In the evenings, I watch the news and read the latest reports about the virus. As the chart above shows, the numbers of cases are rising as are the numbers of deaths.
Those of us who have been watching the errant leadership of the Trump team are not surprised to see the country face such a devastating crisis. Throughout his Presidency Trump has used his time and power to build a "booming" economy based on "sand" - an economy that brought a quick upturn for wealthy investors mostly because of the shoddy policies, corruption, and ignorance of the Trump team--a team that has promoted policies that polluted, disbanded important national teams such as the pandemic health team, left important offices unfilled, filled other offices with inexperienced friends and family members, elevated the national debt, damaged positive international relations, widened the economic gap between rich and poor, and spread bigotry and hatred. This President Trump has been a dangerous disaster of a leader from day one--so many Americans have known this and worked to rid our country of his ignorant, self-serving dangerous leadership without success. Those that support him, like him, are only interested in their own power, ego, and wealth. I'm sure that countries around the world are nodding their heads as they see the United States face this virus unprepared thus putting the lives of the sick as well as the lives of caretakers on the line. This is a horrible reminder that when we support selfish, bigoted, ignorant officials, we put the whole country at risk.
As the numbers grow, we are beginning to hear stories of people we know being infected with the virus. So far a few friends of friends and family members of friends have contracted the illness. So far no relative of mine has come down with the symptoms or tested positive yet I sadly suspect that it won't be long before I hear the news that a close family member or friend has the illness--all signs point to that. Scientists tell us that many more of us have the illness than we know because many are asymptomatic, yet those who are asymptomatic can spread the disease. That is why countries who have successfully dealt with this virus, have put widespread testing into effect. Sadly, the United States did not do this because the Trump team did not take the virus seriously. In fact, 54 days after the WHO was told about the disease by Chinese authorities and 51 days after our CDC knew about it, the President of the United States was still calling this virus a hoax, yet he had been warned that this could happen long before the virus began in China.
Our home fortunately remains peaceful. My college son, my husband, and I spend the entire days working with our classmates, colleagues, and clients. So far, at night, we've been eating delicious homemade meals and catching up with friends and family members via the phone or the computer.
I hate hearing all the predictions. I worry about my elderly parents who are mostly sheltering in place, but are sometimes venturing out of their home to do errands that they are used to doing. I have invited them to visit, but they have rightly decided not to, and I have decided not to visit them because I don't want to drag any illness into their home or take any illness out. I wish they lived closer, and I have tried to get them to to do this for some time with no luck. When I get older, I am going to live near loved ones as I know that will make them calmer and less worried and help me to be more self sufficient.
What's the plan ahead:
- I'll continue to focus on serving my students and working with my colleagues during the day. I'm finding that learning about virtual teaching and learning to be interesting now that I've forged through the initial, difficult days.
- I'll continue to stay in touch with family members and friends online.