Coronavirus19 Diary - A Historic Day

 The day began bright and hopeful. One of the run off races in Georgia had been called for the democrats, the second democratic candidate had a promising lead. Biden would have the majority, however slim, of both houses, something necessary to advance his agenda and move our country forward out of it's 4 year long nightmare. Work was routine, goods were delivered and put away, customers were assisted. I took a break and turned on my phone.

The sense of hope began to unravel. There were messages and alerts. A mob, thousands strong, had, under the instigation of the President and other speakers at a rally, marched to and stormed our nation's Capital building. Members of our House of Representatives were forced to lie on the floor for safety until they, and members of the Senate, could be evacuated. Several said later they feared for their lives as the frenzied mob roamed and ransacked what is sometimes referred to as the temple of our Republic.

Although some fought valiantly, 60 were sent to hospitals with injuries, several members of the police seemed complacent as the mob, mostly white, rampaged. The National Guard had to be deployed by the Vice President as the President phoned Congressmen during the melee, still asking them to overturn the election and tweeting "I love you, You're very special" to the rioters attempting to stage a violent coup. 

Only once before has our Capital building been defiled in this way, in retaliation for our actions in 1814 when we were at war with another country. Now, it appeared, we were at war with ourselves. Followers of an obviously insane "messiah" battling those who honor decency and peace, those who want to live in a country that values kindness, a country where many want to work for the good of all it's people. 

That night, as Congress reconvened, some that had sought to contest the results of the election had stepped down from their bully pulpit. They had witnessed, first hand, what awaited the country if they continued forward with their platform of division and hate. 6 dead, one of them a police officer murdered by a blow to the head from a fire extinguisher, the Capital littered. A poignant photo went viral of a member of the House picking up refuse from a hallway at 1 a.m.

Still, over 100 members of Congress voted in the aftermath of the attack to contest the election, refusing to recognize or take responsibility for their actions. Say their names, do not forget. 

Coronavirus19 Diary - The Beginning of the 3rd Act

 With vaccines on the horizon I have remarked over the last few days that we are at the beginning of the last act of this saga. Unless it is Shakespeare in which case we would be in the middle of the 4th act with a 5th act to follow, but I digress. In speeches and interviews I am heartened to hear members of a incoming administration speak in full, coherent sentences, who appear to have the ability to create and, hopefully, if congress does not get in their way, enact plans designed to move us through these final months.

There are, however, many who still harbor the hate and division created by the present administration. Once we control the pandemic and right our covid ridden ship we will still have that to deal with. If the country is to survive we will need to bring as many citizens as possible into the fold. 

I no longer, as I once did, fear civil war. I realize the people on both extremes are greatly outnumbered by those tired of chaos and disagreement. I feel many, for the sake of lives marked by peace and calm, are willing to come together to talk about our national troubles and possible solutions to them. It is a strong and important first step forward. Yet is is only one of many steps our country will need to take. Chaos breeds chaos and over the past 4 years chaos has reigned supreme.

It is like a  river which, after a  heavy rain rages, leaves destruction in it's wake. Yet, once the deluge ebbs, returns to a beautiful pathway, home to a mixed bounty of life, moving peacefully forward.

Coronavirus19 Diary - Bumps in the Road

Mid week it was announced, Chicago would have a stay at home advisory in place for 30 days starting the following Monday. On Friday evening I got the call, I was, once again, on furlough. I had expected it might happen. Now working for a small, family owned company, considering the circumstances, I probably would have made a similar decision as they. Once foot traffic was back to an acceptable level I was assured I would be called back.

As I've stated before, during these difficult times we are more fortunate than many. Overcoming boredom would be my greatest challenge. Saturday I eased into my situation, I watched movies and a 1961 BBC Canada production of Macbeth, starring Sean Connery in the title role, that I been interested in for several years which had become available on YouTube. I considered it a homage to the recently deceased actor. 

There is football, although my home team seems to be fumbling about in the dark this season, and my gym is still open. With obsessive attention to sanitation, mandatory mask wearing, temperature checks, occupancy controls and the members self enforcing social distancing I feel relatively safe there. 

My holiday decorating will be toned down this year but we will have a tree. That is a project I can spread out over a couple of days. I'll straighten closets and clean and organize cabinets, once again, as  during the first lock down, taking on the responsibilities of the traditional homemaker of olden days. 

One bright spot was being home to see our President Elect speak and answer questions from reporters. He was informed and statesmanlike. I had almost forgotten what that sounded like. Also, several vaccines show promise.

Once again I repeat to myself a mantra I have repeated often during these benighted times, patience.

Coronavirus19 Diary - Despair, A Moment of Joy and Hope

 Finally on election night I forced myself to bed, depressed, watching Trump lead in several states needed for Biden to win an electoral college majority. My mind refused to rest. Over and over in my head I considered how I, and the country, would survive another 4 years of leadership by a man who was just short of, if not fully deranged. I would wake up and turn on the t.v. to see the latest counts. At 4 a.m. I saw that Wisconsin had been called for Biden and hope began to return.

The next day I felt as if I was jet lagged despite my feet never having left the ground. Over the next few days I watched as Trump's lead in key states began to shrink, disappear and eventually be surpassed by Biden. 

Saturday morning I stepped off the bus on Michigan Ave. enroute to work and encountered a group of people jumping up and down on the sidewalk holding their phones aloft. Horns began to honk. Two young guys came down a side street yelling. I pulled out my phone to see a text message from my husband, two words, "Biden wins". I let out a yell. It was a wild, unintelligible noise. A bubble of anxiety bursting and manifesting itself in a sound which was a mixture of relief and joy.

As I left work later that evening Michigan Ave. was packed with cars, their horns honking, flags flying from their windows. Networks showed people across the country and the world dancing in the streets. It was a moment of near unanimous global euphoria. 

But, as happens after many joyous celebrations, afterward we find our challenges remain. The pandemic worsens and administration officials refuse to acknowledge Biden's victory and assist with a transition, even with Biden receiving a clear majority of both the popular and electoral college votes. There is the question of control of the Senate. Poverty and mass unemployment still run rampant. 

But I still hold hope that we will come through this dark time a stronger union. There will always be extremists on both sides of issues but I have hope that a national leader that promises to bring us together, not attempt daily to drive us apart, will be the beginning a country that I dream of. Even if it is the first small step in a long road, a country where we begin to care and support fellow citizens of both the country and the world.

I have hope.

Coronavirus19 Diary - Future Hopes

 Election eve. I wanted to write this down, today, when I, nor anyone else, knows what the future holds.

I hope that tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, that I find myself living in a country that cares for it's citizens and where it's citizens will begin to care for one another. I find myself living in a country where the chaotic waters of the past few years begin to calm. That I find myself living in a country where we can begin to heal, to unite. A country where we realize that no one group, or ideology, owns it, but that we all share it. Where honesty and decency and respect begin to flourish once more.

I, nor anyone else, knows what the future holds.

I hope

Coronavirus19 Diary - Work and Hope

 I am working. It feels good to say it, or in this case commit it to virtual paper. After 3 months of furlough waiting for a return to my former employer and another 3 months of unemployment after being informed my position was being eliminated, I, once again, get up in the morning and head off, suitably masked of course, to work. 

I am grateful, that through luck, frugality and adhering to a tight budget, we managed to emerge from this period economically unscathed. I feel for those not as fortunate as we. I feel for those lined up at the food bank I pass on my commute. I feel for those losing homes, struggling, victims of an unprepared administration. 

Our country is an imperfect, dysfunctional union. Factions still battle factions. This could have been a period of unification. people working together and taking measures, fair and patriotic ones, that would have made this time less difficult for everyone. But the present administration, selfish and heartless, completely lacking in empathy, does not unite us but spreads hate, fear and division.

My hope is that the country is growing tired of this hate, this division, the countries emotional disease, just as they are growing weary of the still necessary mitigation efforts needed to control the physical disease we are experiencing. My hope is that the goodness and kindness in our country will rise once again to defeat the distress and despair and fear of those, different than us, with whom we share our country. I hope we begin to unite, heal and realize that one side or the other does not own the country but that we are all in this together.  

Coronavirus19 Diary - Observations While Biding My Time

It was 2 weeks prior to the start date that the job offer was made. There were things I needed to accomplish. There were specialized certificates I had to acquire and black pants to find for my new work uniform. There was a bit of this and a bit of that, all to ensure that my return to the workforce would go as smoothly as possible. Despite these preparations, until the start date, I still have some of the excess of time I have had for the last 6 months. I still have the time to observe, in detail, the events going on in the U.S.,  often at break neck speed. 

A legendary woman, her contribution to our nation virtually incalculable, sadly passes away. Within hours of the announcement of her death the political carrion known as the Republican Party are vowing to replace her despite a highly contentious election being held just weeks away, early and absentee voting already underway. The final Supreme Court nominee of the previous administration was put on hold for 8 months by the Republicans. 

A woman is shot 6 times in her bed yet none of the police officers involved are charged with her death. Only one is charged, with reckless endangerment for the shots that penetrated adjacent apartments, not for the shots that penetrated the body of the dead woman. Protesters, the great majority of them peaceful, once again pour into the streets of cities across the nation.

 All the while a dangerous, childish president, who we learn has attempted to turn tax avoidance into a fine art, states he will not guarantee a peaceful transition of power while attempting to throw into question the legitimacy of the upcoming election. Lest we forget, a pandemic is still raging across the country and 850,00 new people file for unemployment each week.

During these abnormal times people are longing for normal. Some states open up exacerbating the risk of new infections and deaths as a result of complications of the virus. Citizens, never adequately protected financially by the government for the necessary shut down, teeter on the edge of poverty and homelessness. 

Mask wearing, a proven deterrent to transmission of the virus becomes a political hot potato. People rail about their rights yet have no issue with trampling on others right to dominion over their own bodies. They wish to legally censure people for who they love. They moan about the lack of morals in the country today, yet do not show the simple human concern to wear a mask to protect others. 

I do not know how it will end. I try to remain optimistic. I remind myself that, according to polls, a majority of my fellow citizens still cling to the values of decency, truthfulness and the acceptance and worth of others. I hope for the best and bide my time as I await a return to work.