someplace to go . . . look for the rainbows

“A very sweet light is spreading over the Earth like a perfume. The moon is slowly dissolving and a boy-sun languidly stretches his translucent arms … Cool murmurings of pure waters that surrender themselves to the hillsides. A pair of wings dances in the rosy atmosphere. Silence, my friends. The day is about to begin.” — Clarice Lispector wrote in Come sono nate le stelle: Storie e leggende brasiliane

Oscar Wilde wrote, “When it rains look for rainbows, when it’s dark look for stars.”

If I see one more meme spouting the coronavirus as a political hoax I’m going to lose it. And I can’t stop shaking my head at people who are hoarding toilet paper for pity sakes!  Do any of those people who are hoarding toilet paper have any decent food in the house to last two weeks in the event they may need to self-isolate? Good grief. How about some common sense and a calm, measured, and practical approach.

I’m willing to lay out our personal approach among all the extreme hoarding and misinformation. This is an example of what we’re doing:

• We’re getting our news and advice from doctors and scientists (through legitimate, mainstream news sources). Not from politicians (especially that arrogant narcissist in the US).
• We are practicing social-distancing. It’s something we can easily do for our community to “flatten the curve.” And that does not mean we aren’t still going to socialize with friends. Hugs may be curtailed for the time being but getting together certainly isn’t being avoided (unless one of us were to demonstrate symptoms).
• We’re avoiding crowded areas and events and have cancelled plans for travel.
• As we always do, we have a modest stock of the things we need should it ever be necessary to self-quarantine for a two week period. And by that I don’t mean we’ve hoarded scads of toilet paper. We have a freezer full of meat and some vegetables, we have a pantry of dry goods, plus enough frozen meat to feed our dog for 2 weeks, if necessary. But that’s the norm so we really haven’t done anything extra.
• I have a sufficient stack of books to read plus access to many more through my e-reader, should that be necessary.
• I’m looking at this as a glass half full. Perhaps I may get more projects done around the house; practice the piano more; write a few letters; and have additional playtimes with Heidi in the back yard. The take-away is that perhaps I’ll have spent my time more wisely and have more to show for that time when we come out the other end.

This is not meant as advice for anyone else. This is simply a demonstration of how simple it is to have a measured yet sensible approach in the rare event that one of us in our home might end up with the coronavirus.

Now, I’m going to make a suggestion that does involve all of us. Check in on your friends and relatives, especially the elderly and those in care facilities. Perhaps you have a neighbour who can’t get out and may need some groceries. Or someone you know with mobility issues who could simply use some extra help right now. Things are stressful and reaching out to others is important.

If any of you are looking for some reading suggestions (you know, so you have some place to go if you have to stay where you are), check out my Goodreads list at the bottom of my blog for my most recent reads, or visit my entire list over at Goodreads. You may even be surprised at books I didn’t care for as well.

Wishing you all weeks ahead filled with calm and plenty of time to read, write, play, make art, dance, or whatever makes your heart sing.