Phlooey!
You may rightfully wonder where I have been and why I would choose this of all moments to put up a new post.
Well, like many of you, I have some extra time on my hands right now and I would rather be talking to you than sitting in front of the toob, feeling my blood pressure rise.
Los Angeles, as in all of California, is virtually in lock-down mode. I am not complaining, and I recognize it had to be done. Something had to change the trajectory of this killing machine. Such a pretty little spherical monster with the appearance of jewels all over its slippery surface. It is hard to grasp the seriousness of its lethality. And what makes us think we, the most arrogant and undeserving of compassion species on the planet cannot be wiped out in a mass extinction event? I am not agnostic on this topic at all. It could be that simple. And then the rest of the sufferers would take over and feel a sigh of relief that their 5-million-years of torment were brought to an unceremonious and inelegant close, in the blink of an eye.
With that in mind, all else seems trivial. Let’s all don our favorite outfits, consume obscene quantities of macadamia nut pie, down the last bottle of Cristal and not shed a tear. We let this happen.
How so, you may ask? Well, who was it that put those selfish 535 people in charge and let them fiddle while home burned? They have known about this likely plague since January of 2017 when they were briefed shortly after the inauguration of Our Dear Leader. We couldn’t expect him to do something as difficult as pay attention, much less read the briefing. But, what about the rest of them? Don’t they bear some responsibility for the sorry state our response systems were in? Who thought sequestration was a wise idea? Could it have been — wait for it — greed? The immediacy of the lip-smacking reward of all that extra taxpayer money just sitting around to be played with, and little thought of the risks to 333 million people?
And then to find out that some of them (more than we know) were downright profiteering on this plan along the way? What are we supposed to feel about them, much less the most corrupt, inept, dishonest administration in this country’s history? Well, we got the leaders we deserve. We were so busy congratulating ourselves on the cushy American lifestyle that we forgot to check on the foxes we put in charge of the golden geese.
I honestly can’t decide whether this “safer at home” euphemistic salve they have slathered over our home detention is actually a good or a bad idea. It is hard to know this virus, since it is novel and unstudied. I would like to think kind thoughts about Mayor Garcetti and Governor Newsome and believe they saved my life, and the lives of those I love, but who knows? They sure have made things more complicated. And, by the way, where were they when this thing was crawling out of Asia? Were they completely unaware? I heard reports of this over the holidays last year. Shouldn’t someone have believed the warning of the scientists who raised the early alarms? Are we this uneducated that even the leaders don’t know when to heed the bell?
So, here I am, putting up a post to find out how you are all doing and to let you know I am still here. There will be a lot of cleaning and organizing over the next few weeks. It will be a great social experiment to see if the populace can tolerate incarceration, pauperism, isolation, and complete uncertainty. We are teetering on the razor edge of an economic and survival abyss.
Hey, you know when Joel Osteen isn’t smiling, we have a problem.
Beth Byrnes 
You and me, both, Beth. Time to be back on here for a change. Happy to hear that you’re there – and hanging in. If there is some good that will come out of this, perhaps it’s that it will permit some reconnection and reflection. xo
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Oh, thank goodness for you, Cole! So many of my friends here are absent. Frankly, since the Great Orange and his minions invaded the WH, I have not felt like talking about all the other things that should occupy me. But, I don’t want to lose these connections either. Hugs to you! xoxo
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I think a lot of us have felt that way. I talked about that a bit in my first post this week. I’m hopeful that some good will come of all this forced separation – and bring us a new type of connectivity. Take care and stay well! xo
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We shall see if Americans can rise to this as a group. Still squabbling over whether Main Street or Wall Street merits a lifeline. We know who won here last time. Mass extinction doesn’t quell greed. xoxo
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Hi Beth, hope you are still keeping well, we’re on our 5th week of isolation here in London, my last trip out on the tube was 16th March but we are allowed up to an hours daily walk keeping a 6ft distance between people that are not from the same family who live together. I shop when I can and filled up our freezer and larder so that we could get by for two weeks if necessary and we started with a cough or fever.
Our community facebook group was always there to perhaps sell items of furniture or report faults in the complex but it has taken on a new life now which is great for a girl used to neighbours who knew each other and talked to each other, London seemed a bit of a culture shock just an occasional smile. But during lockdown I have printed things out for neighbours (with my gloves on put them in an envelope for them outside their door) and have enjoyed doing balcony concerts each Friday, it makes me focus on my practice and re-learning old songs that I haven’t sung for years, being in isolation with George has been fabulous I wouldn’t have liked to be alone. We have had to put our wedding back because guests would not be able to attend from Romania and elderly relatives within the UK on 6th June. Only one booking the band has insisted I paid their £500 deposit the rest have just moved the booking for us which was such a relief after we were told we could only marry with two guests to sign the register.
Anyhow, keep safe, with love.
Charlotte
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Charlotte, first of all: best wishes on your upcoming wedding! How marvelous.
Second, I am glad you are well.
Third, I think balcony concerts are a brilliant idea. What an excellent way to maintain your voice and give people comfort and joy in the process.
It is getting tedious here, but we are enjoying focusing on our home and garden. I miss seeing friends and popping out for a bite all over Los Angeles, as we used to do. We took that luxury for granted. Now, we order in when we can, so as to support our favourite restaurants. That requires a cleaning ritual that is incredibly complex and annoying, but so be it. This is the new normal.
I must run over to your “place”, to hear more of your news. It was lovely to have you stop by. You can see by my delayed response that I am here less often these days. Hopefully, things will improve by 2021 and we can all be back to the new normal.
Hugs to you and your loved ones.🙋♀️💖
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We’re still hanging in back in your old stomping grounds, Beth, where at least we have a governor who know that we have to listen to the science, watch the numbers carefully and reopen things cautiously. We wear our masks and keep our six feet cushions as we venture back out, and careen away from those who choose instead to believe their rights trump all else and therefore go mask-less and try to get as close as they want. May you and Geoffrey stay safe and well out there in LA, please.
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Hi Mark! So great to hear from you. Cuomo did it right and its obvious. Poor Newsom, we aren’t following his lead and look at what is happening in California now.
Science, medicine, how can people attack these things? Look at the result. I cringe every time I hear one of these endarkened people railing against masks and distancing, believing the pandemic is a left-wing conspiracy against DJT. It’s so baffling. What happened to this country?
We are doing our best, but it is scary. I am thankful that Upstate NY is off the radar for most people and that keeps you safe. Such a beautiful place. I wish I were at Green Lakes right this minute.
Hugs to you and your family, Mark.
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Please hang in there with dear Geoffrey, Beth. Karen and I send you the best from Central New York as we try to do it right.
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Nothing but support and warmth to you and Karen, Mark! 💖👩
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