My Daily Struggle in the COVID-19 Lockdown

Another eventful week. First, America is seeing an increase in states turning into hotspots. Except for New York, these are states that did not take the pandemic seriously. So far, thankfully, this is not much of an issue in Illinois. We are still in Phase 4, which allows us to enjoy the summer provided we use social distancing (or, as The Wife calls it, "physical distancing"). In fact, we went to a restaurant for the first time in months yesterday! Another beacon of hope: scientists found a COVID-19 vaccine this week, and it passed its first test! Sure, nothing is final, but a glimmer of hope is still hope. We are closer to the end of this pandemic now than we were months ago. Rejoice! Now for some unpleasant news. The savage rioters are at it again. They have destroyed church statues, Confederate statues, and they are now going after Christopher Columbus statues--specifically, the one in Chicago's Grant Park. Personally, I despise Christopher Columbus, and I ...

I had a good worship at church today. We did a drive in service, and people formed a circle with their cars. It just made me want to burst out singing: "Oh, may the circle be unbroken by and by, Lord, by and by..." It was a warm and sunny day, and I needed to hold onto an umbrella to avoid getting overheated. An argument between a few people almost but a damper on the beautiful day as a few people had gotten into an argument about who is the right authority on social distancing and COVID-19, and so on. This damned virus is driving everyone crazy. Not just the virus, but fearmongering politicians, media, and "experts". I see truth in what each of them say, but not full truth. Besides, none of them truly know everything, so we must stop behaving as if their words are gospel. I am unaware if any of you have experienced this yet, but when I wear a mask too long, I start having trouble breathing. At first, I thought it was too much fat in my midsection, and then I thou...

Imagine a town torn apart by hatred                                                         Intolerance                                                                  Unequal protection under the law                                                                                        In a state known for its bigotry and subjugation                                     ...

Today was pretty productive. I ran an errand, bought groceries, and completed a small project for my side job. The wife and I then drove to Des Plaines to see my best friend and her family. There, we talked about old times when she and I worked together over a delicious Indian iftar dinner.  I talked more about how I lately feel taken advantage of at work since I am a veteran in the mental health field. I vented about how I keep being called on to do duties for one program when I am in another one. Yes, I should talk to my supervisors about my concerns, but then I have tried talking to them, and it does no good. Nothing changes. Besides, I don't want to give them any  fodder to use against me. Employers can be really fickle at times. I can do a million things with no reward, but I get a proverbial flogging over one little mistake. I have heard of hard workers who have been at my agency for years who are dismissed for the most petty things. For all my years at this agency, I...

God be praised! The Lord is starting to answer my prayers. R emdesivir, the first medication shown to bring faster recovery for those with COVID-19, is coming to hospitals in Illinois! Surely, many will say, "That's good for those who have it, but what about a vaccine? How can we stop COVID-19 from being so contagious?" This medication is still important because it requires some understanding of the virus in order for it to bring a faster recovery. This in return could keep more people from dying. If we understand the virus enough to treat it, it will not be long before we can create a vaccine or even, God willing, a cure. We must allow ourselves to luxuriate in this possibility! I keep reading about protests against lockdowns in Illinois and especially Michigan.While our governor has been decent about how he handles the quarantine and treatment, what I have read about Michigan' governor makes it seem as if she has crossed the line too many times. (Of course, that d...

Today started out rough. As you can tell from my previous post, yesterday was pretty bad. I went over to see my grandmother, my cousin, and her children. They are doing as well as can be expected. They are getting ready for next week, going through her belongings. That is such as stressful and emotional thing to do as it is matter of going through old pictures and memoirs. Aunt Hattie certainly took a lot of photos! In fact, she took photos of everyone! I am going to look for some photos tomorrow and will post what I find. In other news, it seems that governor is planning to "reopen" the state in 5 stages. With all that has transpired, I hadn't the chance to read more into this. I should do that tomorrow. Alas, this lockdown has placed us into a stalemate. On the one hand, if we reopen the state too hastily, more people will get sick and die. On the other hand, if we keep this strict lockdown for too long, the state, and its less fortunate residents, will go bankrupt. ...