It didn't feel like Sunday

I went out an hour ago to look for the mail.

There wasn't any.

It's Sunday.

But it didn't feel like Sunday because church was on Zoom. I didn't hug anybody. There was no coffee hour.

But it is Sunday.

Then a few minutes ago I heard the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church on NPR, talking about the President's assertion that 'houses of worship' should reopen now.

Michael Curry (our PB) said, "Church isn't closed, just the buildings. Church is the people and we can pray where we are. Just because the buildings are closed doesn't mean Church is closed."

That brought me to my senses.

I'd 'had' Church today--on Zoom and Facebook!

And Bryan's sermon was both funny and moving. I thank him for it and thank God for him. Many of us ate bread and drank wine at the same time. I'll leave it to the Holy Spirit to decide if it was virtually 'consecrated'.

'Church' IS NOT a building. It is the people who sometimes gather there. And those people were with me on line this morning.

Now, it feels like Sunday!

I give thanks for that feeling and hope all of you feel it as well.

OK, I know

OK, I know my posts are getting too political. But my purpose here is to 'ponder' the world and much of what is going on in my world is political.

An election is coming, in case your forgot (sorry for the sarcasm there--I'm apologizing for everything tonight!) It is certainly the most important election in my lifetime and I'm over 70, so that's a while.

We've been in a maelstrom for over three years now--nobody in charge, major offices unfilled or filled by temps, no real national policy on much of anything--and then this pandemic and states left to fend for themselves (thankfully many did) and re-opening against all scientific advice.

No wonder I've been obsessed with politics!

But tomorrow is the 7th Sunday of Easter and the reading from 1 Peter begins like this: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed."

This ordeal is terrible.

But we have hope and we have God and we have our faith or non-faith, but at least 'hope'.

Deep breath.

We will survive this.

And we will move on.

Hopefully rejoicing as we do.

Be hopeful my friends.

Be hopeful above all.

Holy, and I mean 'Holy' Cow!!!

The President today declared that 'houses of worship' are essential and therefore should be opened immediately.

I don't think he can do that and our Governor and Bishops have set June 21 as the earliest we can have church in a group.

Does the President want to kill off religious people?

Among white Evangelicals that would hurt him in the election.

His insistence about 'reopening' American puts us all at risk.

Like so many things he says and lies about, I just don't get it.

Church is a horrible idea right now.

Holy Cow, don't put us as risk like that!

He said we 'need prayer'.

Doesn't he know I can pray while I'm writing this? I don't need a building to 'pray'. Prayer is an action of the heart and soul, not a space.

I do pray he comes to his senses.

Probably a prayer that floats off into the ether without being answered.

Amen and Amen.

God help us....









1

Wear a mask, a**h**e

The President went to a Ford plant in Michigan today that absolutely requires that everyone inside the plant must wear a mask.

And though he put one on, as soon as the cameras started rolling, he took it off.

What kind of leadership is that?

Don't rules to protect safety apply to everyone?

If he was a homicide policeman, would he wear a bullet proof vest when going into a situation where shots might be fired?

If he was a surgeon, would he wash his hands and were scrubs, gloves, and a mask?

If he were in the Army in combat (oh, I forgot, bone spurs!) would he wear a helmet and carry a gun?

If he were a teacher, would he use the black board?

If he were a priest, would he wear a stole?

What in the S*** is wrong with this guy?

Why is he president?

Will he be again?

God help me, I pray not!

Vote! Vote! Vote!

Opening up

Connecticut, thank whatever God there is, is one of the last states to start opening up again.

Bern just told me the Consignment Shop, where she goes a lot, is opening on the 27th. Good for her. I seldom go there.

I don't know when I'll go to anywhere besides the grocery store and wine store. I've become immune to going to places I used to go to.

I know millions need to get back to work. But I don't. And I don't need to go to their stores and restaurants and bars and nail salons and barber shops and gyms. The only one of those I usually frequent is a salon to get a pedicure.

I have trouble cutting my toenails. But I've been fine, if not perfect.

Toenails grow much slower than fingernails so I only need to cut them every three or four months, not monthly like my fingernails.

I know I'm different from many since I'm mostly retired and didn't go out as much before all this, but, though people need to work, I'm not sure, even in Connecticut, that it's time yet to lift the quarantine quite yet.

This virus is very dangerous. Though I know others aren't--especially those who need a paycheck--I'll be perfectly happy to 'stay at home' for a couple more months.

We'll see.

Of course, we'll see.

Enough hospital today!

I had to go to two hospitals today. Not pleasant in the best of times. Truly awful in these oh-so-un-normal times.

This morning I went to Waterbury Hospital to get my every two weeks injections of Zolaire, that has changed me life. Before Zolaire, this time of year would find me deep in allergic reactions, even to the point of having to take Prednisone. Not since Zolaire. Sniffles, nothing much else.

And I've been doing this for (I'm lost in linear time!) 4 or 5 years at least. Usually it's in and out in half an hour. Today it took me 50 minutes to simply register for the treatment because the hospital has laid off some of the registration staff just as they are opening for more registrations. Luckily, I was 6 feet or more from others waiting because some of them were quite angry.

They take your temperature when you come in and again at the Outpatient Therapy office. 98.5 both times.

Besides that, there was a section of I-84 that went down from 3 lanes to 1 for a couple of miles. But I was running early and made it in time.

Then this afternoon I had to go to Middlestate Hospital in Meriden to see my oncologist.

I don't have cancer, but my PSA has been rising in spite of the fact that I had my prostrate removed a decade ago. Doctors don't really know what that means, but they know it isn't good.

So I had a shot for three months that will limit my testosterone and hopefully lower the bad PSA somewhere in my body. We'll see.

Temperature going in and at the office again. Blood work, talk to the Doctor and then waiting for the shot. I was there an hour for a shot that took less that 15 seconds.

I don't like hospitals, so today was hard. Plus it was my turn to go for groceries. We used to go to the store daily, very European, but now we only go a couple of times a week and buy lots more that what's for dinner!

A long day for me.

Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Stay away, if you can, from hospitals.

bugs

Winters in New England (though this was a mild one, compared to others) are long enough that I forget about bugs.

Bugs are back--crawling, flying, buzzing, darting, sometimes biting.

I only kill the flies.

I take others that are in the house (if I can manage) outside and release them back to the wild--or at least what is 'wild' in a town in Connecticut.

I even take the 'stink bugs' that Bern hates to freedom.

But I don't like bugs much. The interrupt my life in ways I don't appreciate. Bees and wasps drive me inside. Smaller flying bugs land on the book I'm reading and won't go away. Ants climb on my feet and sandals. Butterflies and moths are fine--though the latter spook me a bit. I don't know why.

I feel about most bugs the way the President feels about Inspector Generals. But unlike me, he kills them (fires them!) left and right. Four this month.

Inspector Generals of each part of government are there, by law, to keep a eye out for wrong doing. Many serve though several administrations. They are not supposed to be partisan in any way.

And the President fires them for keeping too close an eye on things.

Mike Pompeo and his wife were being looked at for misusing aides to do menial and personal things for them.

So, keeping an eye out ends up getting you fired.

At least I only kill flies.

I let the rest live.

I wish our President did too--and had people keeping a close eye on him and his administration.

Too much to wish, I guess.