I know that sounds crass, as will my next comment - is this God's cull? I know, these are our elders, blah, blah, blah. I also know that the nursing homes were understaffed, with underpaid and underappreciated workers, and a national shame, blah, blah, blah. But it is also true that we are keeping people alive who probably don't even want to be alive, and at huge expense.
I know, I know, this is not the way to do it. But.....
But back to my personal experience, and perhaps yours. I recently took the Province's survey about experiences of COVID19. One of the questions was, Name some good experiences which have resulted from the Province's response to the pandemic. It made me stop to think about it, and there were actually several.
For one, I have discovered grocery delivery (thank you, Bill!!). It has never been my favourite activity, grocery shopping, and during the pandemic, it is downright creepy. And then there is the shlepping the groceries up from the parking garage. On the other hand, InstaCart's web site is downright intuitive, even for someone as computer illiterate as I am. And because they are delivering from the nearest low-cost provider, even adding the cost of the delivery and tip, it is cheaper than buying from the closer but higher priced provider. And, they deliver right to the door!!! I might never go into a grocery store again.
What else? There is no traffic. I actually verntured out the other day, to the newly reopened yarn store. No, I don't need any more yarn, in spite of the fact that I have made two pairs of socks and three pairs of fingerless gloves in 8 weeks. But I feel strongly about keeping yarn shops alive, so I wanted to give them a little business. I needn't have worried; knitters will find a way, and their on-line business has been brisk. However, I did go and buy some more sock yarn, and found that the usual 45 minute drive was now 25. And there was actually parking right in front of the store.
The latest figure I've heard is that greenhouse gas emissions are down 17% because of the slow down in air and automobile travel. Not such a bad thing.
I've also found that I haven't forgotten how to cook. A little rusty, maybe, but I'm really back into it, even just for myself. So, that's a good thing. (Remind me to make you my mushroom chicken the next time I see you. Or maybe my shrimp curry. It's not like eating my favourite Chinese food, but not so bad...
And virtual bridge is in many ways better than the real thing. There are fewer hands per session, less distraction, no food to eat, and the 7 minute per hand rule is strictly enforced (which real life directors are loath to do). I'm playing much better, too, if the number of points I'm getting is any indication. Well, I guess I should be playing better, I'm playing 7 days a week......
Finally, people are being much better about keeping in touch; between Scrabble games and bridge games and emails and phone calls, and meeting neighbors out on my now twice-daily 3 miles walks, and people coming to socially distant visit for coffee or a drink on my patio, I am in touch with probably 4 or 5 people every day.
So, yes, I miss the gym, and zumba, and my hugs at the bridge club. I certainly miss the theater and all my musical events (I haven't been able to get into all the downloads available, although I appreciate the effort) But all in all, I am faring very well. I hope you all are feeling the same.
I have managed to read a bit. One of the New Yorker articles mentioned Henry Houdine, and, in passing, noted that E.L. Doctorow's book Ragtime featured Houdini as one of the real-life characters. I hadn't read that book for decades, and (are you surprised?) had it on my bookshelf. I re-read it, and liked it even better this time. I went on to another Doctorow book, Waterworks. His writing style, although a bit dated now, reminds me of another favourite author, Eric Larson, previously mentioned in these pages. While I was browsing, in my collection, I came across John Fowles, and have just read (maybe for the first time, I certainly don't remember reading it before) one called The Maggot. A strange book; I must admit, I skipped some of the weirder bits, but was interested enough to finish it. Then, I remembered the stash of books that friends brought over for my edification and delight, and am now engrossed in a thriller (a type of book I wouldn't normally read) called Cold Heaven by Brian Moore. A strange book indeed, but again, I need to finish it. And, as if I don't have enough bridge, I am rereading Victor Mollo's books, Bridge in the Menagerie, and Bridge in the Fourth Dimension. If you are a bridge player and haven't read them, you should.
All in all, I really have been mostly staying close to home though - the March 19th tank of gas for my car is still 3/4 full. Below, the resulting photos of a lovely, if strange, spring.
....and as seen from my deck....
.....not quite the desert sky, but nice in a different way...
.....this is the foyer of my building. I love it....
Our group of buildings is called Tugboat Landing (have I said?), and is full of, for want of a better term, industrial art like this...
.......keeping a safe social distance is not too hard these days (this path would normally be crowded, although not uncomfortably so). Admittedly, it was 6:30 in the morning....
......and, of course, the flowers....
.......the egret has been more present than usual....
.....and the newest thing to keep (presumably) kids busy, painted rocks, randomly distributed around the landscape...
......and more flowers....
... these are all in the course of my local walks...
Well, you're up do date now (thanks for the prod, Carolyn). Another walk calls....
I know, I know, this is not the way to do it. But.....
But back to my personal experience, and perhaps yours. I recently took the Province's survey about experiences of COVID19. One of the questions was, Name some good experiences which have resulted from the Province's response to the pandemic. It made me stop to think about it, and there were actually several.
For one, I have discovered grocery delivery (thank you, Bill!!). It has never been my favourite activity, grocery shopping, and during the pandemic, it is downright creepy. And then there is the shlepping the groceries up from the parking garage. On the other hand, InstaCart's web site is downright intuitive, even for someone as computer illiterate as I am. And because they are delivering from the nearest low-cost provider, even adding the cost of the delivery and tip, it is cheaper than buying from the closer but higher priced provider. And, they deliver right to the door!!! I might never go into a grocery store again.
What else? There is no traffic. I actually verntured out the other day, to the newly reopened yarn store. No, I don't need any more yarn, in spite of the fact that I have made two pairs of socks and three pairs of fingerless gloves in 8 weeks. But I feel strongly about keeping yarn shops alive, so I wanted to give them a little business. I needn't have worried; knitters will find a way, and their on-line business has been brisk. However, I did go and buy some more sock yarn, and found that the usual 45 minute drive was now 25. And there was actually parking right in front of the store.
The latest figure I've heard is that greenhouse gas emissions are down 17% because of the slow down in air and automobile travel. Not such a bad thing.
I've also found that I haven't forgotten how to cook. A little rusty, maybe, but I'm really back into it, even just for myself. So, that's a good thing. (Remind me to make you my mushroom chicken the next time I see you. Or maybe my shrimp curry. It's not like eating my favourite Chinese food, but not so bad...
And virtual bridge is in many ways better than the real thing. There are fewer hands per session, less distraction, no food to eat, and the 7 minute per hand rule is strictly enforced (which real life directors are loath to do). I'm playing much better, too, if the number of points I'm getting is any indication. Well, I guess I should be playing better, I'm playing 7 days a week......
Finally, people are being much better about keeping in touch; between Scrabble games and bridge games and emails and phone calls, and meeting neighbors out on my now twice-daily 3 miles walks, and people coming to socially distant visit for coffee or a drink on my patio, I am in touch with probably 4 or 5 people every day.
So, yes, I miss the gym, and zumba, and my hugs at the bridge club. I certainly miss the theater and all my musical events (I haven't been able to get into all the downloads available, although I appreciate the effort) But all in all, I am faring very well. I hope you all are feeling the same.
I have managed to read a bit. One of the New Yorker articles mentioned Henry Houdine, and, in passing, noted that E.L. Doctorow's book Ragtime featured Houdini as one of the real-life characters. I hadn't read that book for decades, and (are you surprised?) had it on my bookshelf. I re-read it, and liked it even better this time. I went on to another Doctorow book, Waterworks. His writing style, although a bit dated now, reminds me of another favourite author, Eric Larson, previously mentioned in these pages. While I was browsing, in my collection, I came across John Fowles, and have just read (maybe for the first time, I certainly don't remember reading it before) one called The Maggot. A strange book; I must admit, I skipped some of the weirder bits, but was interested enough to finish it. Then, I remembered the stash of books that friends brought over for my edification and delight, and am now engrossed in a thriller (a type of book I wouldn't normally read) called Cold Heaven by Brian Moore. A strange book indeed, but again, I need to finish it. And, as if I don't have enough bridge, I am rereading Victor Mollo's books, Bridge in the Menagerie, and Bridge in the Fourth Dimension. If you are a bridge player and haven't read them, you should.
All in all, I really have been mostly staying close to home though - the March 19th tank of gas for my car is still 3/4 full. Below, the resulting photos of a lovely, if strange, spring.
....and as seen from my deck....
.....not quite the desert sky, but nice in a different way...
.....this is the foyer of my building. I love it....
Our group of buildings is called Tugboat Landing (have I said?), and is full of, for want of a better term, industrial art like this...
.......keeping a safe social distance is not too hard these days (this path would normally be crowded, although not uncomfortably so). Admittedly, it was 6:30 in the morning....
......and, of course, the flowers....
.......the egret has been more present than usual....
.....and the newest thing to keep (presumably) kids busy, painted rocks, randomly distributed around the landscape...
......and more flowers....
... these are all in the course of my local walks...
Well, you're up do date now (thanks for the prod, Carolyn). Another walk calls....
