COVID Takes A Back Seat

While America burns, a space shuttle takes off and COVID-19 takes a back seat.

Since early March, the coronavirus has been the main topic on all news broadcast, dominated peoples' conversations and impacted our daily lives.  It's unprecedented to see governors and other officials holding daily press conferences, addressing their citizenry.  Not even during 9/11 did this occur.  If there were other major news happening during the two months, it wasn't covered or we missed it.

However, in late April, early May, we learned of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and news of the circumstances which led to his death was allowed to creep in between the corona coverage.  Mr. Arbery was killed on February 23rd, however, it wasn't until an April 21st New York Times article and the release of a video shortly thereafter, that we were informed of his killing.   A team of father and son executioners claimed he was involved in break-ins in the neighborhood and attacked and shot him as he jogged.  It took the publicity for the murderers to be arrested.

Then came the case on May 25th of the Caucasian woman who called the police on a Black man who reprimanded her for not leashing her dog as required in Central Park.  He videotaped her as she called 911 and said an African American man was threatening to attack her.  It enraged many and she received more than her fifteen minutes of infamy; she was fired and had to return her dog to the shelter.  

However, who knew that on that same night a greater tragedy was to take place.  George Floyd was murdered by a police officer who choked the life out of him with a knee lodged in Mr. Floyd's throat for 8 minutes and 64 seconds. Three other officers looked on, doing nothing but to hold back the crowd that had gathered.  All four officers were terminated as civil protests began and agitators started looting.  As the protests intensified, the knee killer was arrested, but merely charged with Murder 3 and Manslaughter.  Violent rioters infiltrated what had begun as peaceful protests and looted, burned and destroyed property. 

The Space X, launch on April 30th had over 3 million watching at home on their television set and 1,000 in person, a low number because of social distancing.  It received its share of press coverage, however, not what it would have gotten all day long, but for the Floyd's coverage.

COVID is no longer the news of the day.  It was not in the minds of some who were protesting.  It was not in the mind of some of the law enforcers.  Social distancing and face masks went out the window as people gathered in the thousands, chanting, some screaming, letting out saliva and sputum, brushing against or touching each other, possibly passing the virus from one to the other.  This comes after all the work some of the states had done to bring their numbers down and were in the phases of reopening.

The new wave of COVID-19 was supposed to come in the fall.  I fear the second wave will be now.

Juggling Pregnancy, Family And Work

Guest Author, Mary-Anne Awai Dawkins

In January, I found out news that I was pregnant with my 3^rd child.  Being over 40, I was a bit nervous about having another child but I know that God gave me this child for a reason and that he would be there to help me through this experience.  The next few months I went through all day nausea and some aches and pains that was more than I experienced with my last two children but overall, I stayed healthy.  On the news, they talked about a crisis with something called Corona Virus or Covid-19 in China, Italy and Iran.  I did not think much about it as it was far from the western part of the world.

Then in March, things changed with my surrounding environment.  The pandemic hit Canada, the USA and became a world-wide issue.  There was a lot of questions on what the future would hold for me, my family and our upcoming baby.  There was a lot of information on the internet and social media about where the virus came from.  My cousin told me she heard from a CBC news program that we should stock up on food.  I immediately went and purchased as much food as my fridge and pantry could hold despite my husband telling me that I was over reacting.  

While the kids were still on March break a friend asked for my daughter to come over and play.  I did not reject the request knowing that they only had one child who was quite lonely.  She told me about a movie she was watching that was trending on Netflix called Contagion.  This movie that was made in 2011, gave me a glimpse of what I thought was definitely science fiction.  However, as the days progressed and the news on the TV continued to bring about reports of this Coronavirus, it seemed that current events that were going on seemed to mimic some of the very things that happened in the movie.  Could things really get to that point?  Then the news announced that the children would not be going back to school after March break.  What was going on???  After hearing this news, I asked my boss if I could work from home while the kids were off after my vacation that I schedule for the end of March break. I was rejected. I was very upset about this news and wondered what I would do.

However, my company made a different decision as more news hit about the seriousness of the Covid-19 and the Pandemic increase around the world with information about social distancing.  It was announced the following week that they would be splitting our company of 30 into two teams and we would alternate working two days in the office and two days at home which also would include working every other Saturday.  My family vacation to a resort in Barrie was reluctantly cancelled as well as the time I had scheduled to be away from work and the new schedule took over.  I was a bit relieved with the schedule as I believed that it would allow for me to spend some extra time with the kids at home and to be able to isolate a bit more from the outside world.  News about the Covid-19 virus was all over the TV and internet.  They talked about kids being at less risk of getting the virus and at one point, my husband even reported to me that people who are pregnant have less of a chance of getting the virus.   Was this true?  I figured I would still do my best to protect myself and my family and see how things transformed over the following months. I stocked up on more groceries, canned items, pasta and frozen foods as they went on sale.  I got items that would prepare my family from a natural disaster as I did not know what to expect.  Overall, I tried my best not to stress about the situation that unfolded around me.  I continued to carry on with this new form of life.

In April, I had a mid-wife appointment that was done over the phone.  Since I was then 4 months pregnant and there was not much changes to report, I was ok with this new form of a medical appointment.  I continued with the work schedule of two days at home and two days in the office.  When I did go to work and I had to go to my properties, I wore a mask and gloves.  When possible, I would not go into the buildings and would have the superintendents bring the rent and mail to me outside.   My husband argued with me about going to work on Saturdays and not getting extra pay especially since we are Seventh Day Adventist.  But when everyone else, including the president has been coming in to work and with there not being any church services to go to, how can I argue and ask for special treatment.  As well, I felt blessed to still have a job during a time when so many people had lost their jobs due to the Corona Virus and the social distancing measures that were going into effect.   

The kids started online schooling, which was a step in learning for everyone.  More of my time was required to help the kids with homework and projects when at home.  Also, school for my son was announced at 9am every day, not allowing for much sleep-in time for me on my days at home.  I did all the groceries for my family including for my mother-in-law who did not dare to venture outside of the house.  With my husband working from home till 6pm every day and me already being outside of the home for work, it only made sense that I continue to take on this role.  Whenever at the grocery store, I wore gloves and a mask to ensure I was protected as per the guidelines.  (Thank God I had the foresight to get extra masks at a doctor’s appointment in February and from one of my tenants sending some extra masks for me as well) 

I celebrated my son’s 6^th birthday where my daughter accompanied me to purchase birthday decorations and cake.  She wore a mask and gloves on the outing but it was then I realized that she had not been in the car for about 6 weeks.  What a change from the usual everyday trip to school or coming back home from after-hours club, picking up food from takeout restaurants and going to tutoring and gymnastics.  We had a Zoom party for my son which turned out to be a lot of fun.  It was almost like having everyone at my house, only with less mess.  During this time, I took the best precautions I could like sanitizing my door knobs and wiping down commonly touched surfaces in the house to keep both me, my family and my baby safe overall.

In May, I was told from my boss that one of my properties would be given to another manager in preparation of me going on Maternity leave in August.  I was a bit upset by this as it seemed so soon, but I know it was also for the best and it also decreased my contact with tenants and any potential contaminated surfaces.  The kids remained at home as the government confirmed school being postponed until the end of May and they continued with their online classes.  This month I had an appointment at the midwives office.  They told me to call once I got to the location and to wait in my car till they let me know that I could come in.  Once there, the appointment was business as usual, only we both were wearing masks.  Then the nurse asked a question that I had been thinking about but did not know the answer to, “Where will you be having the baby?”  This question had been lingering on my mind as I watched the images on TV showing the contamination in the hospitals.  However, could I really have my baby at home?  Being over 40, I have to consider that there may be more risks associated with my birthing.  And if something were to go wrong, would it not be best to be in the hospital setting???  Seeing as it was only my 6^th month, the nurse told me to think about it as there was no rush as yet.

At work, as restrictions began to ease up a bit all over the city, closer to the end of May, people were becoming a bit more lenient.  People were not afraid to be close to each other in the office.  I even attended a meeting with some contractors where no one wore a mask.  I had my mask in my purse but felt uncomfortable about putting it on especially since the president of the company was at the meeting and I had to accompany him with an inspection around the building.

At the end of May, it was announced that schools would not be opening again until September and that there would also not be any summer camps to send the children to over the two month summer period. My daughter was very disappointed as she was looking forward to recreating the memories of previous summers at the Boys and Girls Club camp.  Luckily, my husband’s company let them know that they would be continuing with working from home until September, however, my company announced that they may be going back to having the full staff in the office sometime during the month of June.  I do have my own office which makes distancing easier in the office, however, we do tend to touch many surfaces like the photocopier throughout the day without it being cleaned.    

Once I have to go back to work 5 days a week, it will also be difficult to help out at home with the meals during the day for the kids when my husband only has one hour to feed them and as I get bigger each day, I will become more tired and not want to be cooking meals all the time.  As well, with no more school after June, the kids will be on their electronic devices even longer than they are now.  When I am home, I try to give them extra work and use the internet and programs in French, to help with reading and math for my son especially, as I do not want him to fall behind in his French skills for school.    My son already knows that when I am home, he has more work to do and always asks, when I am at home “Are you going to work tomorrow???”   

Every day, I watch the news and see the fluctuating numbers of people who have contracted the virus.  As the weather gets warmer, everyone wants to go out more and enjoy the limited sunshine that we have.  However, people are also tired of all the restrictions and some are starting to forget about the dangers of being around too many people causing the number of people getting contaminated to increase again.  I miss seeing my parents who I talk to everyday but they keep their distance due to my father not being well.  My mother has expressed her disappointment with possibly not being able to attend the birth and hold her newest grandchild.   This also makes me sad as my mother is my rock and she has been there for the birth of my other children.  What will it be like to give birth without her there?

With each passing day, I feel anxiety building with fear for lack of being prepared for this new coming child and what the world will be like that he will be born into.  I fear not being able to visit my family and friends once the baby is born.  I fear not being able to get adequate supplies to feed and care for my family.  I fear that once the kids return back to school that they can be susceptible to getting the virus from their friends and bring the virus home to me and the baby.  I fear that if there is a second wave of the virus, what new challenges it will bring for my family and the economy.  However, overall, I continue to pray and to put my faith and trust in Jesus that he will see me and my family through all of the trials and tribulations that may come and that he will lead us through whatever may come our way.  He has given me strength and blessings to make it through this far.  What’s to say that this will not change for the future.  

We Can't Breathe

We have been going through a pandemic for 400 years.  FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. We have been shackled, whipped, strung up, lynched, dragged, drowned, tarred, burned, gunned down, by chokehold, by knees in neck and killed in any and every God-forsaken manner, body by body by body, broken, bruised, breathless. Dead.  

For a traffic stop for not signaling a turn (Sandra Bland), the ultimate price, death.  For selling loose cigarettes (Eric Garner), death.  For triggering your own life alert in your own home (Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr.), death.  For being a twelve year old with a toy gun (Tamir Rice), death.  For going from your own wedding stag party (Sean Bell), death.  For running into your own home (Ramarley Graham), death.  For watching television and eating ice cream in your own home (Botham Jean), death.  For laying in your own bed (Breonna Taylor), death.  For allegedly offering a forged instrument, (George Floyd), death.  The last will not be the last.  Others will come, possibly before the ink on this paper dries and before you read it.  The numbers are infinite.  All come and will come with death penalties.   The killers the same, protected by their uniforms in blue.  The crime, being Black.

We can't criticize bad police officers.  When we do, we are attacked as being police haters, which speaks a lot about their privilege.  Don't dare say anything about this protected class.  When you, the good police officers, don't call out the bad, you are saying that the bad is as good as the good.

For allegedly whistling at a white woman in Money, MS, 14 year old Emmet Till is massacred on August 28, 1955.  For worshipping at the 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL on September 15, 1963, four little girls are bombed.  For accepting a ride from someone he thought he knew well enough, James Bryd is chained to the back of a truck and dragged for 3 miles in Jasper, Texas on June 7, 1998.  For having a prayer meeting at the Emmanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC on June 17, 2015, nine are gunned down.   For jogging in his neighborhood, Ahmaud Arbery is shot down like an animal on February 23, 2020.  The murderers the same, ku klux clan, neo nazi, white supremacists.  low, low and low.  the lowest.  racists bastards all.  (lower case used intentionally).  For what?  Simply living in a Black body.  

The Black body has no value to some and I will dare say to most.  When daniel pantaleo choked the air out of Eric Garner on July 17, 2014 and when derek chauvin did the same to George Floyd on May 25, 2020, they did it because they could.  And why wouldn't they?  What's the penalty, if any?  The worst that may happen to them is they lose their jobs, but somewhere down the road apiece, other municipalities will hire them.  Indictments are like one strand of hair on a fully coiffed head. Prosecutors everywhere and the criminal justice system do not value the Black body. 

The ku klux clan executioners of Emmet Till were acquitted.  It took all of thirty-six years to indict the murderers of those four little girls, even though the murderers were known from the outset.  The mass murder of the nine in the church was taken to McDonald’s after he was caught in a manhunt. Why?  All he did was kill nine "niggers," what’s the big deal.  The poor boy is hungry.  Let’s feed him.  Were those the thoughts in those officers' minds and did they more than likely mouth those words using even more expletives?  pantaleo, for his crime, was fired.  chauvin and his three cohorts have been fired.  Fired, not arrested.

What’s to happen to chauvin who is on videotape calmly looking toward the people gathered and staring directly in their cameras, the face of evil, with knee and weight in Mr. Floyd’s neck as he pleaded “I can’t breathe” and called for his mother?  It doesn't matter how many videotapes from how many angles there are, let’s not take any joy in that.  Philando Castille had his murder Facebook lived and no indictment.  Eric Garner was videotaped as he was mercilessly choked by pantaleo, no indictment.  I have no confidence that the criminal justice system will come back with an indictment and less with a conviction.  Already, the prosecutor is saying he sees no evidence of a crime.  Killing by strangulation, with knees embedded in the neck must be on the books of the Minneapolis Police Department.

Who can forget the Rodney King case where the LAPD officers who viciously beat him on March 3, 1993, were acquitted and LA burned.  It's happening in Minneapolis.  Peaceful protests have turned to violent outbursts of looting and shooting and burning of buildings.  I will never condone violence.  Ever.  I understand rage.  I understand hopelessness.  I understand being tired of the same old thing.  We know that, historically, rioters and looters are sent in, some paid, to infiltrate and make the situation worse to make us as a people look bad.  Instead of attempting to bring calm and care and concern, the only response the leader of the supposedly free world can give is "When the looting starts, the shooting starts," confirming the ease at which the Black body can be taken down in a barrage of bullets.  This is war! 

Until the philosophy

Which hold one race superior and another inferior 

Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned 

Everywhere is war, me say war

That until there's no longer

First class and second class citizens of any nations

Until the color of a man's skin 

Is of no more significance than the color of his eyes

Me say war 

That until the basic human right

Are equally guaranteed to all

Without regard to race

Dis a war..... Bob Marley

Wherever we are!  We can't walk in a park, use the restroom in Starbucks, be an eight year old selling water, stay at an AirBnb, be a Yale student outside your dorm, live in a tony neighborhood, own a business in an upscale office building, barbecue in the park without someone calling the police.  We are not allowed to breathe the same air, live the same life.

Even the damn coronovirus is discriminating against us.  Blacks are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.  We are more likely to be infected, more likely to be placed on a ventilator and more likely to die.  We can't catch a breath from COVID or from the actions of the police and others.

The "I can't breathe," last breath of Eric Garner, the eerily same as George Floyd, became the rallying cry of Black Lives Matter.  Then came others with All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter.  Your lives have always, in ALL WAYS mattered.  Ours haven't for 400 years.  FOUR.HUNDRED.YEARS.

Blacks, all of us, are being lynched day in and day out, sucking the air out of us, breath by breath by breath.

Update:

5/29/2020, about 2pm, it is reported that derek chauvin was arrested and charged with 3rd degree murder and manslaughter

8 minutes and 46 seconds - how long that Assassin (now he can be capitilazed) had his knee in George Floyd's neck.

Prosecutor says he mispoke and was misunderstood.  He said what he said.

Leader of free world says he doesn't know where those words came from.  They came from a racist police sheffif in the 60's.  From where did you, Mr. Trump, learn those words?

To Paw From Maw

Guest Author, Cecelia Rollins-Murriel

Medically “the virus” took you, my partner of 27 years. But 45 killed you. 45 is a murderer.

You were my governor, my lover, my friend, my companion.

Our cousin, as we sat at the dining room table to write your obituary said “the governance is gone.” Our Governor? Now I understand why you felt it was your responsibility to care for EVERYBODY. You knew what was best for our family, extended family, friends and strangers. I remember the stories of how you were the responsible adult at fourteen. You were the only one able to bring money into the household. You said often, “you have had a very sheltered protected life”. 

I was in love with a protector. Even though it was extremely annoying! You never forgot to say “be careful” no matter where I was going as I went out the door. You are still in my head, “be careful on the ladder, on the stairs, in the car, lock up when all three of you are not home.”  Our son has insisted on a Ring doorbell now that the sentry in the living room is not at his post.

I have known real unconditional love. Every time you opened your arms to me. Finding that place where I could hear your heart beat. Poor you, most nights I was instantly asleep and snoring. Now I don’t sleep at all. The bed is empty. 

There is a CHASM now. Palpable. Quiet. Everything is different. 

When this “stay at home” is over, what will I do?  Will I want a companion or a new “roadie”?

CRAP I’m a widow! “It’s ok sugar britches, you got this”.

 

Wedding August, 24, 2008

What next? I dread the year of first. First Mother’s Day, First Birthday (yours), First Wedding Anniversary, First Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, my Birthday, J’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, J’s first apartment, his wedding, his first child. 

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? You were my chief comforter, my go to person, my shelter, my protection. Gone. We were supposed to have at least twenty more years to annoy one another! I do not want to do this life without you! I am already doing so much without you. 

“Good night Maw.” “Good night Paw.” 

Valentines Night

 

Bernice & Luis’ wedding

US Tennis Open

Rhode Island Jazz Festival

Kappa New Orleans

Stevie Wonder Concert, Madison Square Garden

Manni/Pedi

How Are You Really Feeling?

Guest Author, Dawn Patterson

Prior to the Pandemic on 2/28/20 I had surgery which was successful and quite a relief.  On 3/2/ my birthday rolled around and I was super grateful to see another year. My family and friends celebrated with me at different times with some trepidation since The Corona (Iyanla Vanzant’s term) was hovering over us.  New Rochelle became the first epicenter and was under quarantine.  This was hitting very close to home and everyone was cautious, anxious and willing to comply with the new rules and regulations being put in effect.  Washing hands, distancing, and wearing masks became the order of the day.

During this time my cousin Gail was with me assisting me during my recuperation and giving emotional and moral support. After being with me for about a month she returned to her home in Virginia and had to do a two week self quarantine.

After her departure, I was doing alright being alone since I live alone so that was not a difficult transition.  I missed the company but I was alright.  I also missed going to my scheduled activities, but was still coping with the stay at home orders.  I found new adventures as I explored new neighborhoods and I thoroughly enjoyed the new sights.

On May 1^st, I took a chance and spent the night out visiting with my son and his family.  They invited me and I found it difficult to say no.  I struggled with that decision and made the best of it.  It was a nice change of pace for all.

On Mother’s Day I was again put to the test and was very indecisive about spending it with my family in their backyard.  We masked up, greeted each other with elbow and foot taps.  The weather cooperated and we enjoyed our rare meeting these days.

One girlfriend, Eze, the energizer bunny, has been very generous preparing dishes and delivering them, she termed the outings drop and roll. What a treat!  Of course the other energizer bunny, Heather has also been dropping and rolling vittles.  You would not believe she had recently suffered severely from the Rona.  Giving thanks she came through after a rough experience.

Then the girls got on the Zoom kick and we visit on Fridays at 6.00Pm until….  We dress up, prepare snacks and chit chat.  Then Heather threw a birthday Zoom bash which was so welcomed and was the bomb.

I am also meeting with a knitting group via Zoom, this has been met with some challenges but it’s happening.

Then on 5/17, the governator, coined by our Cece, his biggest fan asked “How are you really feeling?”  It was at that time that I was able to allow myself to identify that I was feeling quite depressed.  How dare I feel depressed, I asked myself as I reflected on all that I had to be grateful for, my surgery was successful,  I had food, family, friends and a home to be sheltered in place.  I did not get any signs or symptoms of the Corona.  Our friend Heather survived it and our friend Cece buried her beloved husband, Larry.  We all felt that Larry belonged to us as well! This really hit home!  We were all in shock; but had to stay strong for Cece.  Knowing someone who had succumbed to the virus really registered how horrific it was.

How dare I feel depressed? But I had the symptoms gnawing at me for a while. I had to move into gear to combat these feelings and so I reached out to people to check in with them which immediately took the focus off me.  I gave myself permission to go through the feelings, I wrote about it in my journal, I read more self help and spiritual literature.  I prayed and counted my blessings.  I did some YouTube exercise videos and did more walking meditations.

Today I am feeling much better; recognizing and admitting the feelings has helped.  I know they will come again because it isn’t over yet and we are going to be in this new normal for a while.  I did not want to share it with my network because we are all in the same boat.  I also focused on the fact that our ancestors survived worse pandemics and survived! And so it is! Grit your teeth and get through this with everyone who I am sure is having some feelings of depression.

Invasion

Guest Author, Sandra Miller

I had occasion to visit my mother’s gravesite on Mother’s Day, not so much that I was following the rituals of many Americans on that day, but because my brother, who lives in Florida, had asked me to.  He wanted me to release balloons with the message ‘I love you’ at the site on his behalf.  I had no success in getting the balloons, but substituted them for some beautiful white roses.

Growing up in Jamaica one learned at an early age to be fearful of cemeteries.  They were to be avoided at all costs, and if you had to drive by one, there should be no pointing of fingers lest you lose one.  However, these fears are forgotten when you enter Kensico Gardens, the cemetery where my mother was laid to rest.  It occupies a large swath of beautifully landscaped hillside in Valhalla.  It’s a place where, although you are among the dead, among numerous headstones, mausoleums, and grave markers, there is this feeling of peace and tranquility, usually accompanied with a gentle blowing breeze and birds chirping in the trees.

On this Mother’s Day visit, I was accompanied by my son.  We both stood there by the gravesite, each with our own memories of my mother.  After laying the flowers on the grave, we stood there for a while just looking around, marveling at how peaceful it was.  Then, in really looking, I noticed something that struck me as being out of the normal.  I was seeing multiple freshly filled graves.  That sight gave me pause.  How many of those graves were for people lost to the deadly Corona virus?  How many children were mourning the loss of a parent, or parents mourning the loss of a child on this day?  How many were people who had died in isolation, without the friendly face of a loved one?  As I looked out I saw a large area being cleared and landscaped.  How many more people will lose their lives before this pandemic is over?  In that moment, the serenity I was feeling was lost.  Corona had also invaded this space.      

A New War

There is a new war and new faces to commemorate on this Memorial Day - those who died on the frontline of the COVID-19 war.  

Some will take umbrage to this because their family member, friend, compatriot actually gave their lives defending this country.  I truly get it.  I honor them. I honor you.  I honor your pain and memories.  

The people dying on the frontlines of COVID-19 have died while we fight this war.  This is a new battleground.  Nearly 100,000 have already died, which is more than those who died in almost all the US involved wars combined.  This is a war that involves many countries on tall continents except Antartica.  There are battles between China and the United States.  Who did what and who didn't do what.  Border lines are drawn.  China, Iran, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland and other countries were barred from entering the United States.  Brazil is now banned as it lacklusterly battles its internal war against the disease, similar to the United States when it first began.  Columbia University in a study, reports that up to 54,000 less would have died if the United States had taken a preemptive strike. 

New York Times, in its 5/24/2020 edition, dedicated its front page and two other pages to 1,000 of the 98,000+ who have died in the United States.  They get it.

On an 11:00 p.m. news broadcast on 5/24/2020, it showcased a veteran from Queens, NY, playing Taps for those who died from COVID-19.  He gets it.

Until the COVID-19 fallen warriors get their day, I choose to celebrate them today, along with all fallen war warriors. 

I hope you get it.

Update:  On 5/27/2020, the number of people who died from COVID-19 reached 100,000.

World Not Level

Guest Author, Sandra Miller

We Jamaicans often use the expression ‘donkey seh de worl no level’ (donkey says the world is not level). One can interpret this expression to mean that things aren’t distributed equally among us.  According to Jamaican folklore, the donkey rolls in an effort to flatten the earth and so make it even.  The donkey’s awareness and action symbolize people’s awareness of life’s inequities and man’s injustice to man.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, being in school allowed some children to feel like they were on the same level playing field, even if only for the few hours they were in school.  With schools being closed, what has become of the children who are unable to join in on online learning because of a lack of access to technology, whether it be to computers or the internet?  Are they now left to fall further behind their fellow classmates, thereby continuing the cycle of poverty in which they now exist?

What about people living in confined spaces, where social distancing is nigh impossible, or those living in rural communities or on tribal lands, where access to medical services is practically non-existent?  Is it okay for them to die?

When you look around and see the easy access to resources that some have, the excesses of some while others struggle day in and day out to eke out an existence, one can’t help but think that the donkey knows what he is saying.  The world, indeed, is not level.  

 

What's The Truth? They Don't Even Know

I took the antibody test five days ago, with test results expected in three days.  Nothing yet.  If the test comes back positive, as I expect it will, what will it tell me?  There is much controversy regarding the test - who is doing it, what kind of test is being administered, at home kits and what reading will you get.  At a meeting I attended, the guest physician told us that her medical organization is not testing because the tests only reveal whether or not one has been exposed to Corona.  To understand this, you have to understand Corona.  Corona is the mother, COVID is one of its children.  Corona has about six or more children, the most recognizable besides COVID is SARS.  According to the Fact Sheet provided to me by Abbott Laboratories, Inc., the lab which administered my test, the test will "help you find out if you have antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19."  Read again, "the virus that causes..."  It doesn't specifically say antibodies for COVID-19.  Abbot goes on to say, "If you have a positive test result, it is likely that you have or previously had COVID-19.  Pay attention to the word, "likely."

"Anyone can get a test."  We have been hearing that and its refrain since March from the White House.  Not true then and not true now.  Most places require that you have had symptoms.  I didn't get a test until 44 days after I came down with symptoms.  A coworker called just yesterday to get a test and she was denied because she did not meet the requirements for testing.

Can I get COVID-19 again?  The jury is out on this.  Yes, some say.  No, say some.  A government official who was on a call with the premier authority on infectious disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says that Dr, Fauci believes those people who came down with COVID-19 after "surviving" had really not overcome the first episode.  It wasn't a new infection.  What's the truth?  

The official guideline is that you quarantine for 14 days after first symptom and three days of having no fever.  The fever may go in 14 days, but the infection doesn't.  I am witness to that and so are others with whom I have spoken.  How many people went back to work and passed the virus on to others?  How many doctors and nurses made their non COVID patients positive and/or dead, having gone back to work too soon?  The guideline needs to change.  Everyone needs to be tested, but at the minimum, people going back to work should be.  

Then there is the thermometer test.  Workplaces, businesses, doctors' offices, everyone is doing it.  However, to me it is inadequate.  Not everyone with COVID-19 has fever as a symptom.  So, what's the truth here?  Are we stopping one person with fever and letting two, three, four without a fever in?  What about the asymptomatic people?

Can an asymptomatic person become symptomatic?  Who knows?

COVID-19 was touted as the equal opportunity disease.  It turns out that it's not.  Blacks and Latino are the ones most affected by it.  I will talk about this in more detail in a later posting.

What about the children who were not supposed to be at risk and now their disease is being described as worse than COVID-19.  Is this a new disease?  Is it related to COVID-19?  Is this Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome one of Corona's other wayward children?

When this second wave comes, who is at risk?  Does anyone know?

Is COVID-19 man-made or escaped in a lab during an experiment?  Will we ever know the truth?

When will vaccines become available?  According to the White House, soon, possibly by the end of the year.  Others say no.  Maybe in a year or two.  What is the truth? 

COVID-19 bears the number 19 because it started in 2019.  Even though it didn't start here in the US till 2020, it had been a world disease with countries in the Middle East, China being the main one and Europe, Italy taking center stage.  The United States should have been on top of it.  The powers that be should not be spinning around trying to catch their tails at this time.  It's time for them to get their act together and time for us to know the truth.

Life On The Inside

I have to admit it, I love being on the inside.

After "surviving" (I use that word loosely, because you don't completely survive COVID-19), I started to write, giving birth to The Corona Chronicles, my daily thoughts and musings.  I find writing therapeutic. It's my personal journey through COVID-19.  It gives insight into the suffering, but also the goodness of people.  I pull on your emotions, I make you laugh and make you cry, sometimes both at the same time.  Heather's Dawning, my blog, is made up of my first (Heather) and pet (Dawn) names. It's my awakening.  Covid-19 may have knocked me down, but it also awakened my creativity.  It also has kept me busy.

Zoom has become my new best friend.  The truth is I don't see family or friends, not even co-workers, that often or even close to it.  I am on Zoom every single day.  Family Zoom, Tae Chi/Yoga Zoom, Girls Zoom, Staff Meeting Zoom.  I partied on Zoom, have weekly cocktails, watched a performance, and even got counseling.  

My creative juices got stirred up differently when at  one of our Family Zoom, we did Paint and Sip (lots of sip happening during this lockdown), led by nephew Kyle.  I made sure I had my supplies, having ordered from Michael's. When I saw that black paint wasn't included in the package, I stood on line at Target for 15 minutes and to my annoyance, there was no black paint.  Nephew Kyle came to my rescue. And I created the masterpiece above.  I know you can't tell the difference between the original and mine!!  And I fool myself into thinking so, so much so, that I have ordered additional paint and canvas and have gone on websites to find pictures to do my own paint.  I think I will hold off on the sip.  

Tae Chi Zoom is another story, I don't know why I even bother.  I am trying to learn some finesse, to be soft, to be fluid in my motion, and to be graceful.  You can see how off my paint lines are in the painting above.  I can't paint my nails or draw a straight line because I am a klutz.  My pinkie sticks out when I drink tea; there has to be something there, but sadly no.  For the stretching portion I hold my own for a little while, but God help me when they say go on the floor.  As soon as it's "legs up," I am done.  There is one called Vibrations.  I do really really well with that one.  It's moving your body.  If you were at my Zoom birthday party or seen the Zoom video, you know I can move my body.  And love it.

        

When I am not Zooming, or even when I am Zooming, I am cooking, almost every.single.day, sometimes twice per day.  I have not eaten out since March 16th.  This is the person who purchase lunch, is always at some event eating their food or picking up on my way home.  I went from someone who loved to cook in my earlier years to someone who only cooked for special events.  Now, here I am back to cooking and loving it.  And loving my own food.  Sometimes, I videotape myself cooking. I am thinking of creating my own cooking show.

How will I return to work?  What will that look like?  How will I cope?  I am afraid of going back to bad habits.  Will I be so anti-social, that I will have to learn to be around people again?  What will happen to my relationship with Zoom?