Elder Advice – Thinking Inside the Box - Week 3
More elder advice during the pandemic.
Week three. I found my mind wandering today – how disappointed COVID-18 must be. No one takes the slightest notice. And then your weak, "can’t even survive a little soap and water" sibling turns up ….
Anyway. Back to reality, and my backyard. I note today, with some satisfaction, that the fresh mound of earth, that I was certain would be there by now, is conspicuous by its absence. Which everyone will agree is remarkable when you consider how horribly Sinclair is trashing me each night at SCRABBLE. Neither, I might add, are there muffled cries from Lisa’s rolled up yoga mat behind the living room couch. Which, like most things, is a further tribute to my strength of character. But we can all agree that four weeks of claustrophobia is enough. Three weeks ago, there was a general consensus that dogs, at least, were having the time of their lives. Today our dog, Gilly, was looking at me like: “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
But you came here for elder advice. Here’s some. The debate over the reliability of China’s death toll stats and the WHO’s allegiances needs to end, right now.
First, now is not the time for this discussion. Every single government brain cell, worldwide, needs to focus on how to extricate economies from the ruin of the pandemic response. There are none to spare for this issue.
Second, it is not even the right issue. The right issue is unrelated to what happened; it is about why it happened. The right issue is the permanent closure of every wet market in Asia. And as China stealthily moves to reopen theirs, the clear, unequivocal message from all other governments must be: Do it at your peril – travel bans will remain in place and economic sanctions will be put in place. Note to narcissist bully in Washington and resume-less rich boy in Ottawa: Deliver that one sentence message, and get back to work.
Amid the wreckage of last week’s COVID-19, 24/7 world was some positive news. Not the timid governmental musings about economic re-openings in Europe. Rather, the bold Ontario government announcement:
“Be Bear Wise and Prevent Bear Encounters”
Public should exercise caution as bears come out of hibernation
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) remind you to exercise caution as bears begin to come out of hibernation this spring.”
The crankier among you may observe: “Great … the BEARS don’t have to listen to the endless stay home, stay safe chatter.” But the positive news this represents is that, for the first time since March 17, a communication from government did not include “COVID-19”.
The return of an annual Canadian rite of spring. A fleeting glimmer of normal.
So, chin up and, as I suggested previously, think about the positive outcomes, and add to that growing list the joy of men actually washing their hands before leaving public washrooms.