Pat and I continue to live comfortably in quarantine but we also continue to believe that this is the calm before the storm at Lakeside. We have extroverted friends who are finding the lockdown and isolation difficult to cope with. We are also aware of anectodal evidence of a significant increase in deaths of despair elsewhere.
We exhanged emails with Linda Goodsir discussing family matters which will remain private. Of course we also discussed the coronavirus crisis. Pat sent Linda a couple of facebook rants, below, which reflect our views quite well.
"Ok, so, here’s some venting and some explaining and if you don’t like it, I honestly don’t care. Move on and good day to you.
This has easily been the longest 2 months of my career, and, for that matter, my life. COVID-19 has changed everything. The way we live, the way our kids learn, the way we work. It has trashed the economy, exploded unemployment, and harmed businesses, many of them, sadly, beyond repair. But here’s the deal: it’s real and it’s here and it’s still spreading.
As a healthcare worker, I’m exhausted. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a manager in the the healthcare industry, it’s been one of the longest, most stressful things I’ve tackled.
First off, the truthers and the conspiracy people and the protesters, you’re not helping. The people bitching CONSTANTLY about the governor’s or whatever level of government’s handling of things, it’s not constructive.
Do you want to know why medical people, real medical people, not some crackpot quacks and kooks with a YouTube account or Facebook page, are taking this seriously? Because it’s serious. And we’re serious people when it comes to people’s health and their lives. Yes, it mostly kills at-risk populations (the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions) but it also kills perfectly healthy people with no prior diagnoses and we don’t know why. I’m so tired of people acting like there’s information that’s being cooked up or withheld. You know why there’s lots of gaps in the information? Because we’re still learning about this virus every day. It’s new. It’s never been seen. How it acts, how it spreads, why it does the things it does is all new and we’re learning on the fly. Stop mistaking genuine lack of information for misinformation or withheld information.
The numbers: this one sticks in my craw like no other. “I heard they didn’t die from COVID-19, they died from a heart attack but they were positive so they called it COVID-19 to boost the numbers and scare people.” Stop. It. You know how many people died specifically from AIDS? Zero. AIDS patients die from pneumonia or some other illness normal, healthy people fight off because the AIDS virus destroyed their immune system and they couldn’t fight off the infection. But at the heart of it, they died because of AIDS. The coronavirus attacks the respiratory system. The respiratory system is, in case you didn’t know, pretty important to sustaining life. It also has a huge impact on how other organ systems, like the heart, work. Guess what, when your lungs don’t work because they’ve basically filled with brick mortar because the virus is attacking them, that puts a bit of a strain on your ticker and very well can cause it to fail. So unless you have a basic understanding of or want to understand how interconnected organ systems are and how the body fundamentally functions: stop.
I think I can speak for a lot of medical professionals when I say, we don’t mean to be arrogant, we don’t mean to be jerks, but damn it, this bullshit is frustrating and yes, we’re going to clap back to ignorance. Ignorance is not something to be flaunted and there is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance is being uninformed. Stop being willfully ignorant and even reveling in it because it doesn’t fit your preconceived narrative or opinion. Even worse, stop pretending you’re not ignorant because you watched some damn YouTube video or read some op-ed piece. That’s someone’s opinion, normally based on nothing. NOTHING. No research. That’s not information. That’s not factual. That’s not based in science. It’s click-bait with the sole intention of riling you up and getting you to let your guard down. And instead of being pissed at the virus that’s causing all this, it’s to direct your anger at the government or doctors or anywhere else their agenda wants it directed.
Medical people are fired up for a couple reasons. 1 month ago, we were all heroes and putting our lives on the line because this was dangerous stuff. Well, I think I can speak for most of us when I say we aren’t heroic, we’re just doing our job. But guess what, we’re still doing the same damn thing we were doing a month ago and this crap still hasn’t gone away but now we’re “just trying to scare people” because “it’s really no big deal.” We aren’t looking for a pat on the back or even a thank you, we just want you to do what we all need to do to stop this thing and avoid the spread. Listen, if you think that my big fat ### enjoys sweating like a whore in church in an isolation gown, walking around like Mr Magoo because my glasses are fogged up because of my mask, and wearing goggles that dig into the backs of my ears because I’m “just a sheep,” you are mistaken. It’s because I don’t want this virus and I don’t want to take it home to my family and I don’t want to infect my co-workers and other patients. We’re fired up because we’ve seen and even performed intubations. We don’t intubate for funsies. Outside of the surgical setting, an intubation is basically throwing a Hail Mary to save someone’s life. And when the mortality rate once that plastic tube slides between your vocal cords with COVID-19 is 85-89%, yeah, that’s terrifying. This virus is dangerous.
Lastly, stop being spoiled children about public health advisories. Stop bitching about wearing a mask when you’re in public places. Stop pretending that that is somehow infringing on your rights. Get over yourself. I wish all businesses would grow a pair and refuse service to people who refuse to wear a mask “out of principle.” Police aren’t inclined to enforce it and that’s fine but, spoiler alert, private businesses have and reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. Don’t tell me it’s ok for a bakery to refuse service to a gay couple for a wedding cake on religious grounds but not ok for a convenience store to refuse service because they don’t want the outbreak monkey strolling through their place coughing all over other patrons and their staff. Stay outside the 6ft bubble, wear a damn mask, and wash your hands. It’s that easy. Stop pretending they’re asking for a kidney. It’s as much to protect yourself as it is everyone else. People wonder why we have things like stay-at-home orders and closing of non-essential businesses. It’s because of you, jackass, you’re the problem. It’s your lack of ability to exercise common sense and your refusal to follow simple, insanely simple advice that forces the government to exercise it for you. And even then, you still thumb your nose at it in all your ignorant glory. Sorry that you feel like they’re infringing on your right to be an irresponsible child.
Look, all I’m saying is I get that it’s frustrating and I get that it’s irritating, and inconvenient and all the other bad things that it is, but please, continue to take this seriously, continue to do the little things that make a big difference. Stop denying facts, science, and the advice from people who have spent a lifetime doing what they do in the medical and research fields to ultimately make everyone’s lives healthier, safer, and better.
I’m done with my soap box now. "
WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...
I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.
For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.
For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.
With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.
Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.
Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.
Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.
Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.
Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.
Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come.
So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.
Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.
We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.
Realize that and be kind.
Unknown author
Lurking as me on facebook, Pat discovered an excellent link which dramaticlly tells a story - Global Deaths Due to Various Causes and COVID-19.
I added a new section to my website, My Essays. I feel a need to express and preserve my thoughts and capture changes in my thinking over time. I posted my first essay, About Tribes, and shared it with members of the Lakeside Pathfinders. It was well received and resonated strongly with a few members. I am already looking forward to writing my next essay.
The Ajijic Book Club had its second successful Zoom meeting. The focus of the meeting was Santander: Rambling on Borrowed Time by David Ellison. He participated in the meeting which added much value. Ellison is also a member of the Lakeside Pathfinders and I am looking forward to the time he returns to Lakeside and when it is safe to meet in person. I enjoyed writing my review of Santander in which I highlighted how different his life and my life have been.
Earlier in May I experienced challenges to my mental health triggered by conflict with neighbors. More recently those events came to a head and are described by Sara Keenan who resigned as President of our Condominio association. She shared her letter on her facebook page, thus putting them in the public domain. My resignation soon followed as did the resignation of the Secretary. Unfortunately, while Lakeside is a wonderful community, it has a dark side. Many Condominios have serious problems, some far worse than the problems on our street.
My resignation from my volunteer role with our Condominio reminded me of quitting a job, something I did many times during my career. I was feeling the same kind of stress that I often felt at work. I am grateful that I am now retired and can more easily disengage from a mess. Of course, I still live on the same street and I still need to get along with neighbors as best I can. I will also try to use this as a learning experience, about myself, about others and about interpersonal dynamics.
I attended The Rebel Wisdom Festival. I learned that Zoom conferences can work very well. I enjoyed the experience of sharing an event with like-minded people from all over the world. The content was excellent and all the presenters were impressive. There were thinkers that I have become familiar with since discovering them last year - particularly Daniel Schmachtenberger, Jordan Hall, John Vervaeke and Peter Limberg.
Rebel Wisdom has opened up new doors for me to walk through and explore further. But it is overwhelming. What I am finding of interest exceeds my capacity to investigate.
On the Sunday morning our Telmex internet connection was down and I missed conference sessions of interest. No big harm done. I used the time to finish reading Dutch Girl and will soon start writing my book report.
Readings
COCREATION AND COMMUNITY CAN HELP US TO BUILD A MORE RESILIANT WORLD
The future is something to be built by many hands and not imposed by a few. Cocreation can help turn the collapse of the old story into a catalyst.
The experience with Coronavirus has illuminated many dark corners of the current economic and development narrative, allowing us to see deep splits in the fabric of the old story.