Day 333

 Today is Saturday February 6, 2021

The vaccination distribution for the coronavirus is underway. We currently have two versions in play and a third, Johnson and Johnson is pending FDA approval. The world is being inoculated as we speak albeit at a slower pace then we had hoped. Partly due to the demand being more than the supply. 

The procedure of getting people scheduled and vaccinated takes time, people, money and vaccines.

This chart shows the numbers in the US. 

The CDC recommends who ought to be vaccinated and then each state creates their own version of it. 

Currently in Colorado educators were moved up the list along with the 65 and older group. Both are set to begin receiving their first vaccine on Monday February 8th. How long the process will take remains to be seen. 

Nonetheless, the creation of a vaccine and current US presidency gives hope for all Americans to begin to see a light coming through what has been a long dark tunnel. Many school districts are considering a model of full in person teaching and businesses are opening in the 25-50% capacity range. The latest news on another stimulus check comes with mixed feelings, but I imagine most people will gladly welcome the funds even as a way to give reparations for the hardships and discomfort the public has had to endure. Though many who are living paycheck to paycheck see it as security and a peace of mind they have never had. 

The president is being generous with his power. With his ability to lead. And with his genuine care for the well being of the people who inhabit the nation he guides.

The current president, Joe Biden, has shown concern and has taken measures to provide assurance to the people.  Most importantly, he has shown them attention.  It is this attention that is giving people a feeling of hope. A feeling we have not felt in some time.

The French philosopher and writer. Simone Weil, wrote, "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity". 

Simone Weil, was born in Paris in 1909, swiftly became a writer (although her work was not published in book form during her lifetime) and advocate for the oppressed within society. Using the essay as her tool as well as her servitude in the front lines (she once spent a year working in Parisian factories to better understand the oppression of unskilled female laborers). Through her writing and actions she was able to be a great voice for the voiceless and continued to stand with those who would be crushed under the boot heel of the capitalism.

For more on this amazing women, whom author Albert Camus said she was, “the only great spirit of our times” click this link simone weil

The world in general seems to be trending in the right direction even though some variant strains of the virus are a cause for concern. Most experts believe the vaccine will cover the variant as well. And early results seem to show the vaccines are robust and helping. Death totals are dropping, but whether or not the vaccine can actually stop the spread is undetermined. 

Much still is unknown as to how the vaccine will ultimately affect COVID-19 and the pandemic. 

When that word is lifted from our daily vernacular we will all celebrate and breath (safely and possibly unmasked) a collective sigh of relief even if it is from six feet apart.

Day 242

 Saturday November 7, 2020

The days are shorter, cooler and consistently more fall-feeling. As Maren would say it's sweater weather. She says this as an inside joke because I love sweaters. Here is a photo from 2012 during the filming of Sane in 1974. I am also sporting a moustache. This is November or Movember (which asks men to grow a moustache as a reminder to bring awareness to men's health)

I recently heard from my friend George that he has prostate cancer. He has some tests coming up that will help determine which steps to take (surgery, radiation treatment, etc.) He sounded encouraged that it could be controlled. I think about him and hope to visit with him soon. This pandemic is really making travel difficult. It is once again the fear of the unknown making simple decisions more strenuous.  This is, for many of us, the current reality. Each day brings with it a level of anxiety and uncertainty we are typically not accustomed to.  However with the pandemic going on for as long as it has (hello, day 242) this everyday anxiousness has become common. Simple tasks like going to the grocery store or work bring out some feelings of stress. As the number of infections continues to rise all across the globe we continue to feel the pressure. In some sense, we will all be lucky to escape this pandemic without being infected. For some nearly 50 million people who have been infected it has been real and for the 1.2 million who did not survive we mourn. The road to recovery can be long. I spoke with a person the other day who said a friend was infected in March and is still dealing with the effects of the virus.  Some reports say you may never recover to full capacity in an article from Hackensack Meridian Health, "For some who recover from COVID-19, symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle pain, confusion, headaches and even hallucinations are among the growing number of issues survivors face following the illness." In the U.S. many states are seeing an increase in reported cases. In Colorado, the governor has issued a be home by 10:00 PM curfew to help slow the spread. 

On November 6th there were 132,540 new cases. Now onto some political news. It is not official, but it appears we will have a new POTUS beginning in January.  The polls are closed and the counting of ballots is still occurring. Presidential candidate Joe Biden is close to having the 270 electoral votes he needs to secure the win. He spoke last night and was eloquent and honest. He was a calming voice in these troublesome times. Our country is divided and may continue to be so until the new administration can completely move into the White house and begin to make the necessary changes for the healing of our country and it's people. We are hurting. We are a proud nation and sometimes that pride gets in the way of being human. It prevents us from thinking rationally and our actions can be downright unfathomable. There will be an announcement any day regarding the election results and already businesses in many major cities are boarded up in anticipation of riots and vandalism.  What kind of nation are we that we have to perform acts of violence and the defacing of public property over a decision made by a democratic society? The United States is in pain. We have been put through four years of unrest. Social unrest, civil disorder and a nation divided on important topics including the one to keep us all safe. And as I am writing this the Associated press has called the election. It is official Joe Biden has defeated Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States. 

And all I can say is Here we go America.