Michigan should be known for its freshwater inland seas, the Great Lakes. For the miles of soft sanded beaches. For Petoskey stones. For virgin stands of pines and the Mackinac Bridge. For pasties, tulips, and Art Prize. But not this week. This week we are known for the largest number of new Covid cases in the country. My guess is that new cases will continue to grow in the next few weeks because people have returned from spring break trips and will be depositing covid germs wherever they gather in unprotected clumps. I can't believe how careless we have become. A restaurant owner in Holland, MI refused to close her establishment when our governor ordered that restaurants close for in-house dining. And she had customers, people who believe the pandemic is a fraud cooked up by liberal villains or over-reactive ninnies. Our governor who has previously been willing to take the heat for shutting down the state seems to be bending to conservative nitwits in the Michigan legislature and so far as not ordered another shut down. She has twice asked for additional vaccine doses and twice has been denied. Today, she will address the state and may, perhaps, order schools to close for in-class learning and restaurants to limit indoor patrons. But, really, all people have to do is socially distance and wear masks. But the latest covid victims are teenagers and younger adults. It's frustrating and exhausting. But, the magnolia is in bloom.
April 15, 2021
Ever since March, my primary contact has been with my cells. As a research assistant and graduate student, these stem cell-derived stem cells have taken up the majority of my time the last four years, but this year have truly kept me going. These cells have given me a sense of purpose on the days when I was scared to leave the house, or when I felt alone due to not being able to visit any of my support system. The contribution of these cells and the purpose they gave me during 2020 will be formally acknowledged in the doctoral thesis I submit next year, in all honesty.
November 17, 2020