Easter in a Time of "Social Distancing" for Safety and Health

My carved wood bunnies with "scarves" anchored with little red wooden hearts clearly are not adhering to the recommendation that we keep a safe distance of 6 feet apart from other people, and wash our hands regularly, wear protective masks and even gloves, to try to stave off contamination from the rampant conoravirus that has now spanned the globe. If the lack of a cure or vaccination from this virus isn't incentive enough to embrace the dictates of practicing good hygiene through these vital safety precautions, I certainly don't know what is.

It's medical science people, not a hoax, and certainly not a joke. Thousands of people have died in the state of New York alone, and more than 100,000 around the globe. As I noted in my last post, I already spend a good chunk of time here in the "Great Northeast" indoors during the winter, so accommodating a directive to stay home except for absolute necessities (food and medicines) wasn't, and hasn't been, that hard for me to do. But, in certain parts of the country, I'm mind-boggled by the lack of belief, and, as a result, the lack of practice of these basic health and safety directives by so many of the population -- and, equally scary, their elected officials from the local to the state level - who are in utter denial about the risk of this insidious virus and are unwilling to curtail certain civil liberties in the interest of public health and safety. It's a pandemic - no one, but no one, is immune here or anywhere.

Honestly, this virus doesn't care about your political beliefs and to ignore the recommendations of people who spend their lives establishing expertise in the nature of this infectious disease because "it's only in certain areas" is to live, effectively, under a rock that won't protect you or anyone you love. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for those you care about and particularly those who are most vulnerable in our society - the elderly, who generally have weakened immune systems, and those with pre-existing conditions that make them more suseptible to infection.

Seriously, people, too many already have died because we didn't get out ahead of this disease here in the US, and many more will die if we don't do everything we can to protect against it individually AND collectively until the risk clearly has diminished. Don't be in a hurry to get back to "normal" life until the experts tell us it is safe to do so. This virus is NOT adhering to your personal agenda.

Don't think for a minute that because it's "not in your back yard," you're not at risk. It is inevitable that it will be where you live in due course if it isn't obviously there yet, and when it does emerge, it will do so with a vengeance. Do what you can now to help prevent that from happening to you and those you love, or at least from affecting more rather than fewer people. No one should have to die because they didn't take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and those they love. Ignore those safety recommendations at your own, and their, peril.

And, oh, be thankful that on this Easter Sunday, if you're able to spend the holiday enjoying it and not being among those directly affected by a deadly virus that is very clearly in our midst, or worse yet, that someone you know is one of those who we lost to it.

Be safe, be careful and stay home.          

Staying Parked as Spring Arrives

My apologies for not posting in March, but, as you all know (unless you were living out of the range of modern communications technology for an extended period) things got very crazy shortly after the month began with the eruption of coronavirus pandemic hitting our shores, and my state, in a very big way. We have been advised or directed or ordered to stay home, avoid people and practice "social distancing" to help stave off further spread of this dreaded virus for which there is no current cure at present. Its symptoms can range from mild and to fatal and it is not to be treated lightly. Protective actions must be taken to avoid contact that could result in contracting the disease and/or contaminating others, particularly those most vulnerable. It's simple good hygiene behaviors and solid public health safety measures and they are essential to practice.


I am thankful to report that I have been careful and, so far, I am fine, as are those I care about deeply, but none of us can be too careful. Masks and eye protection are the order of the day when going out periodically for essentials, as are.staying home except to pick up necessary groceries. I have spoken with friends routinely and, to be honest, staying home is my typical modus operandi for most of the winter season anyway, so it's not that difficult for me to abide by the latest recommendations and dictates involving leaving home. I don't go out unnecessarily in winter - I don't want to - but now, staying put at home is a bit more challenging when the early earmarks of spring have brought the much needed warmer temperatures that beckon one outdoors. I simply go outside onto my patio and into the yard and do some of the tasks of post-winter clean up and bring the garden supplies out - pots and planters placed in the sun for another season of planting and growing the herbs and flowers that are my favorite way to enjoy the spring and summer seasons at home.

So, I'm gearing up for the emergence of spring. The bird (mostly squirrel) feeders have been put away, and the hanging planters have been brought out and will be re-filled with fresh potting soil. The wooden chairs will come back from storage and the hose has been put outside. I even power-sprayed the winter's grime and grunge off the patio, ready for another season of warmth.

Virus self-isolation or not, I'm ready for life to re-emerge in plant form, at least. We'll get there eventually, but, for now, patience and a bit of industriousness to endure the constraints of this most unusual start to spring...

Be safe, stay home, and, if you can, focus on the things you've always wanted to have the time to do at home because that time is now. This, too, shall pass.