. . .

 

My husband and I have been sheltering at home for 14 weeks now.  The last time I went anywhere, (other than short walks around our neighborhood with Todd and Mitzie early in the morning) was on the 5th of March. That was the last time I was able to go to my Back Doctor. 

I remember things feeling very strange on that day.  We stopped at a cafe on the way home for a drink and I felt very fearful of germs and the possibility that we might come into contact with the virus. I have never felt so afraid of being around other people and in a public space in my life.

My husband is 82 years old and has had cancer.  I am a diabetic with high blood pressure and I suspect the beginnings of copd, as well as being close to 65 years of age. We are both in a highly vulnerable group. We live in a country where the statistics for the Covid virus read as follows: 

As of 9am 6 June, there have been 5,438,712 tests, with 218,187 tests 
on 5 June. 284,868 people have tested positive. 
As of 5pm on 5 June, of those tested positive for coronavirus, 
across all settings, 40,465 have sadly died.
(Source the Department of Health and Social Care) 

And this was half a week ago, before all of the marches, protests, etc. I firmly believe that in about two weeks time we will see a huge spike as a result of these foolhardy activities with the huge lack of facemasks and social distancing I was witness to via social media, etc.  Pictures like this  . . . 

 

and this  . . . 

  

and this  . . . 

 

quite rightly upset me.  I have a right to be upset about this. It is not only selfish and foolhardy in my opinion, but it makes a mockery of the sacrifice that my husband, myself, and many, many others who have also been sheltering  have made over these past weeks. A sacrifice that was made to protect the health and lives of our health care workers and communities, and the lives of vulnerable people all over our country.  People of all races, religions, ages, sexual identities, etc. My daughter and her husband are health care workers and have two young children. Ariana is a health care worker with a young child. A sacrifice that was made because our Government asked us to make it.

I choose to not behave in a foolhardy way, and I oppose violence and civil disobedience. That does not make me a racist. Believing that there is a better way to bring about change does not make me a racist. Just because you shout louder than me, does not make me a racist.

I will always choose the gentler more peacable route to change and I do it with my vote. You do things your way and I'll do things mine.

 I have always said that I will write this blog so long as I am having fun doing it.  Yesterday I came very close to deciding to just walk away. But, after thinking about it for a time and prayer,  I decided why should I let the voices of a few bullies stop me from doing something which helps more people than it hurts.


Have a nice day.