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Really, just don't be an asshole

So I got a Kindle, and I read a LOT. It's convenient, easy for my aging eyes to read, and thanks to my friend Lisa, I am part of a fun book 'club' that sends daily deals and provides fun reading ideas. I am in a club... and it's been great so far. I can now carry oodles of options (I have about 25 books loaded right now) so no matter what mood I might find myself in, I can indulge. Full disclosure, I am a totally sucker for FREE books, so my collection may not be up to the 100 books everyone should read before they die expectation, but there you have it. Amazon gets me...and FREE is good. I have been known to pay for a book if a friend recommends it, but I like a bargain too.

In other news, the world is still in the shit soup.  We are facing the consequences of a hasty reopening after COVID lockdown, consequences that may include yet another lockdown since we've allowed what is being called a surge to happen...with daily increases in the virus exceeding any prior to now - worldwide.

It's a shitstorm right now, and it feels like only a matter of time until we're forced back into our humble abodes to think about our actions once more.

We've reopened the clinic, which has been surreal on many levels. It's been awesome working with patients again; it's been terrifying thinking that someone, in spite of our rigorous screening might get in and infect, well, everything.  We mask, and ask patients to do the same. We disinfect like there's no tomorrow. We employ every caution we can to reduce the potential for infection spread, but even with all of that in place there are no guarantees.  Which, as I've already said, is terrifying.

We've also encountered the occasional pushback to requiring a mask in clinic. One patient in particular comes to mind, a patient who really shouldn't be taking risks due to age and other considerations. This patient decided that wearing a mask was simply not acceptable, and canceled appointments moving forward.  For this we thank them very much!  You don't believe in the germ thing? Fine, stay the hell out of our clinic!

Onward.

In the midst of chaos, during reopening phase one, ie three weeks ago, my husband had total hip replacement surgery. He is doing really well, and is dedicated to healing and strengthening. He had been limited in his activities for awhile preceding the surgery, and had been in near constant pain, which sucks. Pain is hard on a person; constant pain pushes people into frustration and darkness when it just gets to be too much to contemplate.  We're on the other side now, and life is improving. We go for daily walks, some longer than others, and he is religious about his PT and daily home exercises.  He is (carefully) working in the garden, and has resumed his daily hand watering. He is driving, so he is no longer reliant upon me to transport him, which is liberating (for both of us). He is brighter and happier than I have seen him in at least a year, which bodes well for the future as he continues to strengthen and recuperate.

As we approach the upcoming holiday weekend, we are planning to gather a small group of friends, outside on the patio where distancing is possible. We are all about being extremely careful about who we hang with, which feels a lot like dating after AIDS...when we were super careful and asked lots of questions and such just because if you didn't and made a bad choice, you might just die. No pressure on a barbeque, huh? Sheesh.

We're all here, and we're all dealing in our own fashion. If there ever was a time to develop a personal belief system and contemplate the essence, now is it. And really, even if Buddhism or compassion for our fellow man isn't high up on our priority list, the least we can all do is just not be assholes.

Wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands frequently. It's not that hard, just do it, and shut the hell up.

Huge hugs,

Stevie

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