DREAMING OF FREEDOM

Yesterday, I read that 44% of Americans are afraid to get the Covid-19 vaccine. It’s not surprising, when the media publishes reports of all the seniors in Norway and USA who’ve died after getting their first shot. Nevertheless, when you consider all the side effects of prolonged lockdown, it seems that we really don’t have a choice. We got our first dose last week, and now we’re dreaming of freedom.

First of all, we’re finally free from fear of catching the virus. That’s a dark cloud that’s hung over our head after every trip to the grocery store, or visit from a loved one. It’s always lurking—every time you cough or sneeze, little prickles of anxiety arise. Am I coming down with covid-19? When you wake up the next day, feeling just fine, you begin to relax. That is–until the next time, when you have a headache, or maybe get a dizzy spell(caused by anxiety). You do a pretty good job of keeping your spirits up and staying busy—but the fear is always there, ready to resurface from the depths of your subconscious mind.

As one who’s often experienced side effects after flu shots, I can totally understand the fear of vaccines. My husband is one of the lucky ones who never has any reaction. But I usually had aches and pains, along with fatigue that lasted sometimes a week. Because of that, I skipped the flu shots for several years. But when I finally came down with a very bad case of the flu, I went back to getting the shots, bracing my self for the side effects. So yes, I was worried about what would happen after receiving the covid-19 vaccine.

I did have some mild side effects. I woke up the next day feeling very groggy. My back and arm ached. But it didn’t get any worse. In fact, within 24 hours, I felt better. I slept fairly well the next few nights but had some wild dreams, and still didn’t have much energy. Today, I’m feeling like my old self.

DREAMING OF FREEDOM. After getting the vaccine, you maybe able to get your old life back.

In another month or so, We’ll get pieces of our old life back. We can go to restaurants. I will start swimming again, which should greatly ease the arthritis pain in my knees and shoulders. Some things will not change. We won’t be able to visit with out-of-town relatives until they, too, have been vaccinated. But I’m dreaming of freedom in the days that lie ahead.

October 7, 2020October 7, 2020

Will Election 2020 End The Troubles?

Remember “the troubles” in Northern Ireland that went on for about forty years ? We visited Belfast soon after the peace agreement was signed in 1998, but there was still plenty of tension . In fact, as our tour bus entered the city, armed militia stopped us, and walked through the bus, checking for whatever? Maybe to see if anyone had a gun? Clearly the peace agreement between, British Loyalists and Irish Nationalists hadn’t ended the troubles. Will the 2020 election end the troubles in the USA?

People in America were lined up for hours on the first day of early voting yesterday. Early voters are not undecided. Those who were interviewed expressed strong feelings for their candidate of choice.. While I applaud all the interest in voting, it makes you wonder what will happen, no matter who wins.

If Trump wins, will women stop having abortions or go underground? Will the Black Lives Matter movement grow stronger? Will rioting and protesting escalate out of control?

Will troubles end on election day?Or will they escalate no matter who wins. — Will Election 2020 End Troubles for America? It seems likely that it won’t.

If Biden wins, will Trump supporters turn in their guns? Will they welcome immigrants flooding into the country receiving free medical care? Will they meekly agree to another lockdown and shut down their businesses? If none of the above, look for trouble.

There was another contentious election day back in 1960. A lot of people opposed having a Catholic president, but he won, anyway. The troubles didn’t end when John F. Kennedy was elected, then assassinated two years later. In fact, what followed was an escalation of our involvement in Vietnam– the longest war in American History.

Both Biden and Trump say they want to unite the country. That seems like wishful thinking. America’s troubles will not end on election day.

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020

STAY AT HOME DIARY: WEEK 6

The #stayhome isolation is giving me a case of Covid-19 related hypochondria. A pulled muscle, cough or sneeze is not something alarming, under ordinary circumstances. But when I woke up with a sore neck last week, it had me worried until I realized I’d spent too much time reading my kindle. Consequently, I looked online and found that I could order a kindle holder, but it probably wouldn’t come very soon. Anyway, I’d never use it once the lockdown is over, because I prefer hard cover. Just wonder when that day will come. Stay At Home Diary: Week 6:

The closing down of meat processing plants has me concerned. Some of us lived through meat rationing during World War II, and it was not pleasant, unless you like Spam. I guess it’s popular in Hawaii, but to me it tasted like a combo of salt, fat, and rubber. I won’t eat Spam again, no matter what. I’ll go vegetarian with beans, lentils and other grains.

One high point of the week was a teleconference with our local Mayor. When people asked if all our city improvement plans were going down the drain, during the Covid-19 crisis, he had a great response. “We haven’t stopped, ” he said. “We’ve just slowed down.” I liked that slogan….a combination of caution and optimism, striking just the right note. Who said small town mayors from Indiana were dummies? He sounded far sharper than Trump, in my opinion.

On my weekly shopping trip, I noticed that fewer people are wearing masks. I can’t imagine why they are beginning to relax. Guess they’re just tired of it. Some grocery stores are doing a better job of following CDC guidelines than others. I won’t shop anywhere that doesn’t provide their clerks with masks and a Plexiglas barrier at checkout.

Major scare late Friday night. Got a call from a tenant in a property I manage that he had a leak in his bathroom that was spilling into the downstairs apt ceiling. What horrible timing! How many plumbers are available on Friday night? What if they weren’t working at all during the pandemic? Put in a call to my plumber, and had a fairly sleepless night. But he texted me next morning and said he would be out to fix it. Feeling fortunate to have a good relationship with this company, who has been there for me many times over the years. Plumber are first responders, too!

What would we do without plumbers during the covid-19 crisis — Plumbers are first responders, too. What would we do without them?

My oldest grand daughter’s birthday was Saturday. The night she was born seems like yesterday. Never thought I would live twenty-eight more years after that. I’ve been blessed with lovely grandchildren. They will always remember the spring of 2020!

It’s been a great week for gardening. Meijers had lilies on sale for half price, and I planted them right before the rain came down. Tomorrow, I’ll try to transplant some Hosta if the rain lets up. Notice a lot of people out working in their yards. We should see some pretty landscapes this summer.

Looks like we’ll have another week of grim statistics and politics, but as our mayor said. “We’ve just slowed down; we haven’t stopped.

April 13, 2020April 14, 2020

Stay At Home Diary: Week 5

I thought we were weren’t too stressed about the lock down, but I think the anxiety of the coronavirus is causing a few somatic symptoms. I used to have panic attacks when I was a teen, so I remember what they’re like. This week, I woke up and felt one coming on again. Luckily, my “Calm” App was there to get me through it. Just a few deep breaths and I was okay. I’m having flashbacks to WWII and later, the polio epidemic that paralyzed so many young people when I was growing up. My husband is a diabetic. Now, he’s having problems controlling his blood sugar. Although he seems outwardly calm, the stress may be raising his sugar. He will have to call his doctor next week.

Tornado in nearby county this week. 70 mph winds here. Blew our mail box down and broke it. The mailman drove right on by without delivering our mail. I called the post office, and the next day, we got a packet of mail tied with a string which said, “box down.” This is not a good time to install a new mailbox.

Venturing out once a week to shop in my coronavirus gear. Cap, glasses, face mask, gloves. Muslim women who wear burkas don’t have to worry about all that. They’re already dressed for the pandemic.

Forgot it was Easter week until too late. Got online to order Easter Crème Eggs from Fannie May for all my grandchildren, and it turns out you can’t have them shipped any more. For the first time in their lives, my children did not receive any Easter candy from me. I sure miss seeing my youngest grandson with a smear of chocolate on his face. He does love those chocolate bunnies.

On Easter morning, my girls arranged a group skype. We had never done that before and it felt very cool. But then, they pointed out that Skype is so outdated that they almost forgot how navigate it. Seems everyone uses apps like Zoom conferencing. They think that’s probably beyond my technological capacity, but I’m going to watch some you tube tutorials and surprise them.

Slim pickings in our daily newspapers on Easter Sunday. No grocery store ads. Reporters have been furloughed, and there are fewer pages to read. We used to spend an hour going over both papers, but this Sunday it took about ten minutes. At least we can still read the funnies

Geese in park don't worryabout coronavirus — Geese in the park aren’t worried about COVID-19. Stay At Home Diary: Week 5

Still walking when weather permits, and trying to get 15 minutes of unfiltered sunlight every day it doesn’t rain. Geese in the park aren’t worried about coronavirus. And a robin is building a nest in the bush beside our porch.

Life goes on.