CLEAR AS MUD?

 

     I got both my Covid vaccines.  So, I'm good to go, right?  I can hang out with all my party animal friends now.  YAHOO!  Oh, wait, the CDC and other "experts" just came out with new guidelines for those who have been vaccinated.  Is anyone else confused or am I the only Neanderthal?

 As I understand it, if you are two weeks out from your second shot you can mingle indoors as well as outdoors with others who have been vaccinated i.  That's nice but how do you know?  Are vaccinated people going to start wearing tags for you to identify them all of a sudden?  You know, like dogs have dangling from their collars after they get their rabies shot.  Maybe everyone should get an exclusive     t-shirt with this emblem when they receive the second vaccine.   Outdoor and indoor events could be safely scheduled again. Of course, only folks wearing the t-shirt would be admitted.  Think of the marketing and political opportunities here!  Somebody missed the boat on this one.

Here are a couple of other new CDC guidelines for those of us who have been vaccinated:

• You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19."  I suspect most of us have been doing this already but, if not, I guess this means you'll need to quiz people before you take off your mask.  
•  If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.   However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms."  Does this make sense to anyone?  

           Although all the guidelines are confusing and stress me out if I allow myself to dwell on them, I admit, psychologically, I feel safer venturing out more since I got vaccinated.  That's a positive in itself, right?  Be happy!  Be safe!

VOTE YOUR WAY

   

   

        

 

           There are so many ways you can vote in most states. In our house, Ron and I approach voting differently.  Don't get me wrong -  we vote. Normally, I prefer to vote in-person at various sites during the early voting time period to avoid crowds.  Ron, on the other hand, likes to go to our precinct on election day.  This year for our local primaries we changed it up a bit.

            For the first time, I voted by mail, partly because of the pandemic but mostly because I wanted to test it in our recent primary that focused on local races.  I know, due to some of the negative political publicity about this method, some of you are thinking this was not wise. I get it, but there are several fail-safes built-in.  For example, each ballot has an unduplicated assigned number and your signature is required so it can be matched to the one on file. Here's how it worked for me. To make sure my ballot had plenty of time to get to the Supervisor of Elections, I mailed it two weeks before election day.  A few days before election day, I went online and saw for myself my ballot was received and counted. It was easy-peasy.  However, if you are still concerned about mailing your ballot, you have the option of dropping it in a receptacle in designated areas prior to election day.

            Ron expanded his election day voting experience by working the polls.  He arrived at 6:00 a.m. and got home after 8:00 p.m.   His job was to stand outside, greet voters, and make sure no politicians encroached on the voter parking area.  He said every voter he greeted was very cordial and appreciative. Although he had his own, some offered to bring him water.  Another plus - they all came with their own masks.  Yay!  He plans to work the polls again for the General Election. The temperatures should be cooler too. 👌

            So, since he will be there Ron will vote in person.  I plan to vote by mail again.  There are so many options when it comes to casting your ballot on November 3rd.  The main thing is to pick one, make your voice heard, and VOTE!

                                                                     

                                                            

   

             

ROAD TRIP

            Last week, Ron & I went on the road to enjoy a change of scenery. Although we wore face masks at every restroom, store, and hotels we went into, we felt a sense of freedom. The first stop was an overnight stay in a downtown Hilton in Athens, GA.  The next day, we moved on to the mountains of Jefferson, NC where Ron's sister, June, and her hubby, Chuck, had rented a house on the New River.  The combination of camaraderie and fresh air were an awesome respite from our current COVID stay-safe-at-home way of life. 
     

          The guys fished and kayaked the river the three days we were there. Floating downstream in their kayaks was slow and didn't require much paddling.  This allowed them time to absorb the sounds, enjoy the serenity, and fish all the nooks and crannies.  They were rewarded with enough bass and trout to feed us all.  YUM!

          While the men were on the river, June and I explored attractions on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  There are so many unique sights along the way.   Our first destination was Linville Falls.  Linville Falls drops into the 12-mile long Linville Gorge with cliffs towering above the river. When we arrived at the visitor center to begin the hike to the Falls, we quickly realized we were not the only ones looking for an outside getaway.  The parking lot and trails were jampacked. Fortunately, most of us adventurers were cautious and wore masks.  The upper trail to
the Falls was closed due to maintenance so we followed the trail to the lower overlook.

The mountain laurels colored our short hike. 


           On our way back down the Blue Ridge Parkway, we stopped for a short hike and picnic lunch at Cascade Falls in the E.B. Jeffries Park, about 5 miles east of Boone.  
The lush greenery and views were unique on the trail to the top of the Falls. The path was a bit rocky and rooty but very doable. We relished the earthy smell, similar to what you experience after rainfall as we walked the trail. 

         






           We heard the soothing sound of the rushing water long before we reached it.  Is there anyone who isn't in awe of the natural, God made waterfalls phenomena? 

          During our stay, the four of us did after-dinner rides each evening along one-lane gravel roads to see if we could spot deer, rabbits, and other wildlife before they tucked in for the night.  As we rode past dilapidated, unoccupied dwellings along the way I found myself conjuring up images and stories about the people who used to live in them. 

          Time to go home came too soon but in the spirit of our mission, we continued to explore.  We meandered through the scenic back roads of  North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia all the way back to Tallahassee.  We've resumed our COVID-19 routine with one exception.  Now we have new memories and photos to reflect on as we perform our projects and daily activities.  We are already pondering our next road trip.

HOW ARE WE DOING?

         
           It has been a little over five months since we became aware of coronaviruses, much less what we now refer to as COVID-19 and only 7 weeks since George Floyd's death.  Think about it.  None of us have even grown a year older.  Yet, to many of us, it feels like an eternity.  How are we doing?  


           Let's review. 

          The stages of COVID-19 reality have almost changed weekly, if not daily, for most of us.  We've gone from the introduction, safer at home, social distancing, businesses/parks closing, re-opening, and closing again.  Unemployment claims soared.  Fortunately, the Feds came up with the CARE package which would help millions get through until July 31.  Masks were always recommended in public.  Now, in some areas they are mandatory.  We all know we really are safer at home but the vast majority of the population does not have that luxury.  As of this writing, there have been almost 3 million COVID-19 cases and 133,000 deaths confirmed in the United States. 

             On May 25, George Floyd, a black man, died under the knee of a police officer in Minneapolis. Eventually, the officer was charged with murder. In the meantime, while many of us were still hunkered down at home due to COVID, the horrific video went viral.  If we watched the news at all, we saw it over and over.  We began to learn about other people of color across the country who have died because of the poor judgment of officers.  It was sad and incredibly disturbing.  The protest marches began and still continue all over the U.S.  The demand for law enforcement reform and civil rights legislation has spread to all corners of our nation.  The majority of the marches have been peaceful but the need to increase awareness about the inequities in our country has to be done.

            As they say, we've come a long way, Baby... or have we?   How are we adapting to this new pandemic and civil unrest environment?   What have we learned about ourselves?  

           My heart goes out to all who have suffered or lost a loved one during either of these crises. As for dealing with the safer-at-home mantra,  it has not been too difficult for me to adapt but I've been retired for ten years.  I learned a while ago how to find new things to occupy my day.  Being flexible and staying connected to friends and family is the key. Turning off the television and avoiding all the bad news magnified by rampant politics has also helped. I am thankful that, to my knowledge, none of my family or friends have contracted the virus so far.  I do have a confession. I have become a jigsaw puzzle addict. I think my hubby and I are on our tenth puzzle challenge! 

           I am concerned about the long term effect on our children and grandchildren though. Are they negatively internalizing all the events or are they learning from them? My observation of the kids I am around is they seem to be resilient.  They are spending more time with their families and, in spite of quarantine, have found ways to connect with friends through technology and one-on-one visits.  However, this pandemic is long term and not likely to disappear any time soon.  With their normal short-term attention span, are they simply going forward and accepting today as it is and not looking back?  Mostly, I worry about the quality of education they have received during quarantine and into the upcoming school year.  Will they be able to catch up or, down the road, will we see lower scores on SAT and college entrance exams?  I guess we just have to trust our educators to foresee any difficulties and develop remedies to solve them.

            How are you doing?  What can you teach the rest of us about adapting to our new world?  What are your concerns?










           

          

 
           

          

TO DO or...NOT?

   

 How are you handling this unprecedented coronavirus "stay at home" order?  I suppose many retirees are already accustomed to staying home so it is not a huge deal.  However, other senior citizens who are normally active with volunteer gigs and group involvement are probably adapting by pursuing their hobbies, i.e. gardening, card making, painting, etc. or working on neglected household projects.   What about those folks who are now adjusting to working from home?  Are you able to stay focused?  And, those who have temporarily (I hope) been laid off?  How are you balancing the newly discovered leisure time while exploring available government programs and job-seeking?     Is everyone still making 'To-Do' lists?

       Many experts believe the 'To-Do' list is one of the most effective productivity tools around.  In my opinion, it also a good way to add structure to your life during these trying times.  A 'good' list is one that produces results and ultimately achieves your short and long term goals.  The catch here is first you need to have specific goals and decide the time frame you want to accomplish them.  Full disclosure: I have been writing and checking things off my to-do lists since I was a child. Honest!

      So let's take a look at the process.  If you are retired you have more leeway with the timing of projects than those working or seeking employment but it still helps to discipline yourself by setting stages to make things happen.  If you are working, your boss or institution sets broad-range goals and deadlines.  You just have to break them down into tasks that need to be accomplished each day.  I imagine adopting this concept is harder for people who have the job of finding ways to survive while they are in limbo, through no fault of your own.  I promise you it can be done. 

    Try making this a three-step process.  First, write down your most important goals on a piece of paper and prioritize them (1, 2, 3, etc.). For example, if you are out of work, most likely your number 1 priority right now would probably be 'Get Financial Assistance.'  Another might be "Find a Temporary Job.'  After you have your goals in place, start thinking about all the ways you can reach them.  On another piece of paper, jot down everything you can think of that you can do to accomplish these goals.  Be creative AND be sure you put the goal number beside it.  Next, put the tasks, such as 'apply for unemployment,' by priority into specific timeframes for a full week, i.e. Monday, Tuesday, etc.  Include dates.  Each day, try to accomplish everything you can by focusing on the things you designated as the most important.  Be sure you check off the ones you complete. Trust me, it is rewarding to make this small gesture.  Did I mention all your daily lists should be done in pencil?  Why?  Stuff happens.  Sometimes, you will not get to everything so you will need to move it to the top of the next day's list. 

     For this to work for you, it needs to become a daily tool.  It will help you manage your time and become more productive.  The reality is, it will put you in charge of your life when so many other events are out of your control.  Positive things will begin to happen.  Try it.  You'll like it.