Isn’t this gorgeous? I don’t even LIKE the color orange, but this drew me from quite a distance on my walk today. I’ve never seen azaleas this color.
Sorry not to have posted today. I’m drawing to the close of one of the busiest weeks I’ve had with ADCO since the end of the 2018 campaign. I expect things to slow down some (maybe a lot) now, but these last few days at home have been pretty packed. A lot of clients communicating about the coronavirus — letting their clients know what they’re doing, how to do business with them from afar, those kinds of things.
I still get out and take walks, hence the pictures above and below, showing nature is continuing to do its thing despite all.
Here are some topics, starting with the worst news:
- The coronavirus took our friend Karen Pearson today — We sort of had warning of it yesterday, but this sad news is still hard to take. Karen was one of the vulnerable, with previous health problems. And we have a lot of friends and loved ones like that. Karen had been a member of this blog community since at least 2007 — when I looked back at her comments just now, there were 133 pages of them. So we all knew her. She was always a thoughtful and considerate commenter. She was a kind lady. This will not be the end of such tragedies that strike close to home. I think Mandy was talking about Jack West, son of Gov. West, late yesterday when she tweeted, “A friend of mine died today from COVID19. I would love for this to be the last time I type that sentence. Please isolate … and take care of yourselves.” Amen.
- U.S. Leads the World in Known Cases — A horrific milestone. Here’s another: U.S. death toll hits 1,000. And there’s so much more to come. No, we’re not going to come roaring back by Easter…
- Henry still won’t tell us to stay home — But cities are doing it. I can’t decide what is causing his hesitation. Can it be as simple as wanting to play to the Trump crowd? I hope not. I hope he’s really trying to do his best by us.
- Is anyone having a worse allergy season than usual? — Speaking of nature. This may seem silly to mention in the face of a deadly pandemic, but for me it actually is kind of related. Bad allergy days can make me feel like I’ve got some sort of bug, just crappy all over, and I can’t help thinking, “Is this how it begins…?” But mostly it’s just my eyes itching worse than in many a year. Are any of y’all experiencing the same?
- Joe Biden reminds us: Help is on the way — Yeah, we’re still having an election this year — maybe. I mentioned this Jennifer Rubin column in a comment yesterday, but I thought I’d share it more prominently, because she does a good job of setting out the reasons that we can take some comfort from knowing Joe is out there, ready to take this guy’s place.
It’s not as awesome as the orange azalea, but it’s impressive. This volunteer tulip popped up spontaneously, 3 or 4 feet from the nearest flower bed in our yard. We didn’t plant it. And we’ve lived her more than 22 years and never seen it before.
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Yes, eye itching is worse this year, part of the reason I’m chalking up any possible symptoms to pollen
Agree!
I’ve been the one who has been frightened
And almost borne away
By the very thoughts that I feared yesterday
And it must be dust or smoke that’s in my eyes …
And of course, in case any of you didn’t know, Jackson Browne has it…
Very sad to hear about Karen. Yes, we all know vulnerable people, even the ones who look sturdy to most other people. It is going to be a long, long year or two….
The random bulb relocated to the lawn: I like that, amusing example of nature being the trickster. Here, that might be a mole’s work.
So sad about Karen. Mark is correct about the deceptiveness of appearances, the number of vulnerable people in my family is concerning – all of them younger than I.
As to allergies: thus far my eyes are slightly less itchy than usual, of course I’m finally learning to be less parsimonious with the artificial tears. The pollen seems to be doing a bigger number than usual on my respiratory system. But the world does look beautiful and green, with a dusting of yellow.
Love the random bulb. I never know where daffodils are going to appear around my yard as I make no pretense at gardening.
Orange is great when accompanied by blue…
Here’s to Karen
#1. When I met Karen over 3 years ago, I found her to be one of the kindest and sweetest individuals I have ever met. Her wonderful personality shone through and her compassion worn on her sleeve. I am thankful I had the chance to meet and talk with her. A beautiful lady in spirit, soul, and body. Will miss her comments and insight.
#3. Agree, not sure if he is playing to the Trump crowd or just realizes the fact that there are some things or times when one must leave home to take care of immediate needs. This virus has hit all of us hard in various ways and the run on essential supplies to self-quarantine has left so many without much to survive more than a couple of days. I have been out to buy items and to buy for a family I know needs anything they can get because of finances and transportation. Otherwise, I stay home and work remotely as I have done for years now and try to keep myself occupied. Fitness centers closed and really miss my weekly workout days with friends and the social benefits afforded. It is natural for most of us to resist socializing and not being out and about when desired. It is natural for us to shake hands and hug family and friends, abstaining from both is difficult but necessary. As more time goes by and self-quarantine time increases, the spirit and body grow more and more restless. This will be a test of will power and determination for us to maintain the resolve to stay the course until this pandemic has reached its apex and is on the downward side of the curve to the point it is safe to try to return to a sense of normalcy. It is also a time when we can learn a lot about each other because we are not able to maintain our routines of going to work, school, and all other activities outside the home as individuals. And the inevitable increase in births nine months +/- from now will make the news.
#4. Those of us who have seasonal allergies when the pollen turns everything yellowish green and display some symptoms that mirror some of the virus symptoms. Going to the supermarket and speaking in a raspy voice, watery eyes, and perhaps sneezing and coughing will garner some very harsh stares and wide distances from us in the supermarket. Don’t blame their reaction, in the same circumstances, I would react the same way.
“It is natural for most of us to resist socializing and not being out and about when desired.” Incorrect point.
Apologies. Sentence should have been, “It is natural for to socialize and being out and about when desired.”
I mentioned her as a VP pick on this site weeks ago when everyone else was mentioning the usual suspects.
Now today
“Sure looks like Trump and his operatives fear Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer as Biden’s VP pick.”
https://twitter.com/billkristol/status/1243735625817362433?s=21
My pick is Katie Porter. She would help balance Biden’s horrible voting record as a senator.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Porter
She’s very impressive and a great questioner but her experience is just too thin right now for a VP.
I wouldn’t mess with her. Would you?