Pandemic (Over) Reactions and Silver Linings

Okay, before I vent, I want to say that I am NOT making lite of the world health situation with the Covid-19. Yes, it is bad, and yes, most governmental responses have been reasonable, and, in my humble-ish opinion, accurate. Social distancing, facial coverings, closure of schools, closures of major gathering areas: all reasonable, responsible, and required (as a teacher, I had to get in three Rs). And, I guess even the imposing of $1,000 fines and up to 6 months in jail for not following the necessary preventive steps is understandable. However....

Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

Finally found some at Wal-Mart this morning! But, due to the last month's hoarding and panic buying, only a single 8-roll package of TP per customer. I understand...but I have 8 people living in my house. Thankfully, Suzanne and I believe in always buying in bulk for things like this, so we were never in danger of running out. Of course, there were (expletive deleted) who were walking around as customers without face coverings, but such is the risk. This morning, Walgreens had hand sanitizer at the checkouts for people after they used the keypads. Thank you! Pity it wasn't able to be like that for the last month. There has been a post circulating on Facebook about Covid responses we'd like to see continued after this has ended. Hand sanitizer at checkout point of sales gets my vote! And the fact that they were turning away customers without masks was bittersweet. After all, it is a drug store. I had extra masks in the car, so all was well when I left.

Please Donate Here

Have you seen the American Red Cross's newest ad? If you don't listen carefully, you would think that Covid patients are all getting blood transfusions. If we are practicing the whole "stay at home in self-quarantine", then we shouldn't have an increased need for blood...but, that commercial makes it seem like a causal situation. Don't get me wrong. I love and financially support the American Red Cross. I am not allowed to donate blood because I spent 2 years in the Middle East. And, blood supplies are ALWAYS critically low. By all means, if you are healthy, please give blood and plasma. Just, please, don't tie it to Covid. Yes, I understand that those infected cannot currently donate. But that is the same with any respiratory illness.

Preachers, Politicians, and Pandemics (and Journalists for that matter)

Be wary, ladies and gentlemen. I am not a conspiracy theorist. But I can tell you this: Politicians and journalists will always use whatever disaster or emergency they can to take, keep, or strengthen their power and hold on the voting - and non-voting - public. Those who don't vote, deserve being controlled...but that is a different rant. After 9/11, a lot of new laws were rapidly passed and have been left in place. But are only enforced against those they were supposed to protect. Why? By definition, criminals ignore the law. Mind boggling, I know. After Hurricane Katrina, Anderson Cooper found a following. Seriously, Anderson, I have respect for what you were doing, and the fact that you went in and HELPED instead of just reporting. I was one of the truckers who brought supplies. But, you are not an expert on all things political, moral, or even meteorological. Just report the news, don't spin the narrative. Please.

So why have I stuck Preachers in this section? Well, let me tell you. As you may have figured out, I went to Wal-Mart today. Don't worry, I was wearing a mask, and sanitizing every twenty steps or so. Mild over-reaction on my part? Possibly. But, as is often the case, I digress. As I was leaving the parking lot, I heard a preacher from one of Austin's mega-church come on the radio during a commercial break. He was wailing about how everyone is staying home and not attending services. He was encouraging everyone to GATHER AT CHURCH, especially during "THIS DARKEST TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY"! Now, I am torn. If, as I suspect, he believes the Covid-19 pandemic to be our darkest hour, PLEASE! Read a history book! It is NOWHERE NEAR our darkest hour! I think his belief that it's the "darkest hour" is because the collection plates are empty. If the plates were miraculously refilled every night, I suspect he would be silent. Of course, I could be mistaken. He may be referring to the fact that we now have to choose between Biden and Trump. That could well make this our darkest hour...

Join me in voting for a third party candidate.

A Silver Lining in the Covid Clouds...

I was talking to a colleague and friend on Thursday about our distance teaching, and everything going on in the our small part of this huge world, and I told him I would not be available on Tuesday. He understood immediately. You see, I am one of the immunocompromised who is at greatest risk during this pandemic. Suzanne and I, as well as our in-home family, live with the fact that I have leukemia, and the last two years of chemo and other treatments has destroyed my immune system. Tuesday I will be visiting my personal angels at Texas Oncology for my next Human Immuno Therapy. Why is this a silver lining? Well, as I told Ben during our conversation on Thursday, just before the shut down orders last month, I had told Suzanne I would be stopping my treatments - we could no longer afford them. Not the cost of the treatment - trust me, I hit my deductible a month into this years insurance calendar. What we cannot afford is that every time I need to take a day off for treatments, regardless of if a substitute teacher is in my classroom or not, I lose $250 from my paycheck. I was sick in February.  The flu cost us $789 in lost wages. But now, because of the school closures due to Covid-19, I can afford to go to my treatments! Thanks, Covid!

Closing Thoughts

Thank you for letting me rant. You may, or may not, agree with me and my views. You have that right. Feel free to express yours. I hope that I have been polite, and if I offended you, my apologies. This is just the way I see it.

Please, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay home (unless you have to go to the store. Or the oncologist).