I got distracted for a few hours…
…by an event that’s rare these days, and yet extremely pleasant – an impromptu social get-together, the visit of a new baby and his parents visiting the house of a good friend. On the deck, of course, with appropriate social distancing.
That’s why the late posting. To be continued….
Wouldn’t want to be on the deck out here on the west coast unless you like apocalyptic orange skies and the smell of burning Oregon.
What a great distraction!
Last night, we had our first in-person social event at church since the shut-downs.
Chairs appropriately distanced on the lawn, masks for everyone except those taking them off temporarily to sing.
AesopSpouse and I proffered a couple of hymns, some of the youth played their orchestral instruments (cellos and an oboe!). Some guitarists, and a couple playing ukuleles and singing, with the 2 year old carrying her own pink plastic uke. Piano-playing young husband and his wife singing a duet, assisted by their youngest child, and a saxophone jazz number.
An hour’s distraction in the slightly chilly fall evening, but hopefully there will be a few more socials before it’s too cold to be outside.
A sweet morale boost, not a distraction.
I can appreciate it, but only really the idea of it, not the reality.
Where I’m at in the CA central valley, no one paid any attention to any of that lockdown “stay inside or else” stuff after the first few days.
Neighborhood kids gather in groups at the homes of friends for internet game parties, run around outside playing, there was even an impromtu football game out on the front lawn this morning.
Us adults get together for bbq and beers, go about our business, shopping, etc, no prob, no masks, none of that distancing stuff. Businesses that demand masks are simply either avoided or the demands ignored for the most part.
Some do the mask thing. That’s their choice. I haven’t seen anyone getting up in anyone’s face over it one way or the other. Want to wear a mask? Wear a mask. Don’t want to? don’t.
No outbreaks. No spikes. No nothing.
A distraction from this madness is a GOOD thing!
My sailing club has continued to do the racing schedule. Our club meeting have been on the deck, masks optional, and about half the people wear them. Others spread themselves around the club grounds.
On Labor Day, we had an “Eight Bells” service for a member who had passed. Eight Bells is the end of a watch with a bell at each half hour, so eight bells is a 4 hour watch on deck. People were spread out, mask wearing, and aware of who was there. There was a breakfast before the service since the member was active in the “old farts breakfasts” at the club. We all gathered around for a picture since the last time the member was at the club, everyone was there for the picture. It meant a lot for the family.
Tonight, I am going for the entertainment program – appetizers at 8pm and movie at 9pm. A sailing movie, of course. The movie screen is a blow up type and it moves around a bit with the wind. Since it is outside, we spread the chairs around. No big deal since we are older and about 40% of the new cases are in the 15-24 range and in the college towns. Hmm…
Just checked – winds SSE 3mph with temps to be about 70. I’ll take a warm jacket, some whiskey & coffee, a blanket, and I’ll enjoy it. The movie is about an Alaska boat race – maybe that’s why I think it might be a bit chilly tonight!
A few weeks ago, we were showing one of the Pirate movies and a bunch of police cars showed up. The entertainment chair told his officer son that we were doing the movie and the guys all showed up to watch! They were welcome to stay, but it was a bit concerning when they first came in.
Another funny incident that happened a month ago was that a catamaran capsized in front of the restaurants that are to the north of the sailing club. Someone called in an emergency. They did not know about cats and how easy they can tip over & recover. The police/fire department water rescue crews were called. When some of the trucks appeared at our gate, we let them in, directed them to the ramps, and a member (retired fireman) started talking to them.
It was a false alarm, since the sailors got their boat up and going. Somehow, the various dive & rescue teams stayed for a long time at the club. They were over at the far side of the club, so I think some of them just got their gear on to take some practice dives, or shoot the bull, or whatever. But, it was impressive how many boats showed up to help. Perhaps, they were also bored with the lack of activity.
So, in many areas, life is going on as it should. Perhaps a bit constrained, but still going on. Life happens!
What a lovely time! We do see people outside, and sit with them on our porches or patio.
Griffin, a niece in Southern California posted a picture of the orange sky outside her window. Awful.
“On the deck, of course, with appropriate social distancing.”
It is a very big mistake to keep on honoring and performing the rituals of the Branch Covidians.
It’s not a mistake for someone who is in the age range which is more vulnerable, and who has, she says, at least one “co-morbidity,” to be careful. If the gathering were all under-50s and healthy, then the rituals could be dispensed with.
A new baby is always such a joy, a sign of hope and a chance to cuddle. Nothing like it, COVID or not.
Hereogar (6:23 pm) concluded:
“Some do the mask thing. That’s their choice. I haven’t seen anyone getting up in anyone’s face over it one way or the other. Want to wear a mask? Wear a mask. Don’t want to? don’t. No outbreaks. No spikes. No nothing.”
Hi; I’m a relatively new Californian, southern California style (a San Diego exurb). A transplanted Californian, intentional pun coming up soon.
That text I quoted sounds like the good ol’ American live and let live. It reminds me of interacting with someone of a different race: which is to remark, we’re all cool, we’re all *folks*, ya know — until and unless some “woke” race-baiter insists on imposing their brittle orthodoxies on us.
M J R ‘s story, to which I have alluded once before here, a few weeks back:
I am a recipient of a kidney transplant not yet nine months ago. My immune system, such as it is(n’t), is seriously compromised: the same treatment that prevents a transplanted kidney from being rejected, also prevents any foreign object — like a virus — from being rejected. Also, I’m senior. (How’d *that* happen??)
I have maintained through all this covid hassle, that I will do what I have to do, and I absolutely do *not* expect others to change their lives for me because of my health issue. I mean that. I am still almost entirely quarantined at home, except for necessary appointments, and except for a nightly walk after dark, when there are very few people around, except for dog-walkers and human walkers that can be (and are) easily avoided. No need for a mask on my walk.
I anticipate this going on well into 2021. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
My point? I’m very okay with Hereogar and other such Hereogars, honest. It’s more than time to resume, to an extent depending on the individual’s comfort level, lives as nearly normal as possible under the circumstances.
My one other point? I really do appreciate when someone is respectful of those of us who need to maintain very low profiles. *Not* to cater to us, but the respect and consideration continue to be appreciated and honored.
Those beautiful children and their beautiful, life-affirming babies!
And I’m on board with MJR. It’s a gesture of respect to cover up
What a wonderful interlude from all the madness of this world. Fall is coming. The morning air has a brisk feel and it is wonderful to be alive and enjoying life. Breaks like this recharge us.
It was good to hear of your unanticipated joy-filled experience.
MJR–I’m also being personally rather careful, though not as careful as you, while declining absolutely to impose my own choices on anyone else. I avoid indoor gatherings as much as I can, but I’m comfortable socializing outdoors.
My tiny county has suffered only 18 deaths out of around 300 reported cases, but one family in town lost 4 members, and one of the deaths was a fairly close neighbor. I take the danger seriously, especially because this county is heavy on the retiree-aged side of things. I had considerable sympathy early on with excessive caution while we were unsure of how the disease was most likely to transmit. I’ve lost much of that patience now that we know the odds of transmission from public surfaces or from asymptomatic carriers is nowhere near what we feared at first. Too many people have degenerated into something not far removed from superstition combined with an unhealthy desire to control others.
Estoy Listo (9:27 pm) said:
“Those beautiful children and their beautiful, life-affirming babies!
“And I’m on board with MJR. It’s a gesture of respect to cover up.”
Yes on both counts! And thanks for the vote of confidence.
Texan99 (9:48 am) said:
“I’m also being personally rather careful, though not as careful as you, while declining absolutely to impose my own choices on anyone else.”
With ya, good buddy.
“I avoid indoor gatherings as much as I can, but I’m comfortable socializing outdoors.”
Yeah. Wife and I won’t even do that.
(She’s high risk, too, but not as high risk as I am.)
“I’ve lost much of that patience now that we know the odds of transmission from public surfaces or from asymptomatic carriers is nowhere near what we feared at first.”
With ya on public surfaces, but still very skittish about asymptomatic carriers.
“Too many people have degenerated into something not far removed from superstition combined with an unhealthy desire to control others.”
Unfortunately, both parts of that are very true (and are very well-expressed).
Where I live, in rural Central New York, almost everybody wears masks inside stores with no particular issues or resentment. It’s, as MJR and Estoy Listo said, a gesture of respect. I don’t know whether the person next to me in the checkout line has a particular reason to worry. I don’t, but she might, or the cashier could. I may as well put on the mask for the few minutes I’m in the store. I can take it off again as soon as I’m outside. Nobody here, and I mean nobody at all, wears masks outdoors, and nobody seems to care. We are not on top of each other here, we have plenty of wide-open lovely outdoor space and it’s just fine to breathe the fresh air and smile at each other.
Right now our little county has 7 total deaths from the start of this whole thing and, at the moment, 5 or 6 active cases. No hospitalizations. No deaths in weeks. The next county over, however, has hundreds of active cases because a SUNY school had an outbreak. There are a whole bunch of young people with positive tests over there — hundreds of positive tests, but NO hospitalizations. Not one. Most of them are probably asymptomatic or not very sick. They’re young, they’re probably all going to be just fine.
I’m still working at home, more because I want to than because I need to. I don’t do frivolous shopping (no wandering around “just looking”), which is good for my wallet anyway. However, I go where I need to go to buy what I need to have. It seems to me to be a matter of common sense, and pretty much all of my neighbors seem to see it the same way. The experience of these past few months is the strongest argument I’ve encountered in a long time for living in the country or in small towns, far away from congested, tense, resentful, overcrowded cities and affluent suburbs. That’s the life I wanted anyway, which is why I’ve been here for almost 30 years, despite the shortage of great restaurants and shopping — but it certainly is affirming to be reminded that I chose this for a reason.
Liz:
Your story of the emergency crews responding in large (bored) numbers made me smile.
I’m a glider pilot, and as glider pilots all know, there are times nature does not cooperate with rising air, and we have no choice but to land where we are. When that happens, a passing motorist invariably calls 911 to report a “plane crash.”
The highway patrol shows up, and the sheriff, and sometimes even EMTs and a fire truck. We climb out of the glider and explain to all and sundry that we are safe, the glider is ok, and we’re waiting on our “crew” to arrive with a trailer to take us back to the airport. That always raises a few eyebrows: how are we going to tow a glider with 50′ wings on the road to the airport? Those who stick around are always amazed about how easily we take off the wings, stow them alongside the fuselage in the trailer, and leave.
I moved to northern Nevada for the fine soaring conditions here. The town of Minden, NV is known by soaring pilots worldwide. Now it is even known by a few journalists. Why even this morning, Chris Wallace declared with extreme scorn, that President Trump had a rally last night “in the middle of nowhere, Nevada.” That would be Minden, Chris, and reportedly 25,000 people were on the same airport I fly out of regularly. They were here to cheer the President.