In the Age of Pandemics!

Meat counter at our local Publix

I'm sure you're as stunned and amazed as I am about all that is going on in our world.
Even now, people are giving toilet paper alerts on FB. How much do you have to have to feel safe? And bottled water! Is our water source threatened? Every day you go to the grocer store, something new is wiped out. It is just amazing and yet, trump is standing before the microphones and expounding his "knowledge." I have found comfort in listening to Gov. Cuomo on NY giving thorough, calm, rational updates. Too bad we have no one at the helm of government to do the same. States and the Federal government are BIDDING against each other for necessary supplies. Does that sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me? Why is the Federal government not coordinating this? Alright, I know, I know......but it is so incomprehensible!

I wanted to tell you a little about the exhibit sponsored by Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate for March 14 & 15. It had to be cancelled but we do plan to do it when life returns to some semblance of normal. The artist is Mary Burkett from Columbia, SC and she does pencil drawings of Children of the Holocaust and Children of Slavery. She usually brings 10 of her drawings and will talk about two of them. I thought it was interesting that she used this drawing for PR. Her reason was that you really couldn't tell whether this child is from the holocaust or slavery. She was actually a child of slavery who was rescued around the age of 5 and taken to a whole new life. She appears to have had a comfortable life. I was very much looking forward to the exhibit and talk, being interested in where and how she obtained information about her subjects. Here is a LINK to a local article about her and I'm sure you can Google her for more of her drawings.

On the 19th, Chris and I had planned to go to an art exhibit in Beaufort and we thought it safe enough to do so. It would our last outing before lock-down! The exhibit, What it Means to be Free - Art by Women of Color, was just hanging in the Arts Center. We figured there would probably be no one there. In any case, we made a quick stop at the Publix in St Helena in search of yogurt and TOFU. Whoever thought there would be a run on tofu! We were able to pick up a reasonable amount in record time. When we got to the exhibit, there were signs posted on all doors so we thought we were out of luck. We went up to read the notice and I tried the door, and it was open. So, other than the lady in the office, we had a private showing! While we were there, one of the artists came to pick up her work. so we'd made it just in time. From there we went to Herban Market for delicious vegetarian food. There were only doing take outs but there just happened to be picnic tables under a large tree across the street - I'd never even noticed the before. So we sat, facing the river, enjoying a nice breeze on a sunny day, and had lunch. It really was a beautiful day and outing. Chris put it perfectly when we were reflecting on our good fortune...

As always, the simple things give the greatest pleasure. A delicious lunch accompanied by sunshine and river breezes, a successful and impromptu shopping trip, lovely art and best of all, sharing all of this with a good friend. Grace abounds in these perilous times! Be well ...

The following day Tippy scrounged for lunch as our usual haunts were closed. She brought Sushi and we worked on Zoom, a computer program for running online classes. She's going to have to teach her FSU class online. We played with it and got the obvious things to work. The following day she was to meet with two friends who have actually used Zoom for teaching. I'll be eager to pick her brain the next time I see her. 

Since then, I've pretty much been on lockdown with only short trips to the grocery (off-hours), the dump, etc. Today I tried something new......ordering groceries online. This seemed as good a time as any to try it, and it may be needed down the line. They will be delivered on Friday between 1 and 3 PM. I was given some substitution options in case they were out of a specific item (This item is running low. What could be substituted). Prices seemed what I would expect to pay at Kroger. There was a $7.99 delivery fee, $2 service fee, and then tip. It adds up and I wouldn't use it on a regular basis....unless I had to do so. Even so, it's nice to know it's there and I'll see what's actually delivered on Friday!

The hermit in me has really enjoyed having no commitments and being home.  All of my usual activities/groups have been cancelled, as one would expect; but these additional activities will not be happening:

• Tippy and I had planned to attend our precinct reorganization meeting in hopes of also attending our county and state convention. All of that has been postponed/cancelled with no idea of what will follow.
• The travel ban cancelled Eileen's visit and then Melodee did the same. She would be doing a driving trip, but so many things are closed, both here and along the way, it would be difficult to know what to expect. Thankfully, both hope to reschedule later in the year.
• Our governor just announced that schools will be closed through April! I'm thinking of Reyna with a house full of kids and two elderly people!!! She reminds me that my life is a "piece of cake" and I'm not arguing!

I will close with a Rosie update. The vet told me to stop the gabapentin, which I was hesitant to do. There were telltale signs that she was still in pain/discomfort, even on the meds - sleeping/hiding out under the dining room table, getting under the cover on the bed during the day, the "smile" that is really a grimace. I delayed it as long as possible but last Thursday I stopped the meds. Things seemed well for a few days, then she started cutting her morning walks very short. On the third day, I found her under the cover on the bed shivering! So, I've informed the vet and Jennifer, the President of Noah's Ark Rescue, asking where to go from here. It really breaks my heart to see her in pain.

This photo shows the state of my house at the moment. This sofa is one of Rosie's favorite spots.  Under the flokati rug she is sleeping on is a 5" pad to soften her jump from the sofa. There is a chair at the end of the sofa to keep her from propelling herself off the arm of the sofa. There is a spot like this in the living room.....and you can't begin to imagine the bedroom!!  I am at the "love me, love my dog" point and willing to do whatever improves her quality of life. She brings so much joy to me and the whole neighborhood - that is the least I can do for her.

Well, my dear friends, I hope this finds you well and safe. We have to remain optimistic and willing to move to a better outcome. Try leaving me a message (will not show up immediately as I approve them beforehand) and letting me know what is happening where you are. Also, I'm on Netflix, Prime and Acorn...please suggest some viewing recommendations (series). in this time solitude.

LOVE to all. Stay safe and healthy.

Strange Times We Live In!

Well, what can I say? Chris's family was here last week and after they departed for home, she and I got together for the F-word (falafel sandwich!!).  In the week that we were not in touch, we have been besieged by the coronavirus! People are going nuts and those in charge (government) are playing it by ear day after day! That pretty much sums up the last three years of the trump administration - you leave home for a two-hour meeting and return to something atrocious, dehumanizing to some group, or just plain immoral and unethical. And now we have a pandemic on top of it all and a government that refused testing kits when offered by the World Health Organization!! Don't get me started!

And there is the travel ban - I have just emailed Eileen, who was to arrive from the UK in early April, to find out what she is hearing there and how it affects her plans. As of a week or so, Melodee was still planning to come (driving) at the end of this month. Her plans might not be impacted as much as Eileen's but who knows?

This weekend was to be busy - Liberal Ladies Luncheon on Friday, Precinct Reorganization meeting on Saturday morning, and Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate art exhibit on both Saturday and Sunday from 4 - 6 PM. Everything was cancelled, so I went from too much to do to nothing to do, not that I'm really complaining. For a while, I've felt that I needed more home/downtime and I hope I use it to get some things done around the house. My plan is not to remain totally isolated but to continue to get together with friends at home or in uncrowded places. I do really feel for those who have no choice but to work, children who will go hungry or unattended because they aren't in school, etc. And this is happening here!! At the moment, I'm working on the Liberal Ladies newsletter but once that is complete, I hope to have more non-committed time than I've had in a long time.

I'm happy to report that Rosie has finished her 15 days of steroid treatment. So far, all is well. I emailed the neurologist and gave him a report. As it turns out, he is no longer at CVRC but a surgeon got back to me. He said everything I am doing is good but wants me to take her off Gabapentin in a week. I am concerned about how she will do without it, but we have to know. It also makes me sad to see her have days when she looks like she doesn't feel well, though she hasn't had a shivery, panting episode after going off the steroids. David came over to see her after Drinking Liberally last Wednesday and she was just beside herself...... because that's who she is and she just goes full-tilt (unlike me! Allan used to say that I peaked at 2:30 in the afternoon for 15 minutes and that was it! So true - and that was when I was younger!)!  Anyway, I'm still hoping for the best and doing all I can to keep her safe, healthy, and happy. She has done something I never thought possible. She's learned how to get on and off the bed using the ramp!! Keep in mind that I have chairs backed up to one side of the bed and I sleep on the other to keep her from jumping. Once the chairs are removed (not in the near future!!), all bets are off! She was so funny when I first tried to get her to use it. I put treats at various points on the ramp, thinking she would sneak up to get them. She would put her front paws on the ramp and stretch as far as she could to get the treat....but keeping her back feet on the floor!! Eventually, when she wanted to get on or off the bed, I would put her midway on the ramp so she could get used to walking up and down it. Eventually, it just happened. I credit it to her smarts, not mine!

Before the craziness began, I did have a fun thing happen. My neighbor invited me to see Emmet Cahill, an Irish tenor, who was appearing at the Arts Center. It was raining like crazy and it didn't seem like my thing, but I didn't have a good excuse not to go! Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed it. He had a fantastic voice and made it look so effortless. He was accompanied by Shamus, a very impressive pianist, and a string quartet, which was perfect. I was amazed that the pianist's music was on a tablet! He would play and then touch the screen for the music to move forward!! For the second portion of the concert, he took requests. Most were traditional Irish songs, but someone asked for Brown Eyed Girl! He took the request but said he'd never sung that song in his life---don't know why! The same happened with New York, New York!  So, the pianist made a note (on his tablet) of the requests, arranged them on the spot, and off they went. When we get to Brown Eyed Girl and New York, New York, Emmet reaches for his phone, finds the lyrics, and sings from his phone!! I was amazed! The other thing that was quite impressive is that he gave a verbal tribute to the part immigrants have played in making America. From someone who is not a citizen, it was touching (and made me wonder why others find it so difficult to see the value of diversity). Then he sang Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears, which was beautiful. Another one I really liked was Raglan Road. In spite of the rain, it was a pleasant evening.

Yes, rain! We had two days on non-stop rain and this was my backyard! You can see that I get a lot of drainage from the golf course. This was right before Lynn picked me up for a Liberal Ladies' Steering Committee meeting. I had no idea what to expect when I got home. Thank goodness, it finally stopped and we've been having wonderful weather since. It feels and looks like spring with azaleas blooming and mild temperatures. I hope it lasts a while before summer arrives.

I'll wind this up and hope this finds everyone well. Please take the necessary precautions so we can get through this pandemic as quickly and painlessly as possible. Wishing everyone good health and happiness in these strange times.

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Time Marches On!

March is here already! Yikes, this year is going by at record speed. So far, we've been lucky to have a mild winter that is confusing everyone. Pollen has been out for weeks and azaleas and others are blooming. It still isn't too late for some cold weather. The best part about it is that it has been a sunny winter. Last year seemed so bleak, cloudy, and rainy that I just wanted to hibernate. The sun makes it all better.

Rosie and I have succumbed to a slothful morning routine. My watch goes off at 7 AM and I don't make a move. Then my phone is set to go off at 8 AM in case I'm not already up. When I awaken I feel so snug and content, and I've really enjoyed savoring it. Because some mornings have been cold, Rosie is in no rush to do anything (another reason she is my perfect soulmate!), so I have 2 cups of coffee while checking emails and FB. Eventually, we get out for a walk. I'm not feeling guilty about it because I know we will have to get up and out early when the hot, summer weather arrives.


Speaking of Rosie, I took her back to Charleston to see the neurologist (Dr. Shompers), whom I really liked. He examined her and concurred that there was a back issue, and he presented several options - one being steroids for 15 days to see if that might help any inflammation and hopefully present a manageable option. Dr. Seibert had also mentioned steroids but I understood it to be long term and was not wanting that. So, she will be weaned off them by Thursday and we will see what happens after that. I have also tried to restrict her jumping and was told to restrict walks to about 5 minutes.....all of which you know is impossible short of crating her! I have done my best! She is able to jump up on both sofas and there are pillows to cushion her jump down. She is such an all-out girl, I can't deprive her of everything. My house is in total disarray with chairs backed against the sofa so there is only one way up and one way down, cushions of the floor, etc. But, it is what it is, and she is my first concern. She has had only one major shivery episode and I think that was more anxiety than pain. I had my floors done and put her in the bedroom while it was being done, but the sound must have frightened her. I was in there with her but that was still unable to calm her.  At this point, I'm just hoping she will be okay once the steroids wear off. It may mean a calmer lifestyle, but I will do my best.

WE DID IT! We got the Black Voters Matter bus to Beaufort County! Campbell AME Church had a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) workshop ob Feb. 22, to which I was invited. Tamika and her team brought the bus and shared ways they might be able to help the GOTV effort. I was disappointed that her presentation was cut short due to time constraints (when a lot of time had been poorly used earlier!). In any case, my hope is that other Black-led groups will work with her to get them back often between now and November. 

I'm also pleased that my efforts in various groups have expanded and diversified my circle of friends. Between this, Lowcountry Immigration Coalition, and Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate, it's been wonderful to interact with more within the community.

Then on the 27th, Tippy and I did our Africa class for OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute). The room seated 104 and he almost had a full house. It was lots of fun and the audience was very interested and seemed to enjoy it. We were going to do both trips, but in the time we had (1-1/2 hours) we only got through Kenya and Tanzania. We're thinking we may offer a second one on Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Capetown. It was great having a captive audience for our adventures!!

Since the New Year, it has been great to hear from longtime Aramco friends around the globe - Alan & Mairead from Downunder, Paula & Neil from Spain, and a surprise out of the blue note from Dave and Rita (UK). In spite of the unexpected vicissitudes of life, everyone seems to be doing well healthwise and keeping active. I was surprised that two couples are into ballroom dancing! It must be trending around the world and dancing is certainly a good way to keep fit. This is a test (and a laugh) for those who know these Aramcons. Who said this be??

     "And so to our cruise to Alaska in June. The weather could have been kinder, dull but no rain. I had booked a whale watch cruise on a catamaran as a surprise for (spouse) at a cost of $130 each. We did see whales but not an impressive display. After a couple of days cruising we put into Icy Point and walked along the coast road into the local town. Low and behold, whales frolicking in the bay near the beach and a free better display than I had paid for. I had to rush back to the ship and lie down in the cabin with the curtains closed!" 

That made me laugh out loud. I could almost hear his voice saying it. So funny! It was great hearing from everyone.....and now I owe more emails!

I'll also be seeing more friends soon. Melodee is visiting from St. Louis and the end of the month. Then in early April, Eileen is visiting from the UK. These visits may be my opportunity to check out the thrift shops. I asked Eileen what she wanted to do while here and she suggested retail therapy and thrift shops, which we did successfully last time. I'm thinking Melodee and I might cover those in Beaufort (and Herban Market!) and Eileen and I can focus on Bluffton/HHI. I NEVER go shopping but am trying to purge my closet between now and then. If successful, I will do some shopping for clothing that will more deceptively cover my full-size body!

Before closing, I wanted to include this clip of Reyna's son: https://vimeo.com/392735088
Alex is so smart and dedicated....and poised for his age. I asked if I could post it for those who know her to see.

I hope this finds everyone healthy, happy and enjoying life.