Coming home from errands around town yesterday (hardware store, grocery) : I say to myself "We are never going to get this pandemic under control because of ignorance or malice. We are a failed state--with repercussions of that failure killing us." Scenes: at the hardware store --an obviously ill sales clerk--underweight perhaps from chronic malnutrition, feverish, coughing, mask failing off his nose gives me directions to aisle 10. He is probably part-time (to save store from sick leave), making a low wage, and at work because he cant afford not to be. A friend refers to "Plantation America." I think of Dickens, Bleak House, death of Jo, the lowly crossing sweeper, by smallpox that also infects his "betters". Then there are always one or two enraged customers barreling into the store mask-less, daring anyone to cross them, and the sales clerks making too little money to enforce store policy or state ruling. So I head home, masked, slathered in hand sanitizer and wonder will I now end up intubated in 14 days because I needed a carton of milk and a bag of potting soil?
January 1, 2021
At this point in time the coronavirus pandemic is not affecting my life. I am in a pretty good place with COVID. I have been vaccinated, but I still wear a mask because I don't trust other people regardless of if the mandate has been lifted. Overall, I am feeling positive about life going on around me even though I am stressed out between work, school, kids, home, life. I would just like to be still for a moment or two where I can clear my mind and think clearly. I am sure that once I find a groove things will be better.
June 14, 2021