April 13, 2020
Monday blues. It started slow for me, feeling beat after all the weekend physical activities. Can’t believe I made 10,000+ steps yesterday! Walked up and down our neighborhood circle and then back to the house for some yard work. It is possible to have some accomplishments while sheltered-in-place!
Somehow, I’m beginning to feel settled. The slow pace is becoming more familiar. It’s the same feeling when you go on vacation. For the first few days, you’re still in your high stress, high achievement mode, constantly seeking some instant gratification or something to do. Then as you settle in, your body and mind start to tune in with the rhythm. You begin to enjoy the pace and feel more relaxed. I’m in that phase now. I’m slowly settling to the cadence of my days mostly sheltered at home. I’m beginning to enjoy the balance of work and home without the stresses of travel, traffic, time constraints. Space is still limited but it’s beginning to be comfortable. Probably it’s an easier transition because there are no kids involved.
Comfortable. Yes, just like your vacation, as you’re beginning to enjoy it, it’s time for it to end. I have a feeling this one is nearing its end. As I think about it, I’m half-wishing, that we will be sheltered-in-place just a tiny bit longer. I’m just beginning to enjoy my semi-staycation!
We are all creatures of habit. I’m pretty sure when this pandemic is over and as we begin to go back to what was our normal a few weeks ago, some of us will experience some shocks to our system. Another adjustment is coming.
Be prepared.
April 14, 2020
Surprise! Not only is the weather so warm – 80F in the Bay Area (from mid 60s yesterday) but also the stock market is going gang busters. Perhaps, most people are feeling the same way as I do, that this shelter-in-place is nearing its end and pretty soon.
The governors on both coasts have been talking about it since the weekend. Now they have formed their own micro-groups to deal with the issue of timing and extent, without the Federal government’s input. These moves are so telling on how lame the Federal government has been in its response to this CoVid19. They’ve lost the leadership and ceded control the moment they told the governors to find solutions to the pandemic themselves. Out they went and now the Fed is wanting a skin in the game but the ship sailed a few weeks ago. Too late.
Then someone announced that he is halting funds to the World Health Organization. What a douche bag. What will this achieve in regards to this pandemic and future ones? We need to kick this guy out of the White House. Yes, I said it. It’s obvious that he does not have the skills to be a leader. When you point a finger at someone, how many fingers are pointing at you?
Enough…you now know how I feel about our current government. No one can rely on these people to look out for our own interest. Always their own and their friends and their businesses. Just today, the White House announced a tentative agreement providing several billion dollars of bailout for the airline industry. How about the 10 million people who lost their jobs? $1,200 dole out is not even enough to tie them for the month? Those people who do not have medical insurance? Those that are homeless? Those people who are mentally ill? Or let’s make it simpler, those kids in elementary and high school who do not have access to computers or Internet?
It is obvious that the poor and the underprivileged are suffering the most in this pandemic yet none of these people in the government are even talking about their needs. It’s unconscionable and shameful.
I would not lie. I feel blessed beyond measure to be able to weather these shocks in the economy. I’m thankful every single day. I try to help those in need in small ways. However, it’s still hard not to feel guilty about the many others who are struggling. As a society, how can we move forward without having to think about those that need help, financially, emotionally, physically? We are a society, a community aren’t we?
It’s a bazillion dollar question. Something to ponder on.