Day 112

is July 1, 2020.  The pandemic has now been with us for 112 days. It is on our minds.  In our lives. No matter where you go these days signs of the pandemic are there.  Masks on faces, social distance markings on the floor, limited access to a world we once so free.  We were shutdown for two months. It helped.  However, since then a reopening phase spread across the world.

People, isolated and ordered to stay-at-home, became antsy and the government spurred by our POTUS eager to revive the economy opened things up.  This led to mass gatherings during Memorial Day weekend and an uptick in cases.  Then George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes and that led to protests and riots.  The pandemic was put on hold, in a sense, as the black lives matter movement grew in force and momentum. Police reformation and other civil rights issues were on the minds and hearts of most humans.  It is hard to say for certain if outdoor protests in which many people wore masks caused an increase in coronavirus cases.  The fact remains that increases have been occurring for some time now.  The end of the pandemic is not in sight and let us be clear we are still in the first wave of the virus outbreak which has now infected over ten million people and taken more than 500,000 lives.  The pandemic has indeed had an impact on every soul on the planet, but I feel it has deeply affected the youth and the elderly.  The youth, with all the restrictions, has seen their long days of summer socializing scaled way back an don't forget all the graduations, proms and parties that were cancelled due to the stay-at-home and social distance orders.  While the elders of our world have suffered and been victimized more than any other age bracket.  The week of May 20th alone saw over 30,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the 55-85 age bracket compared to roughly 2,200 in the under 55 age range.  According to a March report from the CDC 80% of U.S. coronavirus deaths were people in the 65 and older age bracket.  The world continues to struggle with every thing about the virus prevention (who won't where a mask and social distance), treatment (when will a vaccine be ready) and long term outlook (some reports suggest people who have had it may only be immune for a period of time), medical equipment (some countries are short on hospital beds, ventilators, masks, gowns and in some areas, staff).  Beyond all this there is the struggle to decide what to do about schools, restaurants, bars, churches, sports, day care, etc.  And the mental anguish, anxiety and hopelessness that is beginning to be pervasive in our society.  All I can say is hold fast and use whatever resources you have to keep sane (prayer, meditation, exercise, family, netflix, etc)  Anything to keep you busy and distracted.  Today we celebrate the adoption of Pucci, our long-hair dachsund, who has been with us ten years now. She is very special to us and gives a reason to smile everyday as she is particular  and peculiar in her own dachsund way.  She rests more, but can still get frisky when the need arises (SQUIRREL!) and is happily medicated on CBD. Pucci-We love you-