March 31, 2020

It’s Tuesday! I planned over the weekend to do my foray out in the world today to buy some fresh produce from my favorite market and also get some fresh fish for the hubby from the fish monger. I didn’t want to run errands over the weekend. More people do go out then.

My strategy these days is to avoid being with people as much as possible. I figured that if I start out early to do my supply shopping, I would not have to deal with the crowds and wait in line. I was right! I got to the fish monger first and for the first time in a while, I got a parking space infront of the store. They’re managing the number of people inside, which is good. I’m one of the early folks but I’m disappointed to note that they didn’t have much variety to choose from versus their usual robust line up. Then an elderly couple, who definitely are part of the vulnerables, seem to be clueless about maintaining social distancing and the wife, though she was wearing a pair of gloves, no mask, kept on touching her face! How can they be so careless?

Horrified, I kept on trying to avoid getting close to them not because I fear for me (I’m wearing a mask and a pair of gloves) but because I’m worried for them.

Next stop, the produce market. Again, I was lucky to find parking right away and though there is already a line, it wasn’t that long yet. Here, too, I noticed that they didn’t have a lot of products like they would normally have. I wonder if the supply system, already under tremendous strain, is also impacting the movement of fresh produce from the farm to the markets? Are the farmers not able to harvest because of lack of workers? Are the produce not coming in on time because of lack of truckers? What’s going on?

In our business, we’re experiencing unprecedented demand for our products in the retail markets. Probably, that’s where all the logistics are focused right now? In big box retailers? What will happen to the mom and pop stores? Hmm, something to watch out for. They are part of the small business owners and they provide an essential service to the community that they serve.

I try to minimize my time outside in public these days, so I hurried home after I’ve gotten what I needed. Plus, I have to work, too.

One of the saddest development I heard today is from the Philippines. After a couple of weeks of lockdown, people from the slums, who are the most vulnerable and have been neglected by their local government, started marching towards the main highway demanding some assistance. They’re hungry and desperate. Outside of massive death, this is one of the most pressing issues that need attention – the poor and helpless members of a society who are now left with zero means of earning income in a country without a functioning safety net.

I had to calm myself down. Time to go outside and disconnect for a bit. The impact of this CoVid19 in Third World countries will be very, very bad both in terms of human and economic costs.

I feel helpless. I can’t solve the world’s problem. What to do?

April 1, 2020

I’m still rattled from yesterday’s news. Somehow I didn’t have any desire to meditate and to exercise. Is this what being depressed feels like? I hope not.

My spirit was buoyed by some positive messages I received regarding work-related issues, fortunately. Silver linings still abound, indeed. Also, I read about the many recently retired healthcare workers signing up to join the California Health Corps, a group of volunteers organized by the California government to help shore up the state healthcare system’s response to CoVid19. What wonderful human beings!

Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t. My new mantra. I have been helping in my own little way. So I should be happy about that. Sometimes, I also try to lift my mood by reading the daily humor cartoon from The New Yorker. They almost always make me laugh. We need some distraction these days and they get my drift.

I also get some funny memes and nice videos from friends around the world. Today, this is the best one.

Happy April Fools Day!