Our Life Has Changed courtesy of CORONAVIRUS

The new decade started off well... BUT we should have paid close attention to the international news when we heard the Chinese shut down most of their society to fight a new pandemic, known as "Corona Virus."  The last week of our life changed dramatically!   Our country, in fact most of the world, is fighting the spread of this strange disease that started in Wuhan, China and is deadly especially to the elderly and those with underlying disease.  Symptoms are fever, flu-like symptoms and a dry cough that can destroy lungs.  There is no vaccine, no proven treatment and lots of fear and worry in our Society.  There are severe shortages of surgical masks, gowns, and tests.  People can be unwitting carriers of the disease and show no symptoms.  Many people are quarantined for 14 days waiting to see if they will come down with the virus.  Everything is in flux.  Toilet paper, eggs, and many food items are being hoarded and are in short supply.   People are losing their jobs rapidly.  The lucky ones are working from home.  The government is scrambling to come up with plans to mitigate the financial hits and pain.

It's hard to think of ourselves as "elderly," but we are in our 7th decade so we qualify for the distinction of being in a high risk category.  We have to be socially distant and avoid groups of people, stay in our homes or out in the fresh air.  We can't go to Church (who could imagine that the Catholic Church would close down services?), or out to eat or gather with our friends, exercise, take the boat out to a marina or most anything social.  

Yesterday was my 71st birthday, and it sure was different that the one just a year ago when I traveled to Barcelona and throughout Spain with our friends, Betty & Richard.  This year, we picked up my 99 year-old Mom, and had dinner at home.  It was nice and later, our friends, Sue & Rob, stopped by (on the lanai!) and sat 6 ft. away from us talking.  It was so great to see them and try to make sense of everything that has happened recently.  Later, Mom wanted to sing Happy Birthday to me.  I blinked back tears as I looked at her face singing to me in the flickering candles, thinking I have to remember this special moment of having my Mom and Richard with me during this troubled scary time.

Richard and I are active in St Vincent de Paul and we attended an emergency meeting on Friday.  Richard is going to coordinate the financial aid with the county group in behalf of our organization.  I went into work last Wednesday and spoke to leadership about the precautions I thought we need to take (after speaking to my sister, Claire and daughter, Michele who are in the medical field).  I am now NOT going to go in to their offices and do the interviewing via phone.  This way both Richard and I can be involved in some of the solutions without risking ourselves to close contact from other people.

Right now, I am very grateful for all that we have - our comfortable home to weather this storm and a good network of friends and contacts available via phone and social media.  I can already see good things happening all around.  People are showing they care and are pulling together.  The next few weeks will tell the tale of whether this virus can be stopped.

Our travel plans from Bali to Bangkok were cancelled.  It was sad to tell our Perth. Australia friends that we could not come - but they understand because they, too, are going through this crisis.  The future of our Friendship Force Club is in doubt because the entire travel industry has disappeared overnight.  The financial hits will be hard for them to bear. As for me, I am putting my Faith in God and trying to limit the constant news banter.  Being quiet, thinking with gratitude is what gets you through the hard times!

Lickity Split at Aqua Marina

Winning Kite

Richard wins trophy - 1st place Men's Division

Rum Bay on Palm Island Resort

Before Our World changed, I want to remember our wonderful trip on Lickity Split to Aqua Marina with our PGIslander friends.  We had such a great time flying kites on the beach near Englewood and enjoying the friendship, great food and joy of being on our boat again.  Such treasures and memories!

Andy & Charlene Cooper with us at Farewell Party, Vivante Clubhouse - Great week with them!

We also had a wonderful Inbound Journey from Niagara Canada with our Friendship Force Club.  We so enjoyed having the Coopers stay with us from Haliburton, Canada.  I organized a super Farewell Party at Vivante Clubhouse for 46 people with wonderful Steel Drum entertainment by Duo.

Our Friendship Force Club with the Canadians at Colonial Country Club Welcome Lunch