of this very same sunset on FB tonight. I tried to talk myself out of sharing my photos, but here I am.

What I love is how so many of us chose to revel in the astounding beauty that unfolded before our eyes. The colors and incredibly variegated forms of the clouds made me feel like I was living in a Cloud Appreciation Society video. Round clouds resembling giant medicine balls (remember them from high school? talk about useless) gave way to swooshes that resembled mares’ manes.

And the colors. As rich and vibrant as they appeared one moment, they miraculously took on even greater resonance moment by moment.

Then – just like that – the entire tenor of the spectacle shifted to a still lovely but far less fiery demand of our attention.

Same Sunset – Moments Later; Photo: L. Weikel

A Sense of Quiet

Our walk, while visually captivating, was also remarkably quiet and still. Was it the sudden blanket of cold air that seemed to mute the landscape?

Perhaps it’s just the approaching anniversary of the insurrection that has me feeling a little uneasy. I dare say, it’s on most of our minds.Something unsettling is in the air, and I’m not quite sure what it is.

Maybe it’s Covid and the ultra contagiousness of the Omicron variant.

Photo: L. Weikel

All It Takes Is a Moment

I spoke to someone I care about today who contracted the virus over this past weekend. Triple vaxxed, extremely careful, she spent the evening with a single, solitary friend who is equally cautious. Just the two of them escorting 2021 out the door in the comfort of her friend’s home.

As the night unfolded, her friend started to feel weird. Rapidly, she felt worse and worse. My friend started feeling the effects last night and tested positive this morning. Because she has some rather substantial risk factors, I’m hoping she’s a candidate for monoclonal antibodies. During Delta’s surge, that probably wouldn’t have been an issue. But given the explosion in number of infections with Omicron, that therapy is now in short supply.

All it takes is a moment for everything to change.

If this is indeed the quiet before a storm (or storms), let’s pay attention. Remain vigilant. Love and care for each other. And celebrate Nature’s dazzling gifts with an open heart (and a camera at the ready).

(T+27)

Opportunity – Day 1022

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Shark – Opportunity – The Ocean Oracle by Susan Marte

Opportunity

The cards I drew last night for us as a collective yielded Jellyfish – Hidden Gifts as the primary with Shark – Opportunity as the foundation card.

I’m still pondering the perfection of the Jellyfish card’s message in light of the swirling miasma of events we’re witnessing in the world around us. And yeah…lucky are we if we are, in fact, only ‘witnessing’ any or all of it. Because to be experiencing any of the horror firsthand must feel like your entire world is being ripped out from under you.

It doesn’t matter where we look, in what direction, toward which catastrophe, or in which country, there just seems to be a cascade of awfulness. So the fact that the cards that presented themselves were Hidden Gifts and Opportunity begs reflection.

Conundrum

The whole little vignette relayed by Shark in The Ocean Oracle (set out below) has a vaguely familiar feel to it. Perhaps you’ll recognize in it another story that’s often mentioned when people feel forsaken. And it’s probably safe to say that there are thousands (if not millions) of people who feel forsaken right about now.

And just like last night’s message about Hidden Gifts, neither the Opportunity nor the Hidden Gifts are necessarily obvious as such. In fact, it’s likely they’re not. Who could possibly think that any of the extreme circumstances we’re facing in our country and world today could be considered either gifts or opportunities? And yet…

Shark’s Message

“Shark – OPPORTUNITY

The Story

Once upon a time in the watery depths of a great ocean long ago forgotten, there lived a community of sea creatures. They lived together in peaceful harmony. Their community was abundant and prosperous and provided for all of their needs. One day a neighboring shark came by, telling them of an opportunity that would enhance their lives even more. Since the community could not fathom what else they may need, they let the opportunity pass them by. The shark swam away. Time passed and the community started to hear about other communities, who had taken a chance with the opportunities the shark offered them, and how their communities had become even more abundant and prosperous.

The shark came again to the community, and again offered them an opportunity to enhance their lives. They were hesitant. They knew what they had and they were happy. Could there really be more out there? When the shark came for the third time the community decided to take the opportunity presented to them, this time not letting their fear stop them. Although at first it was scary and there was some hesitation, when the community whole-heartedly embraced the opportunity, they found their community grew and expanded in ways they never dreamed possible.

The Messages

Is opportunity knocking? Be aware it does not knock forever. If you do not take the opportunity it could pass you by. Is this an acceptable option? This card could be a reminder that there are opportunities and you need to grab hold and shape what comes your way and make it yours and make what you will of it. Opportunities may or may not be straight forward. They may be in the murky depths. They may come at dawn or dusk or be just out of vision or tangible reach. Opportunities abound. Take the fullness of the possibility and open up to the potential it holds.”

My Take

While some of us may be lucky enough at this moment in time to be witnessing as opposed to directly experiencing the ravages of Covid or Hurricane Ida or the terror of trying to escape Afghanistan or wildfires or earthquakes, it’s only a matter of time before we all get a taste of direct experience. If nothing else, we all live on and share Mother Earth. Climate change, like a virus, is blind to any of the superficial reasons we may tell ourselves that ‘it can’t happen to us.’

But there are hidden gifts in these tragedies. There are immediate lessons we can learn in each moment. And there are opportunities that demand to be explored and embraced if we – the community of humanity – are to thrive. But we must open our eyes without delay.

(T-89)

Natural Distraction – Day 1008

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Cloud Raptor Hovering Above Us All – Photo: L. Weikel

Natural Distraction

There’s a lot going on in the world right now. I realize I’m stating the obvious. But it’s rough to put our attention anywhere where news of the outside world can seep in because it’s all so overwhelming. And while I sit here contemplating the most recent headlines and questioning whether I want to write about anything of consequence, I find myself scrolling through the photos on my phone. Nah. My thoughts are irrelevant; but the sun and clouds? They offer a perfect natural distraction.

I’m not sure what was going on in the atmosphere toward dusk this evening. The clouds were doing all sorts of things, seemingly indecisive of which way they wanted to go, what texture or color they wanted to embody, or how they wanted to express themselves. At times rippling like gentle currents in a stream and at others creating vapor creatures covering vast swaths of the sky, it was as if the sky was a cosmic doodle notebook.

Repeating Faces and Textures – Photo: L. Weikel

Doodles

Yes, sometimes when we have a need to distract ourselves from thinking about something we have no power to influence or remedy, it’s helpful to doodle. Today (just today!) there’s so much occurring around the world and in our country that feels so ominous yet remains essentially out of our reach: the recent earthquakes in Alaska and Haiti (why does this island nation suffer so many relentless tragedies?), the horrific crumbling of Afghanistan to Taliban rule – including the long and short term vengeance that will probably be meted out to those who sought equality and freedom; and the depressing surge of Covid-19 delta cases claiming the health and lives of more and more (primarily) younger people, many of whom thought they were invincible.

And that’s just three ‘huge deals’ playing out on the world stage. We all know there are many more ongoing issues – wildfires, approaching hurricanes, droughts, floods. It’s hard not to think we’re in some sick disaster movie.

Roadrunner? Running Pheasant? – Photo: L. Weikel

We Have Beauty

We have zero control over how most of these issues play out. It’s beyond upsetting to contemplate the suffering of so many and feel…powerless. And so I’m sharing the beauty that played out in the skies above me today.

Spirit was doodling – giving us a natural distraction. Perhaps we’ll each be inspired tomorrow on how we can make a difference in our unique sphere of influence. If nothing else, keeping ourselves from despair and envisioning beauty and joy surely has to have power of its own?

(T-103)

Hunker Down – Day 998

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Arf! – Photo: L. Weikel

Hunker Down

Is it just me? Or are you guys feeling it too? Lately I can’t even walk into the grocery store without feeling an edginess in the air that’s unlike anything I’ve felt before (especially in the grocery store!). Even when the pandemic was first starting to rear its ugly head back in March and April 2020, I didn’t feel this level of anxiety in the general populace. If you ask me it’s time to hunker down again.

OK, I’ll admit it. That’s coming from a person who probably would choose ‘Hunkering Down for $200, Alex.” In all honesty, I’d choose it for free.

The last thing I feel like doing is getting into a discussion with someone in the produce aisle who’s on a hair trigger over the fact that I’m wearing a mask. And believe it or not, I felt the possibility of that happening twice this week. I nearly fell over.

No to the Boston

And then another time this week, I saw a person walking across the parking lot I’d just entered with a cute little Boston Terrier on a leash. Well. You can all imagine how I swooned. Ooooh, how this puppy reminded me of Sheila when she was just a girl.

I jumped out of my car, whipped my debit card in and out of the meter to throw some money on it and turned to speak to the Boston and her daddy. “Your Boston is adorable!” I called out with a big smile. “I have two!” (never fully admitting to myself that Sheila is really gone).

Neither of us were wearing masks (we were in the great outdoors), and I asked if I could pet his pup. “Aren’t you concerned with…” he asked, waving his free hand in the air.

I stopped in my tracks. We were a good 20 feet away from each other. “What?” I was genuinely puzzled. Surely he knew I had no intention of getting anywhere near him. I just wanted to say hi to his pup.

“Covid,” he responded. I was taken aback. Honestly, it had never even occurred to me that I wouldn’t be permitted to pet a dog on a 10’ leash. You don’t get Covid from pet fur. Or even from surfaces. You get it from aerosols in the air; hence why it’s wise to wear masks when indoors.

“Oh,” I replied. “Would it bother you…?”

“Yes, it would, as a matter of fact.” Ugh. His tone. It had turned so…icy.

Backed Off

Whoa. OK. Of course I immediately stopped in my tracks (still about 15 feet away from the dog dad and five feet away from the Boston, which had of course had immediately responded to my high pitched hello to it and headed my way). I felt like I’d been smacked.

My reaction was silly, I suppose. But his abrupt attitude took me by such surprise.

It’s hard to know where anyone stands anymore. Or how they will react to many of the circumstances we used to consider mundane.

Makes me just want to hunker down in my own safe place. I haven’t a clue as to how people feel about anything anymore. And the enormity of that almost brought me to tears.

Spartacus in Repose – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-113)

Disappointment – Day 980

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Where are they? – Photo: L. Weikel

Disappointment

Sometimes disappointment creeps up on us. It stealthily tiptoes up behind us and jumps out of the bushes when we’re least expecting it. And sometimes we see it coming a mile away – maybe even miles and miles away – but we hope against hope that we’re wrong.

It seems to me there’s more than our share of disappointment in the air at the moment. From witnessing the dramatic shift in the way our system of government conducts itself (or not) to those in power failing to be held accountable for egregious behavior. It’s a disappointment that consequences seem to be visited only upon regular citizens. Masterminds and master manipulators need not worry for a moment. All will be well. Nothing will change in their lives.

Just Weather

And then there’s the disappointment we sentient beings experience when we take a step back and honestly look at the climate alterations that are becoming more and more obvious. How long will it take before those living out west start to realize this is their ‘new normal?’ Yet another ‘heat dome’ settling in over our mostly western states and parts of Canada (the fourth in five weeks!), bringing Idaho of all places their 20th consecutive day reaching 100 degrees or more.

Of course, we all know it’s just weather. It’s certainly not climate change. And even if the climate is changing, it’s not our fault. And since it’s not our fault then we don’t – indeed, shouldn’t – do anything to mitigate it. Thus, we mustn’t reduce or eliminate our use of fossil fuels because (a) China might not do it; and (b) it’s not our fault.

It’s all about blame. And money. And refusing to take responsibility. Who cares if we can’t breathe? Or that we have no water to drink?  Most people (in this country, at least) are sure, deep down, that somebody will take care of us. Somebody will ‘save’ us. And they will, maybe – for a price.

Yeah, that ‘rugged individualism’ looks a lot different when it hits your home. It’s a disappointment people can’t see the truth of that.

Little Things, Too

And then there are the small disappointments in our lives. The personal ones. Witnessing people we know and love refusing to take precautions to keep themselves (and all of us) healthy. Listening to justifications that make no sense because they’re not grounded in reality. Wanting to find common ground again because we care enough to desire a conversation – but finding no traction anywhere anymore.

Or at a very basic level, just wishing we could see our besties again – and having them not show up anymore. Spartacus experienced that profoundly on our walk today, which you can see reflected in these photos.

We haven’t had a chance to take our walk-around (4 mile trek) in several days. It’s just been ‘too damn hot’ – or too rainy. But today we were able to take that longer route and Spartacus was palpably delighted, straining at his harness, yearning to see his ‘buds’ – which I’m not sure is a friendship or more a smack-talking hound fest. Either way, it gets Spart’s adrenalin pumping and he loves his wolfhound neighbors.

Spartacus was the embodiment of disappointment when not a wolfhound was to be seen tearing across the fields toward us, barking in a frenzy of terror-inducing menace. We’ll have to try again tomorrow.

The Embodiment of Disappointment – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-131)

Discomfort and Wariness – Day 946

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Ray of Light – Photo: L. Weikel

Discomfort and Wariness

I just experienced something oddly unexpected. Only a few minutes ago, I turned on the tv and changed the channel to one of my favorite news programs. It only took a few moments before I sensed this weird feeling in myself – a discomfort and wariness. Echoing in the back of my mind I heard myself asking no one out loud, “What’s off here? Why does this feel weird?”

Believe it or not, it actually took me a minute or two to figure out just what was distracting me. Maybe it’s the audio, I thought. Yeah, that was a possibility. But nah, it didn’t feel like it was simply a microphone issue. Huh. What could it be? And that’s when the camera panned out.

I think I may have literally recoiled (if only slightly). But there was the host sitting uncomfortably close to his guest, asking her questions and even laughing out loud to something she remarked upon. I think it was the guffaw that appalled me most. Good grief, he didn’t even cover his mouth when he laughed.

It felt wrong.

Things Change

Apparently, though, this is our evolved state. We’re back to in-person interviewing.

I think I’m genuinely surprised by my reaction to the resumption of face-to-face interactions. While it seems super that it’s permitted, I just don’t know.

Call me wary, but I’m sensing that the sounding of the ‘all clear’ horn is a bit premature. While I realize everyone’s clamoring to get ‘back to normal,’ I’m not thrilled about the idea of the Delta variant, which I’m pretty sure is the one that’s ripped through India and has caused new cases to skyrocket in Great Britain. Why risk playing around with this?

Is it a lot to ask ourselves to keep our masks on when we’re in public places? It just feels unnecessarily cavalier to tool around maskless when we have no idea how vulnerable any of us really is when it comes to spreading or catching the variant.

A Matter of Trust

It’s sad to me that my intuition sounds the alarm when I walk into the grocery store and see people maskless. It does, though. This is especially true when I see the sign on the door advising that masks are required for all people who’ve not been vaccinated.

Well. That pretty much dangles a carrot in front of those who choose not to be vaccinated, doesn’t it? What’s to stop a person who doesn’t believe in vaccinations (nor in social distancing) from simply doing whatever they want? The state of public life at this point asks people to self-regulate. Which means anyone can do whatever they want, and we all need to ‘just trust’ each other.

Looks Askance

Upon reflection, I realize I was actually getting some looks when I stopped at the grocery store today. I had a mask on. It’s unobtrusive. But I actually sensed people looking at my mask today, and either drawing conclusions or wondering about me, which was not my experience until now.

Were they wondering if I’d been vaccinated? Did they wonder if I was sick? Were they thinking I was just some smug ‘liberal’ trying to push my agenda on them? (My mask did say ‘Love’ – which might be considered a ‘tell.’) All of a sudden I felt like there was a lot more judgment swirling around the grocery store aisles than I’d ever felt before.

All of this jubilant ‘return to normal’ feels a bit premature. I worry about the people with health issues – or have loved ones at home who are at risk. And it makes me sad that I’ve come to the conclusion that trusting my fellow citizens to simply wear a mask if they choose not to get vaccinated is a bridge too far.

Clouds of Discomfort and Wariness – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-165)

Monoclonal Antibodies – Day 865

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Rays of Hope – Photo: L. Weikel

Monoclonal Antibodies

This isn’t a post title I ever expected to write. But I’m writing it because I’m convinced that treatment with monoclonal antibodies is a therapeutic intervention that needs to be discussed here, there, and everywhere. We need to be talking about it so that when or if you or a loved one becomes infected with Covid-19, you know enough to: request this treatment.

I knew I’d heard the term and recognized monoclonal antibodies were somehow related to or a part of the treatment received by DT when he was stricken with the virus last year. But I assumed (wrongly) that this was probably wildly expensive treatment that in all probability would only be available to the privileged among us.

(Yes, Virginia, sad to say we live in a profoundly segregated country, with many layers of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots.’ And money – or the lack of it – plays a huge part in the quality of healthcare any of us receive.)

Money’s No Object

And that’s the first amazing aspect of this treatment that needs to be shouted from the rooftops. In this instance, with respect to this particular treatment, money’s no object – at least with respect to the people who fit within a very broad range of parameters. Indeed, one qualification is simply being over age 65. But there are a wide variety of conditions that also qualify a person to receive the treatment for free, even if they’re under age 65.

Even greater is the efficacy rate. Holy cow! An article published within the past couple of days in the New York Times reports on new data that reveals an astounding improvement in patient response when given this treatment within the first ten days of symptoms onset. We’re talking a 70% reduction in the need for hospitalization.

More Information

I had no idea that this therapeutic infusion treatment is so readily available to people before watching Rachel Maddow’s program tonight. I can’t provide a link to the segment now because it’s not yet on the website, but you might want to check it out tomorrow.

If you’re content to read articles, though, check out the links in this post. One (this one) details a program in El Centro, CA, where their healthcare system was on the verge of collapse in December due to so many Covid-19 patients. According to the report this evening on Maddow’s show, administration of monoclonal antibody therapy resulted in only 3% of 1250 symptomatic Covid-19 patients requiring hospitalization after receiving this treatment. That was a game changer for this community.

The trick is knowledge. Knowing it’s available. Knowing enough to ask for it.

Know What’s Out There

The main focus in this country presently is to get everyone vaccinated. We know that not everyone will choose to go that route. We also know that even though great strides are being made in getting ‘shots in arms,’ something like 50,000 people a day are still becoming infected.

I personally know of someone who lives nearby who contracted the virus three days after receiving his second vaccination. He was, luckily for him, immediate treated with monoclonal antibody therapy upon diagnosis and has pulled through remarkably well and quickly.

Knowledge is power. If you or someone you love is unlucky enough to come down with Covid-19, get on top of it. Have the information about this remarkably effective treatment at the ready so you can ask for it. And take heart – it should be free, or close to it. Depending upon your insurance coverage, there may be some charge for actually administering the infusion. But no matter what, it’s better than hospitalization. And it’s a damn sight better than a ventilator – or death.

(T-246)

Remember to Heal – Day 800

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Photo: L. Weikel

Remember to Heal

No, I’m not suggesting that you’ve forgotten that you need to heal something you’ve put on the back burner. The title I chose for tonight’s post is a reminder of the words President-elect Biden used early this evening when he and Vice President-elect Harris, along with their spouses, paid tribute to the over 400,000 people who’ve lost their lives to Covid-19 over the past year. We must remember to heal. The crux of his speech was that healing cannot take place without embracing our memories and allowing ourselves to feel. We must remember in order to heal.

When we sustain the loss of someone we love and cherish, it can feel like we’ve been burned. We shy away from the flame. We don’t want to go there again. It hurts too much.

But the truth of life and love is that we cannot separate our emotions. It’s impossible to parse out only the so-called ‘good’ feelings and emotions and simultaneously refuse the existence of the harder, more painful ones. You simply cannot have one without the other. They truly are two sides of the same coin.

Yet We Try

Just because the pain comes with the joy, the delight comes with the sorrow, doesn’t mean we won’t try to separate them. Of course we will – at least, most of us will try. As humans, that seems to be our default nature.

And that’s pretty much been our national reaction to this pandemic up to this point. There’s been a denial by many of the devastating loss. The deaths – so many, so staggeringly predictable, yet callously rejected as true. And the utter loneliness in which so many were forced to endure these losses.

Now, We Remember

This evening we were finally given permission to acknowledge the losses many of us, and so very many of our brothers and sisters, have sustained – and are enduring at this very moment. We remember. We know. We acknowledge the truth of our love, our relationships, our heartbreak, our loss.

Now, we start to heal.

(T-311)

Diversion From and Unity With – Day 797

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The Hu – Photo: L. Weikel

Diversion From and Unity With

And now for something completely different. I offer tonight’s post as both a diversion from and unity with the world at large.

It’s been a while since I wrote about one of the loves of my odd life: Tuvan throat singing and its very close cousin, Mongolian throat singing. I have a couple of favorite Tuvan throat singing groups, but tonight I’m thinking wistfully of The Hu, the Mongolian folk-metal band that Karl and I went to see in Brooklyn in September 2019.

I’m so glad we had that experience! Little did we know that it might be a very long time before we ever have such a chance again.

Tonight’s Diversion

My niece posted a video by The Hu on Facebook today that I just saw this evening. I have to admit, I became mesmerized and haven’t been able to turn their music off ever since.

I decided to write about them again tonight in the hope that you might allow yourselves to give this music a listen. It may strike you as really strange at first, but if you close your eyes and just allow yourself to ‘ride’ the rhythms, vocals, and ancient instrumentals, you may find yourself transported (or at least diverted) from the stresses we’re all encountering right now.

One selection I am finding myself loving as I sit here trying to muster my thoughts is a piece entitled Shireg Shireg*. What I love about this selection in particular is how much it reminds me of more traditional folk pieces from both Mongolia and Tuva.

I’ll see if I can find a single version of it on YouTube (I did – it is linked above to the title), but if I can’t, it’s at minute 38.27 in this wonderful fundraising video. I hope you’ll listen to it and allow yourself to be transported to the steppes for a few minutes. Both are beautiful renditions in their own ways.

Unity

And it is this video benefiting Covid-19 relief by The Hu that brings me to speak of experiencing the unity we have with even the furthest parts of the world. Mongolia is pretty much on the opposite side of the globe, and is a land of vast steppes, taiga, wild nature, and tremendously fierce and loving nomadic people.

Yet Mongolia, like the rest of the world, is not immune to Covid-19. And The Hu performed this fundraiser to benefit their fellow Mongolians who are battling the ravages of this pandemic just as we are. (I do believe they are more compliant with the mask wearing and have actually been more successful in quelling the spread than we have been here in the U.S.) That said, they don’t have anywhere near the healthcare capacity that we do (nor the population).

No country is immune. We’re all in this together. But that doesn’t mean we can’t lose ourselves in that great unifier…music.

*I just found the lyrics to Shireg Shireg and – what a surprise – find them to be meaningful to me in many ways, and quite possibly to you as well:

Water your red horse with piebald mane without the gag-bit
Please, remember the kindness of your old and grey father
Ride on the slope of the blue fold mountains
Please, remember the compassion of your old and caring mother
Shireg shireg
Shireg shireg
Take care of your loyal steed when you travel in foreign lands
Make friends with good people who you ride in the horde
Feed your bow and arrow with the wind
Abide by your moon sword as you sleep
Have the intuition to see the evil
Have the strength to endure barriers
Shireg shireg
Shireg shireg
We kiss your right cheek as we say farewell
We’ll kiss the left one when you return
Farewell, your elderly father and mother will be waiting for you at home
Shireg shireg
Shireg Shireg
Source: LyricFind

Mongolian shamans on the steppe – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-314)

Timelessness – Day 782

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Spartacus Greets the New Year – Photo: L. Weikel

Timelessness

Maybe it was the way the sunshine of the morning was almost imperceptibly overtaken by a gray comforter of overcast. The sleet that started prickling us as we rounded the final turn of our walk hastened our gait. The warmth of our fireplace beckoned. A sense of timelessness set in as daylight dimmed so dramatically that we had to check the time. Had we lost a few hours somewhere?

Was it the weather? Was it the arrival of the first day of the year on a Friday – giving us a full weekend to get used to the fact that we’re no longer under the spell of 2020?

Was it the haunting memory of last night’s images of a nearly empty Times Square?

Out of Sight

If you are lucky enough not to be part of the front line troops in our most recent war, it was almost possible to imagine life unfolding in any configuration you might want to fantasize today. The cranky closeness of the clouds was the perfect screen upon which you could project any fantasy of reality you might want to conjure.

That’s such a strange facet of our reality right now. We have the world at our fingertips. But we also have the ability to cut ourselves off from the vast majority of it. For instance, living out in the country as I do, it’s a fact that if I choose not to look at my phone or computer or turn on my television, I can remain in total ignorance of the chaotic lives hundreds of thousands of people are living (and thousands are losing) every single day as a result of this pandemic.

It feels disrespectful and cold-hearted to realize that ‘out of sight, out of mind’ is both so easily employed and radically true in our country. Especially when you hear people saying that Covid-19 is a ‘hoax’ simply because they don’t know anyone who’s sick or died from it. Yet.

I’ve written before about my sense that it’s part of my personal responsibility as a member of society to maintain an awareness of what’s unfolding in our lives politically and otherwise. I’ve also written that it’s essential to maintain a healthy balance. We can become so consumed by anything (whether we judge that thing to be ‘good’ or ‘bad’) that it can do us harm by making us oblivious to the rest of our lives.

Cocoon

Today, though, with the weird color of the daylight and the remarkable quiet when we took our walk, it was stunningly easy to imagine the world to be much different than I know in my heart it is.

Perhaps there is some merit to total withdrawal every now and then. If we project onto our personal screens of overcast clouds a vision of a world where people honestly care as much about their fellow Earthlings as they do about themselves, maybe it will matter.

I can say one thing for sure. I could use another couple days of timelessness and projection of a better world. I’m glad we still have the weekend ahead of us.

Be well. Take care of yourselves. Spread love and kindness, not virus.

(T-329)