THEY'RE HERE!!!

I was hoping it wouldn't happen is sleepy, little Cheshire, but today it did.

Half dozen people or so were protesting in front of city hall with "Open CT Now!!" signs and one of those ultra-right wings "Don't tread on me!" flags with the snake on it.

They also had signs that said "Honk if you agree"--I must confess that I was proud of my townspeople when I heard no honks....

Several of them--no masks, standing close together--raised their thumbs at me.

I wanted to raise another finger (not the thumb) at them, or roll down my window and shout, "put on masks, a**holes!" but I didn't. I just pulled up my mask alone in the car and shook my head at them sadly.

And it is sad.

CT was hard hit and our governor has been more cautious than many about re-opening anything.

Bless him.

I know people want to get back to 'normal' (whatever that CAN look like) but at what cost?

I have little room to talk since my income has not been affected in any way--Social Security, the generous Church Pension Fund and my part time job keep putting money in my account, just like before. We even got a stimulus check in our account. I get all that. I know it.

But I have room to talk since I only have one life to live and I'm in a vulnerable group.

Half the people who have died in the US have been over 75. I'm 73.

I have a voice in all this.

Don't show up in my town, at my town hall, recommending things that could endanger me.

Just don't.

O.K.?

We went out today

It was our friend Jack's birthday and for the first time in over three months, Bern and I were around people today. 11, to be exact, one over the limit, but they have a huge front porch and big yards and we tried to keep apart and almost all of us had masks we wore when not eating or drinking.

And I felt weird.

What was always so normal felt weird.

That's what the virus has done to my psyche, and probably  yours.

Ordinary things back in January feel weird today.

I washed my hands twice while there and immediately when I got back home.

No one there knew anyone who had the virus.

But it still felt weird, just being around them.

Will that be the new normal (which won't be normal in any way) ordinary things a few months ago are going to feel weird?

Probably so, beloved. Probably so.

Alas and alack....

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.