I couldn't resist.  Just one or two more thoughts on this whole thing with the virus.  I have my own opinions on the validity of this whole virus and the actions taken.  Rather than inflaming everyone with those ideas, let's just say that it is important for people at risk to take care as they should with any infectious diseases.

I have watched news commentaries, press briefings, newspaper stories and opinions.  Let me just say that from what I have observed, this pandemic reminds me of funerals and weddings.  All of the above can bring out the worst in people!  Selfishness, greed, fear, anger.  Okay, hoarding of toilet paper doesn't usually happen with weddings and funerals, but I think you get my drift.

I have also seen it bring out the best in people and I hope we can all focus on that.  Small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness add up to heroism and bravery.  The generosity of helping each other financially and just by running errands for others or simple phone calls to make sure someone is okay has been heartwarming.  (almost typed heartworming and I am pretty sure autocorrect would have let me hang on that one!) Again, families have come together and come back together.  In many ways, the world seems to be a little kinder and cleaner.  It takes a lot of effort to stay on that high road in light of a lot of negative media coverage, but it is well worth the try.  Otherwise it can and might bury you in darkness!

With all of my thoughts on what has been going on, can I just say that I am actually shocked that I have not received a phone call and/or been tapped to be on any of the President's commissions!  So far, I have predicted almost every single event and trend at least two weeks before it actually happened!  How can the man not tap into the wisdom waiting for him here?!?  LOL.  Seriously though, I do wish that the grand powers would actually talk to those of us who end up having to live with the life decisions that are being made for us.  Reality is often very different from what is laid out in the plans.   (You may quote me on that!)

Hopefully, we have made some positive changes in our lives during this pandemic.  Hopefully we have reached out and pulled ourselves just a little bit closer to God.  Hopefully our children have survived new and extended periods of time with us and vice versa!  Keep praying.  The light is right there waiting to guide you.  Have a blessed week! 

Okay, I am back.  (I seem to say that a lot don't I?)  And so to continue with lessons I have learned, obviously the first one is that I either need a calendar to follow me around, yell at me to do things and schedule my life, or I simply need to follow a suggestion I read on the importance of "Day of the Week Underwear."  I remember having them as a little girl, but now that I think about it I can agree with "The Surprise's Fiancee, I never wore them on the correct days.  I guess that makes the underwear a moot point in keeping me on track.  But seriously, where does time go!?!

Another important thing that I have learned is that you should never give people/children new toys/ideas/things to use without giving VERY clear instructions.  It doesn't matter how I feel about the lockdowns, stay at home orders, personal protective equipment etc.  What does matter to me as a mom and a nurse, is that as I walk around I see way too many people using the masks and gloves improperly.  The medical profession will tell  you that you must cover your nose and mouth with the mask.  They will also tell you however, that they do not protect you from viruses!  We also use gloves in droves.  When you walk into a patient room, you wash your hands, put gloves on, do what you need to do, remove the gloves in the proper fashion by turning them inside out as you peel them off and dispose of them in the garbage before you leave the room and then wash your hands before you leave the room.  I am mystified by the fact that I go to the grocery store and am now directed like I am at Disney World to go up and down aisles.  I touch things that have been touched by countless people.  I take them to the register which is now protected by bullet proof glass (just in case I plan on robbing the place with my mask instead of just purchasing items).  The clerk who may or may not be wearing a mask touches all of my items after touching the previous customer's items while either wearing the same gloves or never using hand sanitizer between customers!    All this amounts to people mistakenly believing that they are protected and/or protecting others, when in actuality they are spreading more germs than they are stopping.  Oh, and by the way, taking your gloves off and putting them in your pocket or dropping them on the ground helps no one!!!  And eating, touching your face or talking on your cell phone while wearing gloves is ridiculous.  Perhaps you noted in my description of medical personnel that I mentioned hand washing!  PEOPLE, WASH YOUR HANDS!!  I cannot believe I had to say that!!!!

My final thought for the day and hopefully this topic, is that the people who make the rules seldom live by them.  When I worked at the hospital I hated being told how to do my job by people/administrators who had not done the same job in decades.  Who decided hair stylists are not essential.  Certainly not the person at the top of the food chain in the government who has a personal hair dresser!!!   If you really want to cause a riot, keep that business closed!!!   But now that I think of it, it may make the stay at home order easier to enforce.  What woman is going to go out with crazy hair!?!  And don't even start me talking about the celebrities and government officials complaining about being forced to stay at home to endure life in their mansions with gourmet food and servants and pools and.....

Can you tell that I am frustrated?  Keep trying to think of the positives that are coming out of this pandemic.  Families are actually spending time together and are being involved in each others lives.  It is something that our family has practice forever.  We are truly blessed to have God and each other as the most important things in our lives.  Head in that direction and you can't go wrong.  If you can't get to church, there are many churches who are livestreaming services.  Get your Bible out and start reading it.  Base your life on those things for a while.  Most of all - PRAY!  every day.  Have a blessed week.  I will try to figure out a schedule that gets me back to you soon!!!