Captain’s Log Day 2:
Enjoyed my breakfast on the front porch and worked on a couple computer projects designing some artwork.
Then I felt like my soul needed a break from what’s happening out there so I opted for my favorite podcast, Passion City Church. You can listen to it by clicking HERE. Title was “Why Christianity is not a Crutch”. And as usual, Paster Giglio was on fire. Best 30 minutes of my day. Worked on a smoothie while I was listening, then proceeded to find unexpected beauty in my actual empty smoothie cup. Maybe I’ve been “sheltering in place” too long and I’m starting to hallucinate… who knows. If I see a mermaid in the bathtub, just send help!
Made more sun tea. Read a book.
I took a short cruise along the beach to see if people were out or not – they’re definitely out. The beaches were busy, as were the roads.
Hung a clothesline out in the yard and dried some shirts in the sun.
Mom and the girls came over for a while so they could get out of their house. I worked on the sunhat wall in my bedroom while they did school work. It’s nice to have people around, isn’t it?
Proceeded to cry tonight in the shower. Not because I’m scared or worried. Just because this world is making me sad. Never have I felt such polarizing and division that there seems to be in recent years. When did being a good, honest, caring, THINKING human become something thats dictated by whatever news outlet you watch? Or vice versa – when we choose a position on an issue, it instantly labels us into a group. Why? I hate it. I want the world where we are just decent and we care about others and our politics don’t dictate our humanity. Right now, caring about others looks like social distancing and sheltering in place. But instead of seeing it as caring for others, it’s seen as weak minded because you’re being influenced by the news media. You’re giving in to mass hysteria. You’re fearful, etc.
Here’s what sheltering in place really means to me and why I’ve chosen to do so.
- I have a college education and can read the statistics. I haven’t watched Fox news or CNN. I’ve opened up a calculator and done some math for myself. And if we don’t stop the spread, and “flatten the curve” our hospitals will be overrun. Our doctors will be unable to handle the sick. And while the majority will recover, that’s true, thousands will probably not. And people that don’t even have coronavirus but who need other medical services might not receive them.
- I’m fairly healthy. But I did contract H1N1 the year it hit the USA and let me tell you, it was not something I’d ever want to tango with again. The fever was brutal. I lost days of time – whole days that I do not remember because I was completely out of it. My voice was so hoarse I could barely speak. And that cough – it was one for the books. Even after I finally recovered, that bone-shaking cough lasted close to a year before it went away. After taking care of me, my mother got H1N1. She then passed it on to my grandmother from one car ride. Dave got it too – he coughed so hard he cracked a rib. If you asked each of us about it, we all would tell you that none of us feel our lungs ever fully recovered. I can’t really describe the feeling. But they just feel… weak. (For lack of a better word.) No one I know personally died from H1N1, but I know TWO people who lost loved ones to H1N1 – both in their prime of life. And because of that, I’ll shelter in place. Not because I’m scared… well, maybe a little. Could my lungs handle Covid-19? I do not know. But I’ll shelter in place because I’ve seen what a virus, that mutates from an animal, does to a healthy 20-something. It’s not pretty folks, and while this virus is completely different, you don’t want it and neither do I.
- My mother-in-law is 86. Almost 87. She recently received news that stage-4 lung cancer is GONE! But she will still receive immunotherapy and is still a recovering cancer patient in her upper 80’s. My husband loves her so dearly. They’re really like two peas in a pod. So because of her, and everyone else out there like her, I’ll shelter in place. For my 86 yr old mother-in-law. For my 80 year old grandpa with Parkinson’s Disease. For every relative I have who is advanced in age, I’m sheltering in place. And for yours. I don’t want to lose anyone I love, and I don’t want you to lose anyone either. Community spread is a thing. It’s not a hoax dreamed up by the media. It’s a legitimate, medical term. Every errand I run, every surface I touch, every person I breath on brings with it a chance that someone out there loses a loved one, and I don’t want that for any of you.
- Last, but definitely not least, I have a daughter in China who is waiting for me. Unless Covid-19 starts to fade and the number of confirmed cases drops each day, instead of grows, I don’t get to meet her soon. Even if you’re not going to die from Covid-19, you might be spreading it around and the more it spreads, the further that date gets pushed back for Dave and I to meet our little lady. You guys, I’m not the only person out there waiting to grow my family. There are hundreds of others. Please, just stay home.* We want to go get our kids and give them a family that they’ve already waited so long to have!
We need to stop the rhetoric. Stop making this political. You don’t have to chose a side or take a stance. You just simply need to care about someone other than yourself.
Stay healthy, friends.
Love,
Stacey
*I know some people need to go to work. I get it. Some jobs are essential. Some people need the paycheck. The people I’m begging to stay home are the ones going to events, going out to eat, doing non-essential things.
Joydeen says
Stacy you state things so thoughtfully and compassionately. You’re fears are the same as most of us who just want to take the best care we can of our family and friends. Just know you’re not alone and you will have your daughter in Gods good time. I can’t wait to meet her too. And I’m going to watch/listen to the program you mentioned because I think I’m gonna find something positive and good in God’s word. Thanks for recommending it. Enjoy these days as best you can.
staceymkidder@me.com says
Thanks Joydeen. It’s such a strange time we live in and sometimes I just have to write about it or else I feel I will go crazy! I hope you enjoy Louie’s sermon. He’s my favorite pastor.