I shed tears last evening, which given the current world situation, isn’t all that surprising. What dropped me over the edge was
I shed tears last evening, which given the current world situation, isn’t all that surprising. What dropped me over the edge was
I’ve spent 25 minutes, finding it anything but funny, trying to link Continue reading “Wacky Wednesday”
The storm rages on outside the door, quite literally today, but I am planning ahead. I am cautiously optimistic that Continue reading “Plan(t) Ahead”
It’s not that complex and it’s not even that hard. Well maybe it’s hard on some levels but at it’s simplest form it’s basic.
Stay the _ _ _ _ home.
We watched The National last night and I am sure that my blood pressure went up when they showed the pictures from the sea wall in Vancouver. The picture below doesn’t even touch how many people we saw walking, biking, hanging out and eating. It’s nuts for the province with one of the highest number of Covid 19 cases. I thought we were smarter than this but maybe I am naive and an optimist.
The example below shows why it’s so bloody important that we stay the _ _ _ _ home. Yet story after story after story of people (all across Canada) who come straight back from travel and are out in stores. Who would have ever thought that retail workers would be on the front line again and again. First getting trampled and yelled at because people are hoarding toilet paper and now with this ignorant behavior of those who don’t seem to care about anyone but themselves.
Stay the _ _ _ _ home. Funerals and weddings are being delayed. So even if it’s +9 and spring is in the air stay home. If you want to catch up with a friend use the phone and call them. Read bedtime stories over video calls if you are missing your grandchildren. Think how fortunate we are that these options exist. During the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic our ancestors didn’t have those luxuries.
So let’s stay home. Fill your time with whatever works for you. Stay connected with family and friends in whatever format works for you. But first and foremost Stay HOME. Please, for all of us.
End of rant. Wouldn’t it be great if this went viral and all of a sudden more people realized how serious this health threat is. Ah yes remember when I said I was an optimist… I’d be very surprised if my small readership wasn’t already 💯 compliment.
Stand apart but stay connected.
Bernie
PS this isn’t about social shaming it’s about being responsible and committed to the health of mankind
It’s strangely easy to practice social distancing when one lives a rural lifestyle. It’s quite rare for neighbors to drop by. It’s just us, the dog and the cats. Nothing different than an ordinary weekend minus our off spring and the little ones visiting.
Only it’s vastly different than a month ago…. the world pandemic has made its way here. Albeit slower than elsewhere and our numbers aren’t climbing like crazy, yet.
So here we are, practicing social distancing. Doing our part to keep the pandemic in check.
In some ways it’s just like I’ve gone into full retirement with my lay off notice as of Friday. It’s not a surprise at all. Hopefully it will be relatively short term but, as with most things right now, no one knows for sure. I’ve got a good pension, two full freezers, a cold storage room and a well stocked pantry so I know I am one of the fortunate ones.
I am, as per usual, keeping busy. I’ve started one heck of a big project alongside my other half. I may have dragged him into it but he’s being fairly enthusiastic.
I’m staying very creative as well on a variety of levels. It feels great to dive into a project and know that I won’t have to leave and go attend something..
All of my social obligations have been cancelled. No rushing in for a soccer game or a meeting. No lunch with a friend or cousin. No errands and no appointments. As an aside my hair is not going to last long at staying short but there is no social distance from your hair dresser. May just have to trust my other half with the clippers.
Which is when it hits home just how tumultuous the world has become. When a haircut, which seems like an ordinary kind of thing, comes with risks that make one hesitate. It falls strictly on the shoulders and choices of each of us how this damaging virus will be transmitted around our spaces. But the impact will be felt by all.
It’s unbelievable that there are people out there who won’t make the right decisions. Back from airplane travel and the next day in a store. Variations of this story abound. This is how the virus goes rampant across a country. This link talks about the Canadian Government Actions to address this issue. It happens in the city and in small towns. It seems, because it’s invisible, that the warning doesn’t apply to these travelers.
Doctors warn that we need to take this very seriously. The government is doing all it can. Universities are sending supplies to labs. Front line workers are going non stop to try and help society. Industry is stepping up. In Italy they have used a 3D printer to produce the value needed for ventilators. Lessons need to be learnt from China, Italy and Taiwan. We need to step up as a society and do what we can.
Which means, for the average citizen, nothing. We’re being asked to stay home. We need to practice social distancing, use common sense when we absolutely must venture into society and we must practice good hand washing. That’s what is going to win this war. That’s what is going to help those in the front line of this pandemic and those fighting it within their body.
I didn’t set out to sound so dramatic but, despite my bubble, the gravity of the situation is apparent. There are positives in this timeline; like China flying supplies and medical personnel to Italy. Like the mega work of laboratories across Canada.
Let us hope that “it” will be like the storm pictured below which looks intense but only gave us a few spits of rain and wind.. but let us prepare for what it looks like it could have been.
Let’s stay together while we stand apart.
Bernie
An old saying kept slipping around inside my head but it never actually surfaced. I think the one I
It seems like a perfect day for some good news. In the bigger picture around the world there isn’t a lot of that in supply these days. More on that later as right now I’ve reached a milestone well worth blogging about. Continue reading “My good news”
It seems to me that in times of stress we need to band together and support one another. Maybe we can’t hug but we can stay together while standing apart. We can’t convene in large groups but we can still
The garden lays silent under a thick blanket of white snow. The wind has a crisp snap to it. The snow melts off the roof and makes a steady dripping sound in the eaves trough. Spring has Continue reading “Nothing Ventured …”
It’s like my universe was trying to tell me something and it just took a while to see it. I started to doubt my inner self as seen
From Tennessee to Saskatoon
Follow Dave and Sue as they bike across Canada!
When In Doubt, Go Big.
Family recipes, Old House Renovation, Before & After, DIY, Canadian Road Trips, Early Retirement, Canadian Issues
Photography, Travel and Retirement
Midlife, fun and adventure
One Change at a Time (Maybe)
Creative, non-monetary forms of payment
Reflections of an inquiring retiree ...
Discovering place, family and me - one story at a time
Fun, Fitness & Photography
Grateful for the present moment
do more wandering
Retired and travelling - it doesn't get better than this!
Tales, Thoughts + Tribulations of a Free Spirit in Suburbia
Navigating through my post-work world
Making cards - creative therapy and gifts to bless others
Creative Endeavours
A Year in Photos
Running, Cycle Touring and Roaming with Simple Living and Slow Travel
Adventures of a Paddling Triathlete
What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
If you aren't living on the edge, you're taking up too much space
"This blog is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." - F.G.