Day 52

Saturday May 2, 2020
I'm writing early today. It is 12:08 in Colorado and it's a cool, cloudy spring day at 61 degrees. The beginning of May has brought the reopening of of states in different ways. Here is a map of who is open and to what extent.

As you see there are still a lot of restricted and shut down states. The ones with partial a reopening are strange in cases like Iowa, where neighboring suburbs are allowing much to reopen, but the city of Sioux City is shut down (due to it having the highest infection rate in the U.S.) Experts fear the reopening albeit in restricted forms may still cause an uptick in new cases. As we stand today there are many new cases being reported each day. According to the World Health Organization dashboard another 85,000 cases were reported today. 

So, we continue on this unpredictable trek in time against an invisible disease without a cure.  The worlds regions are acting according to their infection rates, governing bodies and hospital space/healthcare supplies, etc.  In a sense, it is similar to how the individual is coping with the pandemic; in their own way based on the their own ability sense of what is safe and in accordance to the orders mandated by the country/state they live in. In an article dated March 9, 2020, the CDC is stated that the spread of the virus could last into next year.  Anything is possible.  Certainly a vaccine would see a decrease in new numbers and a time when it looks like we are winning the battle, but until then Covid19 has the advantage. The next two weeks promise to be interesting after these states reopen and just how it effects the infection rate. All I know, is I am teaching remotely until June 1, 2020. Which means I only need to go outdoors for a walk in the neighborhood, a grocery run and to spend time in my backyard. Keeping the risk of infection to a minimum is our goal. 

Day 51

Friday May 1, 2020
The spring is here, baseball is not.  The warm weather is here, beaches are closed. Everything around us feels like spring, but the stay-at-home orders and social distancing recommendations are keeping us from enjoying the weather and open spaces and sporting events in ways we once could.
   During a time when a pandemic is suffocating the world humans are bound to their homes. Movement outside is either essential or for recreational/sanity purposes (think walking, jogging and biking) and many people are not going outdoors at all.  This photo shows the increase in numbers from January 22 to March 22.

Now five weeks later the number of infected humans has exceeded 3.2 million and the death total is over 230,000 and most unfortunately these numbers are not decreasing.  Even with numbers being what they are countries and states in the U.S. are having soft re-openings with restrictions in order to jump start an economy that has been diminished due to shutdowns and stay-at-home orders.
The experts believe we will rebound eventually, but the unemployment rate is the highest it has been in 50 years and many small businesses will not make it through the pandemic.
Last night I was researching Prometheus, a Greek mythological figure, who in the Western classical tradition, became a figure who represented human striving, particularly the quest for scientific knowledge, and the risk of overreaching or unintended consequences.  Is this what the world needs now, a hero who can risk it all and sacrifice much to save the world?
Joseph Campbell, author of The hero with a thousand faces, presents a comparison of Prometheus with Jesus Christ.  Each in their own way suffered for humanity and gifted said humanity with Christ it was the gift of propitiation from Heaven, and, for Prometheus the gift  was of fire from Olympus.
Will their be a savior for all human kind that will create the vaccine to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus? Will they too suffer for their heroism? As we navigate through this pandemic and see the world around us change and view the atrocities of disease it often feels like a fantasy movie or comic book story and so it would not be so unbelievable for one person to save us all. In a time where so many freedoms have been taken form us and hope is only left. Is it too much to ask?

Day 50

Today is April 30, 2020
The pandemic caused by novel coronavirus has caused over 230,000 deaths and more than 3.2 million people have been infected across 177 countries. Due to inferior testing the number may actually be higher. And some nations may be false with their data report.
The virus called Covid19 has deflated the economy, causing millions to claim unemployment, put major restrictions on travel and caused many to experience new anxiety and grief to many more.

American Airlines, Delta and United announced on Thursday that all customers will be required to wear face coverings starting in May.  The move follows similar announcements from JetBlue and Frontier.

Social distancing methods have helped decrease the number of cases, but you would hardly believe it as new case totals continue to be in the high thousands (66,430 today). Many states and countries are attempting modified reopening of non-essential businesses. Beaches in California were opened this weekend with masses of people gathering in close proximity causing the governor to pull back the reopen order. In Japan, a country which looked like the worst was behind it, reported 200 new cases overnight. The antiviral medication remdesivir began trials on Feb. 21 and has shown positive results as early data from the trials has hospitalized patients with advanced COVID-19 and lung issues who received the drug recovered faster than similar patients who received a placebo. These positive results from a treatment are promising, but pale in comparison to the vaccine we so desperately need to truly help sway the tide in our favor. Also, amid this hopeful news countries have seen a spike in new cases (China Brazil, Turkey and Russia)  The U.S. remains the hardest hit country with over 1 million confirmed cases and over 50,000 deaths. 

Yet in all this chaos, death and suffering life still goes on as over 10,000 new born enter the United States each day. One such infant is Denver Olson, born to Jorrie and Erik Olson in Atlanta Georgia, and he is doing just fine. His parents are doing well too. Both gig workers in the film business they have been out of work a few weeks now, but it is a blessing in a sense as they spend their days dawdling over their precious son. We spoke and had a video chat with them today as they walked about Atlanta (seeing the Jackson street bridge nearly empty was quite the site). It is pleasing to be able to connect with friends during these sheltered times. It lifts the spirit and heals many wounds.

Someday we will all be able to gather again and hug and talk closely without fear. We just have no idea when that day will come. Until then, carry on my brothers and sisters. Rejoice in the life you have, the health you posses and the hope you cling to. 

Day 49

It is April 30, 2020 and the latest Coronavirus Updates are 3,205,726  total Cases and 227,290 total deaths. 79,844 new cases and 6,427 new deaths. The hardest hit countries yesterday were the United States with over 2,000 deaths and Europe (Spain, Italy, France and GB) with nearly 2,000 among them. There are many other world numbers to speak on, but some countries have not been forthcoming with their data. The numbers given here today are from worldometers.info and seem to be the most up-to-date.

In either case, the virus continues its lethal path around the globe taking lives along the way and exhausting the world economy.  The reopening of parts of the world has started, but among fears of consequences to the community who may no longer be safe-at-home.
    One topic I have considered and had dialogue on recently is the psychological effect this pandemic is having on people. Considering they cannot seek counsel at this time, I can see an increase in therapy appointments and psychological counseling in the aftermath of the Covid19 outbreak. According to Carl Jung, thoughts can be our enemies if we resist them or do not learn to manage them. Only by getting to the root of the anxiety and acceptance can we be free of the issue.  The key, claimed Jung, was self-realization. Knowing who you are and being self-fulfilled with the acceptance of yourself.  "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." -Carl Jung   Further reading on this subject...https://exploringyourmind.com/pillars-jungian-therapy-anxiety/
Today was a busy day. Remote teaching, some yard work and having the MG towed to Ax and Allies for a new starter. Both Maren and I had a positive day and look forward to continuing the Indiana Jones movie series tonight with The Last Crusade. Saucy Noodle was take out tonight. The weather was perfect at 72 degrees. In other pandemic news, dogs are being considered for training on how to sniff out infections, specifically eight Labrador retrievers, in asymptomatic carriers.

Day 48

      

April 28, 2020 and this is day 48 of a worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19 as it's known has found its way to over 180 countries where it has infected over 3 million people worldwide and the death total has now passed 200,000. As we anxiously awai a vaccine (the latest report is one could be avaiable in the fall) Very little is known at this time in regards to treatments and cures. In the u.s. alone nearly 21,000 new cases were reported yesterday and worldwide a number is closer to 70,000. In Europe, a few of the very hard hit countries like France and Spain are reopening with restricted protocols for non-essential business. Locally, the weather is warming up and as more and more states begin to reopen albeit with restrictions it is indeed a scary time. and what the reopening will mean in terms of infections and the continued spread of the virus


.I read recently in a book called words to live by; a young man, by the name of Paul Gandola wrote, “every minute starts an hour”. It made me think how each hour that begins whether it be that minute or even that second we have that opportunity to create something new and positive within that hour. Something new and positive within ourselves and for the benefit of others I feel like in these times it is an important lesson. Even though things may not be going the way you want at this moment and the world may not be exactly as you hoped at this time; a new hour begins a new series of moments in which you can change your attitude and begin to change your current thoughts and actions.


..”.Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions,Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” ― Gandhi








My Hope Is that amidst all this death, suffering and pain we can still seek to find goodness and motivation and a way to continue our lives that helps ourselves and those within our circle. So they may be the best they can be, not only every day, but every hour and every minute of each day.


Although most of the virus news is not promising we can still Celebrate Life and be grateful for those things that we have. Those things which bring a smile to our face and joy to our heart during this time. Here in Colorado,. Maren and I continue to teach remotely and do our best to bring comfort, familiartiy and new learning to the students we interact with daily.