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Post by jholland1964 on Mar 15, 2020 9:31:46 GMT -5
For the first time in my life at least the entire world is living in the unknown, terror, fear and hope. My daughter sent me this this morning and I decided to share it here. I found it moving and yes, maybe hopeful.
Lockdown
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.
-from Richard Hendrick (Brother Richard) in Ireland
March 13th 2020
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Post by budgall on Mar 15, 2020 16:12:48 GMT -5
Very well said, thank you for sharing.
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Post by Everton on Mar 16, 2020 6:56:22 GMT -5
Thought-provoking indeed. I shall send it on to others. But I am still afraid
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Post by jholland1964 on Mar 16, 2020 8:36:46 GMT -5
Thought-provoking indeed. I shall send it on to others. But I am still afraid Oh, I'm terrified.
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Post by bigbarney on Mar 16, 2020 9:53:06 GMT -5
Unless you have an existing health problem, it is no more worrying than catching flu or as I did at New Year, a chest infection. A lot of fake news (to quote your buffoon of a President)
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Post by jholland1964 on Mar 16, 2020 10:31:53 GMT -5
Unless you have an existing health problem, it is no more worrying than catching flu or as I did at New Year, a chest infection. A lot of fake news (to quote your buffoon of a President) Very true Barney but I DO have an existing health problem and I am also on an oral chemo drug which of course weakens my immune system so I am truly scared. And yes there is a lot of, I won't call it fake news, I will call it incorrect information out there and yes our buffoon President has not helped matters in any way shape or form either. Thanks to him we don't have enough test kits because when the W.H.O. offered to supply some for a start he said no, we could make better tests here. Sure we could...this is why the U.S. lags far behind other countries on the number of tests per capita that have been done. Oh he is a great leader all right. One of the scary things is there is no treatment if you do get it. Of course if you are under 60 & have minor symptoms then that is fine but if the symptoms are not minor....well. What is mind boggling to me is how fast it spreads. A 50 year old attorney in New Rochelle, NY was diagnosed with the disease, he is a diabetic and is now in the hospital in critical but stable condition and they are hopeful he will recover. But in the short time before he knew he was sick he went to his office, attended a party and went to his synagogue. They know for sure that he personally infected 50 other people, including his family who are in quarantine in their home. The town itself is in now what is called a "containment area" that encompasses the city and everything in circle that is a mile away from the city boundaries. This is enforced by the New York National Guard. 33 states have closed all schools. Right now 17% of those with the virus are hospitalized and this is likely to go up. Scary to me anyway.
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Post by bigbarney on Mar 16, 2020 10:49:12 GMT -5
My wife Jean has COPD and diabetes, so we are also a wee bit concerned. She has also had a couple of falls and is now terrified of walking anywhere, even at home.
The only rules our government have introduced (so far) are over 70's are advised to keep their socializing to a minimum and maybe self isolate if necessary. We are waiting for a statement from a meeting which is taking place this afternoon to find out if there are any changes to that. I am booked to go on a 'boy's trip' to the Channel Island of Jersey on 28th March but I think the airline will maybe cancel the flights. In any case, I have decided not to go because I would not be able to relax because of Jean's health.
My apologies for my unfeeling post before, I did not appreciate your health problems.
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Post by jholland1964 on Mar 16, 2020 12:07:39 GMT -5
No problem Barney and of course others here did not know of my health problems because I had chosen not to share them with anyone but family until it was absolutely necessary but when you said, "it is no more worrying than catching flu" I felt that I had to respond because that is the one thing that knowledgeable health experts have pointed out that is not true. For persons of any age with underlying health conditions and all persons over 60 years of age it IS more worrying than catching the flu. Mainly because there are treatments for the flu, tamiflu, etc. but there are not any actual treatments for this virus. The side affects that can be caused by it, pneumonia, etc. can be treated, (sometimes successfully but sometimes not) but the virus itself cannot, it has to run its course which means it also may worsen the side affects a person might be experiencing. I am trying very hard to keep upbeat as I have throughout the health situation I have been going through, a G.I.S.T. tumor (Gastrointestinal stromal tumor) a very slow growing tumor located between the lining & wall of my stomach) and a tumor in my lung, both are VERY small, each under one inch and the doctors have been very positive from day one with both. Both tumors were found "incidentally" when checking for something else less serious and both were found early so I have been very thankful. I have already been treated for the lung tumor with an unbelievable & amazing treatment called a CyberKnife which I have linked as you can see. I had 5 treatments lasting 43 minutes each, super easy, no prep., no pain, I just laid on the table and listened to music from the 1960's. Now we just have to wait and see if it worked as the doctor hopes and feels it will. I am now being treated more aggressively for the G.I.S.T. tumor with an oral chemo pill once a day. This hopefully will shrink the tumor making it much easier to remove. The wait time for both treatments to see if they worked or are working will take several months. Fingers crossed.
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Post by Everton on Mar 17, 2020 6:19:12 GMT -5
I am very sorry to hear of your problems Judy and wish you all the very best - it sounds like your treatment is top of the range and working well. Also Barney I understand your concern for Jean. I think all of us in the older age group have need for concern but we can look after ourselves and others as best we can - I am in my 70's an my husband in the 80's and he's just recovering from pneumonia which has been awful but thankfully treatable. There are lots of restrictions that have been brought in here in NZ - all sport stopped and no large gatherings plus anyone entering the country must self isolate for 2 weeks. Unbelievably some visitors are trying to wriggle out of that by saying they "didnt know" They must be blind and deaf and marginally stupid as well as being totally irresponsible. 3 are due for deportation and rightly so. My niece and her partner return from London on Friday after attending a wedding there so will be isolated. Every time we say goodbye to our son as he returns to England I think in the back of my mind I may not see him again and no less this last time a couple of weeks ago. But now the reality of that is frightening. He would not risk travel in these circumstances and possibly travel will not be an option anyway. So I remind myself how very fortunate we were to have our family all together then and be able to give each other a hug. I read a piece by Nigel Latta on Facebook. He describes himself as a "clinical psychologist, author, and wearer of socks." He is well know in NZ and has had several TV programs and he was at school with one of our older sons. I am going to go and find it and copy it here - it is a sensible read Best wishes to everyone. Take care of yourselves, and each other.
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Post by Everton on Mar 17, 2020 6:26:13 GMT -5
As mentioned in my previous post - This is copied from Nigel Latta's page on Facebook. Of course it is specific to NZ but is appropriate for any place. Here is the link to it. www.facebook.com/nigellatta/
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JME
Member
Posts: 70
Former World Start Member: Yes
World Start Name: JME
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Post by JME on Mar 17, 2020 10:41:20 GMT -5
Judy, so sorry to read of of your health issues. You have always helped me with my computer problems. May I be of help to you now with my prayers. Love you.
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Post by jholland1964 on Mar 17, 2020 12:55:18 GMT -5
Thanks to Eve for that super post. I am sending it on to my friends and family. To all who have expressed good wishes for my health issues I also give you thanks. I will be fine, I am sure but thoughts and prayers from friends are ALWAYS a bonus. Thank you!
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