I know most of our minds are sashaying back and forth between dwelling on this unprecedented happening as well as not wanting to think, write, or talk about it anymore.
Well, I happen to run out of books to read last night and picked up one out of a box that used to belong to my oldest grand daughter. It's called "The Fifth Wave" - an apocalyptic novel to be sure written by Rick Yancey.
An excerp from the back:
"After the first wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd wave, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd wave, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: Trust no one."
OK... definitely not one of my 'feel good' reads. But as I started it out of desperation to read something it did a fairly good job of 'grabbing' me. It seems to be written from the prospective of a young girl trying to survive... and it gives her thoughts (which are kind of funny and very human).
An example: as she's slipping through the gas station at dusk in search of supplies and water...
"Why people grabbed the beer and soda, the cash from the registers, and safe, the rolls of lottery tickets, but left two pallets of drinking water was beyond me. What were they thinking? It's an alien apocalypse! Quick, grab the beer?"
Sound vaguely familiar? "It's a global pandemic! Quick, grab the TP!"
Anyway, I didn't get too far into it before I fell asleep. But it did make me think.
Concerning this pandemic, there seems to a few possible outcomes:
1. This will eventually end and all will return to normal.
2. This will eventually end and all will not return to normal.
3. This will not end, and new waves will continue to come.
4. This will not end, but we will.
(I tend to go for the 2nd possibility - but perhaps that's only 'hope' springing eternal)
Forgive me if I ventured into territory most of you are trying to avoid this morning. It was just all on my mind and I tend to have to get it out.
Our oldest grand daughter just moved into the dorms at college... and it's weighing heavy on my mind. I worry about her safety - heath-wise and otherwise. But for the moment, she is happy. I guess that's a good thing. And she has her masks, knows the dangers, etc.
Here is a pic she sent:
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I hope and pray that the colleges stay virus-free, but it seems almost unavoidable. I am afraid that they will open (as safe as they can make it), then become contaminated due to off campus parties or just young negligence, and then close again. But we are in unprecedented times, we can only hope for the best...
Happy Saturday to all of you. Please don't let my post depress you. I'm determined to make the most of each day that I'm given... if only by writing a few lines, making a few more masks, cooking something wonderful for DH, or even catching another hammerhead shark (on Animal Crossing game!). Stay well and stay safe!
Hugs,
Rian
...and just a simple question concerning the disappearance of lysol spray from the face of the earth... shouldn't the company be making tons of it since the consumer demand is such? And if they are, where is it going? Certainly not to the shelves of stores (or not any stores we know). If you try to order it online, it always says 'out of stock'. Just another unanswered question.
I picked up a copy of your book for my Kindle. And I am trying to stay positive but I mostly feel weary of it all.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Olga. I hope you enjoy it. And I can understand you feeling weary of it all. As much as we try to not think about it, it seems to affect our every day lives.
DeleteI think it will be option #2, though given human nature, once there's a safe vaccine most people will go back to the old normal. My concern is that once this behind us we will have learned nothing and we'll be blindsided by the next pandemic. I mean at the government and corporate level. If my Canadian government had been on the ball, all borders and travel would have been shut down right away, masks in public places made mandatory. Instead it was all a don't worry and then a wait and see attitude, without understanding that an unknown virus on the other side of the world was going to spread like wildfire. We're a global community now. We are all far too short-sighted, concerned only with getting as much as we can with no regard to what's around the bend. So I think that most institutions will carry on in this fashion, because that's how our society is structured.
ReplyDeleteI wish your granddaughter well, that she remains safe and healthy. We're all waiting to see what will happen with our university and colleges here in my city, even with first year students learning remotely and residences at less than half capacity. For staff, the default is to work from home if possible. I'm lucky that I don't work with the students and can work from home indefinitely.
Do take care. As my mom always told me, this too shall pass. ❤️🙏
I do so hope so, Kim... and that we don't pass with it. I make comments about us moving to Canada if things here continue to be so divided and downright embarrassing. But I can imagine the Canadians wouldn't want us... and might even think about building their own wall.
DeleteI also think it will be #2, but "normal" will re-emerge looking different but better.
ReplyDeleteI hold your expectations for the new normal, DJan... but hope we're not disappointed.
DeleteI hope for the first outcome but I think it will be the second outcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm wishing for the safety of your granddaughter.
Thanks, John.
DeletePerhaps I'm being silly here, but I honestly think, given enough time, it will be as close to #1 as possible. People are creatures of habit. I do believe there will be a vaccine / herd immunity and then people will eventually return to normal. Humans have short memories in the bigger scheme of things. I wish your granddaughter well! She has set up a lovely dorm room for herself! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenn. The dorms these days are nothing like the dorms we moved into back in 1964... but we thought they were great!
DeleteI think we will be looking to a leader for management.
ReplyDeleteThis is true, Joanne.
Deletei agree, number 2 for sure!! i am not a reader, i have no memory, and that makes it so difficult!!
ReplyDeleteyour granddaughter is adorable. i like her fairy lights and that big pink blanket. i wonder if someone made that for her or if there is a place that sells them!?!?
There is a place that sells them... Pinterest and I'm sure Amazon. She wanted me to make it as I have made them many quilts and afghans (crochet and knit), but I find that huge yarn too difficult to handle. But you could do it, Debbie. The yarn and the instructions are available.
Deletethanks rian, i will google it. i think people knit these using their arms as needles, i think i have seen a video. i hope you are doing well, finding something fun to keep you busy!!!
DeleteHoping for the second one but can't bet on anything anymore. My library has that book and I will get it as soon as I finish the one I just borrowed. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Patti. Things I thought would never happen ARE happening... (Katrina, Trump, Pandemic, etc. - alien invasion could be next). It's definitely not my normal read - but finding it an interesting read (some similarities of thought and some very real hopes that things would never get that bad).
DeleteI believe we're a long way from this being over, as I see our provincial and Canadian government putting in measures to fight the second wave (short of lock down). Until there is a vaccine and those who want/need it can get it, we're living our new normal.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds interesting, you'll have to let us know what you think of it. Your granddaughter looks to have made a comfortable place for herself. I wish her good health and success in her college experience.
Take care and stay well!
DH and I were discussing the Spanish flu of 1918 - lasted 2 years I believe. Hopefully we have learned a lot since then or at least made some strides in medical science. Our ability to make a vaccine faster (and hopefully safe) is one hurdle crossed or being crossed.
DeleteAnd yes, I'm finding the book 'interesting'... so far. Some of the thoughts going through this young girl's head are very similar to what we may be thinking now with this pandemic (like why weren't we more prepared?, etc. It's not like we didn't discuss the possibility.)