PANDEMIC RANTING

Now they're saying that I should not wear gloves when I go out – “especially when you go to the grocery store or anywhere else.” (Strange wording.) Why? Apparently we don’t use the gloves correctly – no surprise there. Who wants to toss them when you know you can’t buy more? Also, they say wearing gloves lulls us into thinking it’s not important to wash our hands, and we must wash our hands. It’s possible the virus lives longer on gloves than on hands. And anyway, they say the virus isn’t spread through touch, but don’t touch your mouth, your nose, or your eyes. Not spread through touch?

Next, they’ll tell us the homemade masks are useless. I fully expect that. They almost say it now. The homemade mask just cannot replace “personal protective equipment,” and yet, dedicated sewists have been making them for medical personnel for weeks. It’s difficult to breathe through the fabric mask, and it’s not adequate to stop the dreaded virus. The most important thing we can do is to avoid each other (“social distancing”), but wearing a mask is a sign that you care enough to protect your fellowman from yourself.

I made three more masks yesterday for family members, and I’ll make more if I have to, but I’m not on board with the project.

I think – and this has also been said – that we of the rural community (and we’re all rural here, even in town) – don’t grasp the severity of this pandemic situation as it exists in metropolitan areas. We simply don’t have the population density. We are naturally “social distanced” at least to some extent Nevertheless, it’s sobering to see the loss of life in our retirement homes and nursing facilities. Well, you’re paying attention, too. You know these things.

Mike had physical therapy on Tuesday and saw the doctor yesterday. As I understand it, the doctor was pleased with the range of motion Mike has in his left wrist. He said the fact that he could manipulate the wrist without pain was a sign of success. No future doctor appointments are scheduled, but he has at least one more therapy session. He exercises the wrist several times a day. Fearing that he wouldn’t have the mobility to shift his bicycle, he is installing electronic shifters on the Scattante. Perhaps this would eventually be unnecessary, but I figure it’s time he treated himself to a few conveniences anyway. KW