COVID-19 & Me

Back in early January I began to get snippets of conversations that mentioned the virus that was causing much concern in China and the neighboring countries. One of my doctors has family in Wuhan and he kept close contact with them and with the news of the area.

However, it did not impact me accept as a concerned world citizen until in early March when jobs that had been there, suddenly disappeared with employers saying that they were putting things on hold. I was also scheduled to have another surgical procedure which would be followed by a round of chemo treatments. A couple of weeks before that date, the clinic called to tell me that it would be postponed as I was considered a high risk patient due to my immune system being compromised. My clinic visits became Zoom visits.

It was shortly after that our state was given a "Safer at Home" order and all nonessential workplaces were closed. Our complex closed all the public areas which meant no roof top garden access( my seeds sit unplanted), the gym, the community room, and business center were all closed. There will be no staff during the week unless emergencies arise.  All in all the buildings have been quiet. We have a Facebook page for the residents and there is communication via that format. If anyone is in need of help it is posted on the page.

The internet has become a lifeline for many as it provides a means to shop with deliver service, a means to stay in touch with family & friends (battling loneliness), entertainment, news, etc.  I can only imagine what it would have been like if this had happened to the same extent back in the 70's or early 80's or even 90's when there was no internet or very limited access to the internet for people.

Two of my old friends have had to battle the virus and their story helps give some insight into how serious the virus can be for many people. Wearing a mask is imperative. Those who say that they will not wear one as it interferes with their freedoms fail to understand that wearing one is to protect others and with freedom comes responsibility. Not wearing a mask tells the world that you care more about yourself than you do about anyone else. I will not get too political here but the antics of the GOP and the failure of the White House to take the virus seriously and to act to protect the citizens will go down in history as one of the most epic failures in our nation. Recently the GOP influenced Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the Governor's stay at home was illegal but luckily for us the county and the city stepped forward and issues the order much the same as the one by the Governor.