April Comes in So Yellow and Bright,

But Also Uncertainty, Over Pandemic

I saw my first dandelion yesterday. So yellow and bright. So … beautiful.

I have long had a love for that flower, that bloom some disparaging call a “weed.” Back in the day, our lawn was replete with their lovely bursts. The neighbors would not be happy with me, though they politely never said much, as the flower turned to seed and propagated on to their finely manicured yards. So yesterday, seeing that solitary blush of yellow, I smiled and felt heartened. Hopeful.

Hope. In today’s world, this is a commodity that is very much in need. A virus, COVID-19, a world-wide pandemic, has taken its toll on so many physically, and many more psychically. Every day, every hour, new updates, new statistics, new news on what world governments are doing to stem the growth of infection, treat those who are ill, find a vaccine, look for a cure, and on and on.

As I write this, Italy and China seem to be the hardest hit. South Korea, not as much. North Korea? Honestly, I don’t believe anything that comes out of China or North Korea. They have a long history of lies and obfuscation. Our United States has been breached, despite best efforts to keep it from happening.Daily counts of illnesses rising, deaths increasing, and it all remains to be seen as we approach the peak and look for the peak in the curve and then, hopefully, the decline and some return to normalcy.   But you can get all the facts and figures and financial tolls and market reports and press conferences and … well, other places are better sources than my small set of words.

And really, as rapidly as things change, who knows what will be today’s news? This is a new normal we are facing, something it can be safely said none of us have ever experienced.

So how do we deal with this unprecedented event in our lives? Jill and I have been in self-imposed quarantine for days now. We are, after all, in what has so far been the most at-risk demographic. We are both relatively healthy, with no ‘underlying conditions’ of any significance. But we are still keeping close to home, nay, in the home as much as possible.

We have an ulterior motive, as we are caring for a pair of the youngest of grandchildren as their mommy has added a third life to their family, Elizabeth Ann. Yep, in the midst of all this chaos, some joy for us all. Mom and baby are doing well. In spite of some great fears, all has gone as well as could possibly have been expected.

But today we are faced, all of us, with an unpredictable future. Funny how much routine and regularity rule our lives. Graduations, First Communions, proms, spring sport seasons for highschoolers, not to mention pro sports shutdowns. Things are so different now, from distancing from each other, staying home, shopping online, disinfecting cardboard packaging.

I have gone from shock to anger to rage to acceptance, then back through all of it again. Mad at the origin, and how mismanaged it was. Disgusted at politicians who are using this world pandemic for political purposes. Touched beyond belief by the heroism of medical professionals, scientists, truckers, grocery personnel, pharmacy workers, those who can’t take off and stay home, like police, firefighters, utility workers and so many more. They take care of us, deliver our food, keep society rolling in the face of calamity. And more than a little ticked at those who have not taken this seriously, thus endangering us all by potentially lengthening the arc of this virus.

So as we hope for curatives, for vaccines, for a slowing of the sickness, we can only take care of our own little world. Get out into the sun, take a walk, breathe deeply. And we can pray. I know it may be hard to think God has this as His plan. I have my own issues with this from time to time. But the bottom line is, He is in charge.   Let’s give this up to The Big Physician in the Sky.

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