Ramblings

Having a head cold is always interesting, but having it at the beginning of the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak is enlightening. People are so much better than you would think.

Nobody backed away from me, nobody made the sign of the cross. I was not chased out of the public square by pitchfork wielding maniacs, nor did anyone act like I had the sign of some beast tattooed on my forehead. Instead people offered helpful advice, sympathy, and the occasional cough drop.

At any other time, I would never consider staying home for a miserable head cold. Oh I might fantasize about it, but really who can afford to take off time like that. Besides, now I get paid on commission. Bad enough losing the time pay, but no time in, no possible commission earning, that’s a double whammy. But I seriously considered it with all the sickness hype in the news.

Of course I have met my share of conspiracy nuts who don’t understand that a weaponized virus has a kill rate of over 50%. Those same people offered me some peppermint tea to help my cold and warned me not to trust a medical doctor. Nothing wrong with peppermint tea, I enjoy it. I also have a fine appreciation for modern medicine.

My husband who has a unique view of the world just enlightened me that scientists have discovered how trees communicate. I was expecting something about low levels of electrical impulses in the soil, or chemical transmission, but no. Shawn is ever unpredictable. “They bark,” he explained.

So as much as reading the news will have you believe that the world has changed, the sky is falling, and people are all no good rotten cheaters intent on deception and different forms of self destruction, I just don’t believe it.

Yes, this virus is serious, contagious, and will kill a lot of people. Planning ahead is never a bad idea, but help out your neighbors, be good humans, and do your best to survive, as all of us are driven to do. Try your best not to be fooled by those people spinning stories with pieces of truth and scraps of half formed fiction. Mostly they are just trying to cause dissension, division, and panic. Be safe, be well, and be sure to pick up a book and read! 💜