Tuesday of Holy Week, Self Isolation Day #26
Please continue to pray for my husband's mother D. on a ventilator in ICU with confirmed COVID-19. We very much appreciate it, even though we are choosing not to give detailed, blow-by-blow health updates in this public forum.
One of the children approached me today--after three and a half weeks of going nowhere except to Confession a few times--to say, "I don't know why, but these days of quarantine have been the busiest and funnest days! I get to do so many of the projects I want to do." What a gift this was to me today and has provided so much meditation on a slower pace of life, on childhood, and on what makes for good development of character. Regardless of what I think of the coronavirus situation, there are some good fruits coming from it.
One of the children approached me today--after three and a half weeks of going nowhere except to Confession a few times--to say, "I don't know why, but these days of quarantine have been the busiest and funnest days! I get to do so many of the projects I want to do." What a gift this was to me today and has provided so much meditation on a slower pace of life, on childhood, and on what makes for good development of character. Regardless of what I think of the coronavirus situation, there are some good fruits coming from it.
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| First grader doing spelling |
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| Fifth grader doing math |
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| First grader doing math |
When I was singing nursery rhymes for school with my four-year-old, my seven-year-old helpfully took some photographs: an entire series of at least a dozen were "artful" close-ups like the below. I will not burden my blog readers with more!
At least Joseph took one wide shot! Thomas loves our time singing nursery rhymes together!
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| Mama and preschooler singing nursery rhymes together |
Today there was a passion for sewing projects. I never know how these things start, but one child will decide that today is the day for such-and-such project and soon everyone is digging through fabric, asking me to thread needles, and trying to get out of school all day in order to sew their projects. It's a little bit frustrating to have supplies dashed about everywhere but also so heartwarming for this Mama.
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| Fifth grader sewing a purse |
Today's postal carrier took away and also delivered yet more snail mail letters among the children and their friends. I'm enjoying so much watching them writing so avidly and multiple letters arriving each week, and it occurred to me today that that is, in part, because they do not text or email their friends.
Our parish priest is generously providing 18 hours of outdoor, 6-feet-apart Confession time during Holy Week for parishioners who sign up online for ten-minute slots so that no crowds ever gather. Our family was grateful to go again this week. During this time when hospitals are closed to outsiders, one could desire a final Confession during any kind of illness or accident and, even without being a COVID patient, one will have a very hard time getting Confession in the hospital. Go now, while you can! (On the subject: Priest describes giving last rites to man dying in hospital of COVID-19)
Anxiety-reducing measures of the day were: skimming the pool, picking weeds, watering plants, and reading "Introduction to the Devout Life" in snatches.
Bonus Reading for Posterity:
- One still wonders what to make of hard data. COVID-19 is real and I, nor anyone else I've ever met, says otherwise--how could I with my dear mother-in-law suffering?!--but real also are influenza and numerous other communicable diseases. I'm hard pressed to think COVID-19 is going to exceed this year's influenza rates of illness, hospitalization and death (a very similar pneumonia-while-on-ventilator death): CDC Reports Flu Data for the 2019-2020 U.S. Flu Season
- Our country's hardest-hit area, New York City, with its unparalleled population density compared to anywhere else in the country, is reporting that its numbers may be flattening, which would be a blessing. Also, we are learning that, just as reported elsewhere this entire time, the vast majority of those hospitalized and of those who passed away had serious and multiple comorbidities. One benefit I hope that comes from this entire mess is that people realize that our beloved, delicate loved ones (often elderly, but not always) are very vulnerable every year from various illnesses, not just COVID-19. NYC Data: Vast Majority Who Have Died From Coronavirus Had Serious Underlying Conditions
- I'm so eager for widespread release and use of antibodies tests! Stanford Professors’ Coronavirus Study Could Be Game Changer
- The unemployment rate of the Great Depression was "only" 25% compared to now: 32% unemployment and 47 million out of work
- I do really appreciate the heartwarming American stories coming out of these distressing times: Teen pilot flies medical supplies to rural hospitals
Hi Katherine!
ReplyDeleteYour posts are thought provoking so here are some of my random thoughts: Yes we know and expect that thousands upon thousands of people will die each year of this and that, car accidents, flu, cancer. These causes of death have been around for a while. We know them, we expect them and NO we don’t shut the country down for them. One cannot compare these known outcomes with a new disease that just popped up and has in a very short time spread all around the world rapidly and that is still emerging, that is still evolving. These drastic steps were necessary especially in light of what happened is still happening in other countries. Do we really believe the numbers coming out of communist China?
Did you happen to read comments at the end of professor R R Reno’s article? He did not accurately describe people’s behavior during the Spanish flu pandemic. People behaved then just as they do now. Dance halls were closed theaters shut down sick people quarantined in pest houses. In general people changed drastically their social habits. Panic? Many people died. Today many more survive due to access to advanced medical care which many need to recover and there is better hygiene and an abundant food supply. We can’t simply randomly pick out this and compare it to that.
In the meantime we wait and see. Many of us think that like all crisis it will subside hopefully in this case by the Fourth of July! I think that we will rebound and be much stronger.
We think about the young people many of whom had just opened up a new small mom and pop business and we’re looking forward to the spring and summer influx of tourists. Those plans are now dashed. They’re young they’ll survive. Even in normal times without a pandemic every day restaurants and small businesses fail. One lawyer who handled such bankruptcies once remarked cynically if you won’t to lose money open a restaurant. The point is this these things happen even when the economy is humming along. People move on. They survive.
In the meantime let us do our part and pray the daily Rosary! Continual prayers for Chris’ mother.
Ann
PS It’s interesting many friends I’ve spoken to are feeling as your child commented that these are some of most enjoyable days we’ve had, at home with love ones. We are doing things we don’t normally have the time to focus on without all our daily distractions and outside activities. Reading aloud to each other is one of those things we really feel we have time for. Yes some good fruits.
Here are the number of people in North Carolina at a higher risk of serious illness if infected with coronavirus:
ReplyDelete* Number of at-risk adults 18 and older: 3.4 million
* Percentage of at-risk adults as a share of the total population 18 and over in the state: 41.9 percent
* Number of at-risk adults under age 60 due to health conditions: 981,530
* Share of adults under age 60 who are at risk: 17.2 percent
* Total number of adults age 60 and older: 2.4 million
* Older adults as a percentage of all at-risk adults: 71.2 percent
The study from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation found about 40 percent of adults 18 and older in the United States have a higher risk of developing serious illness if infected with the coronavirus, due to their older age (60 and older) or health condition.
An article that might interest you: https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-chicago-last-rites-priests-squad-20200406-ht5xzf3umna6vi5vfy5rntcz2a-story.html
ReplyDelete