So sorry about the lack of a post yesterday!
I woke up in a very dark mood. That happens rarely. I couldn’t shake it and it followed me throughout the day, though it was less intense as the day went by. I was still going to post, but Rick and Doug stopped by unexpectedly and by the time they left, it was too late.
My mood is much improved today.
After Rick and Doug left, we went out to a late breakfast at a local eatery and the woman next to us decided to talk to us about the coronavirus. Didn’t ask her to. But she did. She has apparently worked in some way on previous outbreaks, though she’s not a scientist. Anyway, she went on and on and on and on, until she finally left. Don and I looked at each other. Too much information. And it all happened right before we were going to eat. I couldn’t decide whether she was slightly off or just a zealot about it. She was obviously very intelligent. Anyway….we could have done without that little pre-breakfast talk.
It’s going to be in the high fifties today and it’s sunny. Huzzah! Tomorrow? Even warmer. I am not in the throes of spring fever, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t looking at photos of gardens and thinking about beginning the big cleanup outside. It’s way too soon to do it, but maybe in a couple of weeks?
I finished Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith and started in on the The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler, a book that has cropped up on Instagram posts. I needed a mystery/crime novel and this will hopefully fill the bill.
I don’t think this has ever happened before, but Don was talking in his sleep last night. No words you could recognize, but he was having a conversation, that’s for sure. I happened to be awake and I don’t mind telling you I was fascinated by it. He would mumble something and then there would be a pause while he listened to the response and then he would respond. Sometimes he was asking a question. His voice was quieter and higher than usual and it felt like he was younger, like he might have sounded as a young boy. There was a vulnerable quality to the ‘conversation.’ I felt very protective of him.
When I told him about it this morning, he said that he had been having intense dreams and they involved his brother, so it makes sense that he sounded younger.
It was darned sweet.
I don’t know what we’ve got going for the day ahead, but I imagine we’ll do something.
Happy Sunday.
I’m sorry it was a rough day yesterday Claudia. I had a day like that not long ago. It’s so hard on those days (thankfully a rare occurrence) to shake whatever the dark is. The one thing that helps on those days for me is to be kind to myself and keep a mantra in my head – “tomorrow will be lighter, tomorrow will be lighter.” Glad today is warm and sunny!
We have had snow for 2 days but as cold as it is today (- 20 C), the sun is out and the sky is blue. The rest of the week is warm and this will soon melt. Staying home today to putz around the house – hang pictures, work on the bakery room box, making relook at the dollhouse, gather my stationary to put in the new desk and watch some Netflix later.
Hope your day goes well!
X Chy
I made a gratitude list, which helped a little!
Enjoy your day at home, Chy!
Happy to hear your dark day dissipated. Even though we know how fortunate we are sometimes we just feel down.
The Coronavirus situation is very interesting but not a topic for before breakfast. I give you a lot of credit for being so polite.
We had no idea it would turn out to be so overwhelming, or we would have spoken up. Thanks, Kay.
Claudia – Relieved to know your dark mood has eased and that nothing more sinister was
keeping you away. Certainly you’re in plentiful company when confronted by such a day and
so right to embrace the mood in whatever way you required.
I believe Holly Golightly referred to those times as “the mean reds”. At any rate, welcome back.
I’m also sorry you received the COVID-19 lecture before breakfast. It’s hardly “dining music” !
Despite receiving dozens of official notices daily I would never consider bombarding anyone with the data. I detect fear bordering on paranoia on the part of the woman who confronted you.
You were unfortunately seated just right to serve as her outlet.
I have a special request. Might we all join together to send positive thoughts, and uplifting
prayers to Susan at Ashtree Cottage. She lost her little dog Bentley of 14 years, 2 days ago
and this is midst her own cancer struggles. There is so much power in caring people joining
in a common purpose at just such a time. So while I do not know her I feel
led to make this request. Thank you for the opportunity.
healing and loving thoughts through the ether on their way to her. XO
xo Thank you, Tammy.
I knew Bentley was experiencing many health issues, and I think it was you who let us know about Susan, herself, being ill. I always enjoyed her posts. Her decorating is so pretty, and loved to hear about Bentley. She has had a rough year. Keeping her in thoughts and prayers.
Her illness was diagnosed as cancer and it is a particularly aggressive case. And she lost Bentley in the midst of grappling with this diagnosis. Prayers. Thanks, Chris.
Thank you for info regarding Susan. I miss her posts greatly. I too send up prayers for Susan and David in their loss of dear little Bentley. He truly was her companion. Is Susan on another format so we can keep up with her and offer our support?
Susan is on Facebook and Instagram. She writes frequently on both but I think she writes more in depth on FB. You can keep up with her there, Jan. Her account is Susan Freeman. Thank you.
Absolutely. She is my longtime (since I started, I believe) blogging friend and my heart breaks for her. I have been praying for her and the loss of her beloved Bentley is just too much. She believes in prayer and I know that she would appreciated the prayers of everyone here.
Thank you, R.
I don’t know her, but she has mine. Prayer is powerful.
xo
thanks for the update.
prayers said for susan and her family, for everyone.
kathy in iowa
The Sandman by Lars Kepler was the best book I have ever read. I have not read the Hypnotist but will look for it.
The Hypnotist is the first book in the Joona Linna series. I think the Sandman is the fourth? Or fifth? I’m reading them in order. Good to know how much you liked The Sandman! Thank you.
Well, glad you’re okay; I am somewhat startled when you have a day you don’t post (since your readers become accustomed to it), yet you have ‘a life’ and stuff happens (and you’re under no obligation to post daily!).
I’ll try not to talk about Covid-19 here; I’ve done too much of it already in recent comments. The whole subject of coronavirus had been dominating my husband’s and my life for several weeks now, from knowing someone on the Diamond Princess and having near-daily contact (our friend is still in quarantine in Nebraska; still testing positive…and it’s been weeks). I can see how you live in the country and are probably removed from a lot of concerns or panic, but I live in a more urban area and the virus is now lurking in my county as well as an adjacent one. My asthma is so bad right now (aggravated by a cold) that, while hoping to stay OUT of a doctor’s office as much as possible (germs in general; sick people in the lobby/waiting room), I have to get wedged in there tomorrow (hopefully), wherever she can fit me in, because I’ve gotta get rid of this chest inflammation soonest (the last thing I want is to have an existing issue, when I could be victim [hope not] to this lung infection which is Covid-19). For me, it’s a big worry. I have every single risk factor for complications from Covid-19; so, again, to me, for me, it’s a threat. (But after this, I can keep my worries to myself; I don’t think I realized that the subject of the virus can be irritating to somebody else, and I need to be sensitive to that, so I’m glad for your explanation about the woman at the restaurant. I’ve become a bit too obsessed over ‘coronavirus’ because I’m just plain scared; for me, the fear isn’t unfounded.)
So interesting about Don’s dream(s)! For years, my husband had really terrifying ones as he’d been in a helicopter crash in his 20s and survived (despite a lot of broken bones; in traction for his back, six months of convalescing). I would feel so badly for him; I’d definitely shake him and make him wake up in that particular case. When my dad was dying and in a morphine haze, I would watch him as he dreamed a drugged sleep, clearly having the conversation with someone else, even with facial expressions; quite animated but not (seemingly) in any kind of troubled way. I’ve always wondered who he was talking to; seemed like ‘conversations’ with some substance! Anyway, very poignant how you described it for Don. I watched my dog chasing rabbits last night; sound asleep on her pillow, the feet and legs working like crazy, ears twitching, mouth moving; squeaky whimpering. I hope in her dream that she was having a grand time, running across a wide lawn or field somewhere (like she could before arthritis and age got to her hips).
Enjoy your warmer weather! In SoCalif, we’re due for much-needed rain this week. I can’t recall rain since December.
Your photo today is a real study in muted colors (the still-stark landscape outdoors), but also where your green plant gives such vibrancy to the surroundings. I like.
It isn’t irritating as a rule. It was the time and the place. Not appropriate from a stranger to two people she didn’t even know who were sitting down to have a quiet brunch together. That was the problem. You are not a stranger, and you are welcome to talk about it. I do think when we all talk about it all the time, a kind of mass fear is generated that can help no one. I understand your fears and you are wise to stay home and stay away from any potential threat.
Yes, my dad did the same when he was in the hospital. It was fascinating! And Scoutie used to yip a bit in her dreams, her eyebrows would go up and down, the whole thing. She was so vulnerable, poor thing.
We just had a long talk on the phone with my husband’s sister in Missouri who is a newly-retired trauma, surgical and emergency room nurse who has also been a mobile nurse (don’t know the correct name for it) sent to the front lines in former ‘epidemics’ outside of her home state. She’s super-intelligent (coulda/shoulda been a medical doctor, but got married young right out of college; several kids). I feel a lot more scared than I did before talking with her; but, a point she made which I thought was interesting is about the kind of news headlines she has locally vs what we’re getting here in at least my area of SoCalif: there doesn’t seem to be as much emphasis on the virus in her neck o’ the woods (and she’s in a big city, 400,000+ population; I don’t think Missouri has any reported cases of the virus, and any neighboring states have little to few; so, it figures a lot differently from West Coast, clearly). She had just been to the big-box store and there were no shortages of any normal household-type supplies, for instance. (I haven’t even been able to find a decent oral thermometer to buy; mine has failed on me. [Finally found one online. But a lot of online is already temporarily out of stock.]) Plenty of toilet tissue in her store; bleach, alcohol; the gamut. Good inventory; well-stocked shelves. People out & about. No tents being readied in hospital parking lots. Etc. Going along with their lives as usual. Like I remember mine from six weeks ago!
(In contrast, my husband and I didn’t go to a large wedding we were supposed to attend today in L.A., and I asked my sister-in-law about this [did we do the right thing?], and she actually felt, for us and also where we live, California being the worst number of COVID-19 cases just behind Washington state, that we made the wiser choice. [How awful, to have a wedding planned, and nobody shows up; we felt badly but had contacted them in time before they had to adjust their catering count.])
There’s just so much unevenness to this whole coronavirus ‘nightmare’, and I totally don’t believe any of the numbers (who’s infected/who’s not; numbers of people dead around the world; test kit quantities; certainly can’t trust anything the leader of the country is saying) because (as my sister-in-law was thinking it thru with us), frankly, they probably just don’t know, even at the CDC. Feels like the U.S. was caught unprepared. (Doing the best they can at CDC I’m sure; hope they’re not being muzzled; oh, the conspiracy theories[!}; I just want the truth. But there’s skepticism [around under-reporting of facts despite all the broadcast news hype]. Fear of course about the economy shutting down which is bad for more than just Trump and his re-election; recession I guess, when people stop going to restaurants, avoid stores, cancelling community events; can blow the mind just thinking about it, but there could be a lot of unemployment [I was talking with a gal at a shop and she said their staff is down two people and those two won’t be replaced; that their number of customers they usually get has dipped precipitously as people choose to not go out much as each new day passes {maybe online sales will surge; home-delivery stuff; but that’s not gonna help businesses on the street, in the local sector, like in my town}]. As one of the legit health officials had said sometime back, it’s ‘uncharted territory’.)
But enough said. Zipping my lips (fingers off the keyboard on the subject); we should instead talk about happy things here, like books and doll houses, curious dreams and good ‘ol films to watch on TV; I just watched “Diamond Head” last night, color film, Hawaii locations, Charleton Heston and Yvette Mimieux; George Chakiris (West Side Story); I think from 1962 or 1963; was based on a book by a newspaperman in the islands although a lot of the book was apparently changed for the screen. Romance; racism; great clothes; horses and dogs and pineapple (or was it sugar cane) fields; interesting scenes; bits & pieces of island history. Sure, a bit dated, but I needed the distraction.. Much more comforting than CNN!
My nurse/sister-in-law isn’t stopping ‘life’: Her husband is going thru with his knee surgery in the coming week. She’s a germaphobe, self-admitted, but they’re not afraid for his safety at the hospital. She said she’s glad they have no trips planned, though; that she doesn’t have to be traveling for work (although if they call on nurses in retirement if all this gets worse, she may heed that call; is very dedicated to the profession despite spending her career-ending years in Admin). One piece of advice from her: Eat your leafy greens (they may have protective benefits; I’m taking a lot of fresh spinach, ever-so-slightly saute-ing or steaming it, the thinking then being that I’ll freeze portions in flat ziplok bags so that I still have some ‘fresh’ veggies over the upcoming weeks). Also, get your rest; get your sleep; if you don’t sleep well in the night, take a nap the next day; put your feet up and take a load off; don’t tax your body if you can help it. Stay hydrated; it’s good to flush your ‘innards’ with fresh water. Washes out some toxins. Don’t forget to exercise (you can do it indoors even if you don’t have a treadmill; people can sit in a wheelchair and still do some movements; keep limbered up; or stand in place and do some calisthenics on your living room floor; or dance to some good music!).
And she did say, for me and my own health issues, that she thought it was indeed the best thing for me personally to self-isolate right now due to my ‘co-morbidity’ (risk factors), so that’s what we’ve planned for as much as is feasible…and I think it’s going to be a L.O.N.G. eight or nine weeks (or beyond) of being primarily confined to home. Hope I don’t go bat-sh*t crazy. I’m lucky I can walk around in my own good-sized backyard, high fences keeping me privately contained. It’s no great showplace; but, especially with forecasted rain, I’m sure we’ll be ablaze in some good spring color (red bottle brush, orange iceplant and orange trees, yellow lantana and the lemon tree, green ground covers and leaves of all the fruit trees [including, hopefully, a good yield this year of our Fuerte avocado which I enjoy SO much more than Hass]; our blue lilac [Ceanothus; I always call it blue lavender; it’s not really what I hear others talk of as a true lilac], purple sage, pinkish garlic); my ROSES [can’t wait for them to bloom]; so, yes, lucky for my yard/hillside (despite all the weeds!). My outdoor sanctuary. Which is how a good many of us no doubt view our outdoor spaces at the home. Even when I lived in apartments, if I couldn’t put a plant on a balcony, I hung one near a window or set one on a table to catch some light.
I’m sure when people live in sub-zero weather for half a year or more, they come up with all kinds of creative and inventive ways to stay sane indoors! Maybe I’ll take up knitting (ha) … imagine myself at a remote ice station in Antarctica in freezing weather and needing a wooly scarf/muffler with mittens …
I knew you could relate to my dog dreams because I think you mentioned it once about Scoutie; and you’re right, dreams ARE fascinating, human or canine! I always forget to write mine down; see if I can make any kind of wakeful connection to what I dream in the unconscious.
Claudia, do you think (dark moods) you might suffer from are a little bit of seasonal affective disorder (I don’t think that’s the right name for it; but, you know, what they call S.A.D.)? Am I forgetting? Reason I ask is that when on this phone call with my husband’s sister, she revealed that she has started to suffer from it, to the point that a month ago, they had to take a trip to Florida to visit the grandkids so that they could get her in some sun and warmth and bright light. I know it’s a very real thing. I prob spoke of it previously, but I had a doctor who had to leave Oregon when he was in dental school and return to SoCalif because he couldn’t take all that rain. And a co-worker’s husband who was with the Coast Guard at many diff postings, once had a stint in Washington state (they’re originally from Ohio) and she began to really suffer from the endless, constant overcast (and, often, drippy drizzle). She was a young mom at the time and had to work really hard to not just shut herself off in the bedroom during the day; but, you know, she had kids to care for and just couldn’t do that, but I remember her telling me that she was scary-miserable. I’ve read you can buy table lamps, not terribly expensive, from which you can read by indoors, and they emit a light that’s more like sunlight thru a window over your shoulder as opposed to incandescent/compact florescent (or God forbid, LED) lighting. I guess there’s always been ‘sun lamps’ for recuperation from other medical difficulties, too. (This is one of the things that kept my husband and I from very-nearly moving to the Pacific Northwest in retirement [big lure, because we have friends there]; a childhood friend of mine has a sibling he visits in Gig Harbor, Washington; and his words to me were, “I hope you like a lot of gray, because that’s what life is there…” (I still want to visit some day…all those beautiful places like Brookings in coastal Oregon; Washington’s Gig Harbor and Port Townsend, also Whidbey Island, etc. [I’ve seen plenty of photos where it was sunny…but, just say’in…])
I wish you sunny skies; continual warmer weather; grass to mow, water in the birdbath; flowers to nurture. Hang in there, Claudia; will all be here for you before you can blink an eye! For all your indoor hobbies, you’re also a garden gal/outdoor girl, at least in spring and summer! Happy anticipation …
No, I don’t think that dark mood was due to SAD. It is a rare thing for me and for someone reason my thoughts took a dark direction when I first woke up. I often find that when I first wake up and I’m not fully awake, worry can quickly change my mood. I usually can shake it off with a cup of coffee, etc. I just couldn’t the other day. But, I do better with sun, that’s for sure. And I’m very aware the my mood is lighter and happier when the sun is shining. So I probably have a bit of SAD, but the mood the other day was not connected to that. Thanks, Vicki.
Well, we certainly have enough to worry about these days, that’s for sure.
My mood is lighter when it’s sunny although I don’t like too much heat. But, yes, when it’s stormy and gray and dark, don’t we all just want to curl up and hibernate? Like a bear. What does a lizard do as soon as there’s sun? He warms himself on a rock.
What REALLY improves my mood is a cup of strong coffee and, dang, with some health issues I have right now, coffee is not allowed. Decaf just doesn’t cut it; I need the kick of the caffeine. Rats! I am such a more pleasant person with coffee. It’s just the pits waking up to no coffee. Fuzzy head.
I tried to quite coffee once and did so for a while. But I really missed it, and yes, I felt very foggy all the time. You have my sympathy! Thanks, Vicki.
Sorry about your bad day. I would have been so uncomfortable concerning that woman talking about the Corona Virus. It is bad enough to hear bout it on the news that you do not need someone going into a lengthy explanation. Glad you are feeling better.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn. Yes, she was a bit much!
It is 64 and sunny here today in IL! High winds though, so doesn’t feel as warm as we hoped. Still…so lovely and absolutely no complaints! We have spent the entire day packing and cleaning the house and doing laundry, as we’re leaving very early tomorrow morning. My mom will be staying here to housesit and look after the cats.
Going to be 67 here tomorrow! Have a wonderful, wonderful trip, Melanie! You deserve it!
sorry you had a down day. time with your love, friends, a good book and pretty weather sound like just the ticket. glad you’re feeling better.
there are no confirmed cases of covid-19 here (yet?), but lots of people here seem very, very stressed … and good luck finding hand sanitizer. maybe the lady next to you at the restaurant was one of them. though her choice of topic and timing (to talk so much about the coronavirus to strangers just before eating) weren’t the best, i bet she felt safe to talk with you and don and that your parts of the conversation helped her.
hope don’s dream was good. interesting that his voice sounded younger to you.
throughout my life, i’ve talked in my sleep a lot. also showered, put something in the trash outside and (scarily) gone outside a few times and knocked on neighbors’ doors. thankfully that seems to have lessened as i’ve gotten older!
hope you are having a nice night.
kathy in iowa
Yes, there’s no hand sanitizer around here. We stocked up on canned goods the other day, just in case. And found some hand sanitizer in a drug store – a healthier brand, not Purell. I’ve only sleep walked once, but I remember ending up in another bed in my childhood house – not mine! Thanks, Kathy!
three cases of covid-19 were confirmed in iowa a couple hours ago in a county two hours east of here. someone in my family goes to the two biggest towns there several times a month for work. praying …
kathy in iowa
Praying for everyone.
So sorry someone disrupted your brunch. I tend to do my well-meaning ranting at the grocery store and the cashiers seem to enjoy getting their ranting out with me, as well. Mutual therapy, I call it.
It has become a bit surreal in California, depending upon what the recent news developing about the virus. My husband David became obsessed immediately since his company has manufacturing in China. Now every night he comes home with a new story. Recently heard people are shopping obsessively at Costco. I’m not as concerned since I am not immune-compromised, but I do take more care about washing and all the other self-care recommendations. I’m also a bit of a hoarder so I have a little stockpile anyway — for earthquakes.
I worked the elections – 4 days of people coming in to vote. Enjoyable, but tiring. Only one came in with full mask and gloves. The County supplied us with a gallon of generic Purell dispenser. People used it! I had a couple of people who were very fearful to sign their names; one said his job was in catering and he couldn’t risk getting anything. Poor guy. We worked it out using his knuckle to sign on the iPad. Followed by lots of ‘Purell’
One good thing – we got a bit of rain, heavy misting — well, we call it rain.
Sending warm healing, tender thoughts and hugs to Susan of Ashtree Cottage.
Yes. No hand sanitizer to be found here, toilet paper is being hoarded, etc. We’re not panicked either but everywhere you go that’s the topic of conversation! Thanks, Martha.
I was annoyed with the local TV news anchors when they were poking fun at people buying toilet paper in larger quantities, saying it’s not as if a storm is blowing out there, where you can’t get out. Duh, read up on things before you make those kinds of jokes. If you’re ripe for bad effects of the virus and trying not to get it, you’re doing what the health officials say by staying in place, self-isolating/self-quarantining. Not going out on shopping errands and being around groups of people. So, if you can’ t just pop out to go the store around the corner for every little and big household thing (for your own protection and anybody else’s), you’ve gotta stock up a bit and have things on hand. Which is what health officials are suggesting. Who wants to be stuck at home and be without their necessary conveniences?!
They’re idiots. I had to point that out to someone online the other day. If you’re quarantined you’re going to need toilet paper. If you might be quarantined, you’re going to need toilet paper. It’s just common sense!
I’m so glad for a sympathetic, sensible voice who understands. I’m glad you corrected the person online who was being stupid (or else just hadn’t thought it thru). I very nearly sent the TV station a sternly-worded comment. It was over-the-top mocking; the younger ones think they’re SO cool and instead they just come off as, well (like you said), idiots. My husband and I both have a background in behind-the-scenes broadcast television and we expect better of these folks. We KNOW they can be better. Some of them are too conscious of themselves in front of the camera (ego).
They’re arrogant and that doesn’t help. xo
Hi to you in the north from me in the south of our state!
You’re lucky; my husband worked the polls (as Inspector) and he bought his own supplies out-of-pocket; two oversized tubs of disinfecting wipes and a big dispenser of hand sanitizer (before they went missing off shelves around here in SoCalif where I am; I don’t even want to say how much money I paid for hand sanitizer online; I know I got scalped but I didn’t care; I have to have it; I’m too vulnerable when outside the home; like, I have to go to the doctor tomorrow, there’s no way I can’t; I’ll be out there in the germy world). The County elections people provided no protective supplies and of course my husband was in contact with a lot of people as were you at the polling place. (He wanted to get out of it but there was just no time to bail; again, when signing up for Super Tuesday, he had [nor did you] any idea that Covid-19 would develop as it has.) He also bought disposable gloves for himself and anybody who wanted any. Believe me, people took some for the task, and the hand sanitizer was very popular. Each hour in the VERY long day that started for him (and I’m sure you, too) at 5am, they wiped off all the pens the voters used in the booths, replacing them with a new, sanitized batch. (My husband had given this a lot of thought! It was a very organized situation.)
Now, the next thing is that he’d signed up to work the 2020 Census. He got his first call from somebody about it last night (part of a screening interview) and even she was hesitant to say whether or not they’ll delay the census taking; she just doesn’t know. It can involve nights, weekends; definitely door-to-door contact. How could he have known this when he signed up for it a long time ago, before there was any thought of coronavirus/Covid-19? He should have told her to scratch him off the list, but he didn’t…yet. He’s hoping they’ll call it off for now (delay the census…?!!…wow) rather than for him to have to say, ‘sorry, I can’t do it after all’. He’s in his 60s, so that’s one risk factor for the virus, but it’s me who IS the immuno-compromised one, and he can’t afford to bring home anything to me. If the govt/health officials are going to advise “stay home” and do some social distancing, who’s even gonna open their front door to a stranger/census taker (who’s been exposed to a lot of people)? Stand six feet from their front door and try to hear what they’re saying so that you write it down correctly? Would there be a mask, although they’re saying don’t wear one. Will be pointless. They won’t get an accurate count, and a census needs to be very, very accurate. They become ancestry/historical documentation!
Anyway, when the CDC said to expect ‘life disruption’, they weren’t kidding. It’s like dominoes all lined up; you knock one down and there go the rest. One thing connected to another that will be/could be affected. Every day, all you can do is ‘stay tuned’ because the whole situation is definitely fluid, and changing. I wanted to laugh, although it wasn’t really very funny: Two photos online of a NYC subway ride; one person sat there with a blanket over his head; another with a plastic-bucket contraption over hers. It didn’t look like a joke, not at all. And so strange when reading an article in our local newspaper, how they’re telling janitors in schools to quit vacuuming and sweeping, but to instead concentrate their efforts on sanitizing doorknobs, countertops, desks; that sort of thing. Oh my. My sister-in-law (in Missouri) went to Mass this morning (I’m still writing this Sunday) and there was no sharing of the communal cup or greeting the person sitting next to you (no touching of hands, like a handhold-handshake); locally where I am, priests have told parishioners that they are no longer (themselves) placing the wafer on the tongue of the church-goer. My neighbor has dispensed with going to church on Sunday at all, at least for the time being. It’s so sad. But we have to remind ourselves it’s temporary.
We all have our stories about this; it’s indeed a saturation of virus info and I’m going to wind down from talking about it after today, here on Claudia’s blog, although she’s been gracious to me as always. Somehow, we all just have to keep thinking positive and simply be sensible for our health.
I’m glad you got rain; we’re sure hoping we’ll get some down here on Monday!
My former husband used to talk in his sleep regularly, but German was his first language so I never knew what he was talking about!!! LOL. In terms of the virus, I’ve tried to stop paying attention. Too much info and most of it doesn’t match thanks to our fearless leader. I’m in the age group and have underlying medical issues, but there’s nothing I can do about it so…we’ve stocked up on cat food and litter and soup. That’s about as far as I want to go. Cats, books, tea, and prayers to the Universe. Oh, and more focus on positive videos. Next time you’re out, you’ll have a plan to deflect upsetting conversations now that you know it can happen. Enjoy the 70 degrees they are promising today, and did you see the fantastic moon last night? Supposed to be even better tonight. Shine on queen of the sky!
Same here. I try not to fall into the trap of reading about it. We stocked up on supplies, we have what we need, we’re washing our hands, etc. Yes, we saw the moon and it was gorgeous! Thanks, Nora.
We all get days like that. It’s allowed. We roll. Sometimes they just happen.
I just want to suck up everything I can about this virus — I’m appropriately freaked out. I suppose there can be TMI, but for me now, not enough. I’m sticking close to home — not totally avoiding the world but avoiding big crowds. Still haven’t booked the England trip for fall yet and might wait another month. We’ll see. I may call my hotel and get a handle on how things are being booked for September. It couldn’t hurt.
We’re definitely laying low at the moment. Not panicking, but being cautious. Thanks, Jeanie.