Sunday Salon and Coronavirus Diary, May 10

Happy Mother's Day!

Her name is Shirley,
but we call her Mom, for short.
Ninety-one years young!

Mom: her other name
is true love--- personified.
We treasure you now.

 

Our first rose to bloom this year. Aptly named Ketchup and Mustard.

Weather: Gorgeous and almost hot. We've done a lot of gardening and just hanging out together in the yard.

Coronavirus---the bad and the good

1. Bad: States are opening up too soon and are allowing the virus to spread. In Florida and Georgia people are arriving from out-of-state to visit these beaches since their states are still closed. Then they will go home and we know what happens next.
Good: There is this guy who dresses like the Grim Reaper and stalks the beaches reminding people what they are doing. Who knows maybe a few people will stop and think.

Maybe they'll listen the to Grim Reaper, since they haven't listened to the message in Jurassic Park and the sequels.

Or maybe authorities should just let them self-destruct.

2. Bad: The President and Vice-President keep going places without face masks, saying they are safe and don't need to wear them. Trump was quoted as saying he wore his face mask backstage before going out to the floor of the face mask factory he was touring. Backstage? What? Does he think he is on a reality TV show playing role of the President?
Good: OK, I can't think of anything good about the poor role models our leaders are, but I thought this cartoon was funny.

3. Bad: School is canceled for the rest of the school year and parents are having to teach them at home or at least make sure that they do their on-line school work.
Good: Maybe now, finally, parents will understand how hard it is for teachers to teach a class of thirty+ students at one time and will quit blaming all social ills on schools and teachers.

4. Bad: We're all quarantined and stuck at home.
Good: Parents, children, and dogs are everywhere in my neighborhood. I've never seen so many families out and about: walking, biking, skating, gardening, playing, chalk-drawing, playing games. We even had a few little fairies grace our neighborhood trees with hanging god's-eyes. They are everywhere and such a happy little reminder of loving- kindness.

5. Bad: We can't get together for worship, meetings, dinners, or other gatherings. There is always Zoom meetings, which are a poor substitute but better than nothing.
Good: At least we get to see other people during a Zoom meeting and then, when it is over, we all say goodbye, which if you've ever noticed is a lot like this Laurel and Hardy sketch.




6. Bad: Society and the economy are now in the toilet. When will we get back to normal?
Good: Maybe getting back to "normal" shouldn't be the goal. Our environment and climate are experiencing unparalleled corrections since our use of fossil fuels is down this year by 4-8%. BBC News. This pandemic should give us a moment to stop and think about how we want to live going forward. I love this quote by author Arundhati Roy.:

And this inspiring thought:

7. Bad: Being at home is so boring. There are only so many closets and drawers that need cleaning out.
Good: We have time to clean out those little hidey-holes where we stash our junk. Plus time to read, draw, do puzzles, play games. Though I am reading less for some odd reason I can't explain, I am still reading and working lots of jigsaw puzzles. I just finished my tenth puzzle. Ha!

8. Bad: I'm not reading as much as usual.
Good: I am spending more time writing these thrilling coronavirus diaries. In case you missed my mid-week diary, I highly recommend that you go back and read it. It is probably my best so far, but who's bragging? Check it out here.

And I'm sure you are wondering what Fred and George are doing this week:

George is trying to break into the bathroom when his mistress shut him out.

Fred emerges from under the bed while George looks on, a prime place to play

Stay home. Wear a mask when you go out. Wash your hands lots. This coronavius is not a hoax.

-Anne