Turning 63…The Year in Review

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It seems inappropriate to celebrate my birthday when so many people have died from COVID-19. And my intention this morning was to simply write something here on the blog that took a look back at the last twelve months which I still intend to do, but then I scrolled through Twitter and it occurred to me while reading tweets and watching videos about people standing line for hours to vote early signals something else going on, likely in response to the last four years.

After so much pain, grief, and confusion, people are voting early in droves. Now, I assume it’s to kick the Republicans to the curb, but I really don’t know. That said, I’m choosing to believe that’s the case.

To date, we’ve lost over 215,000 people to a virus that Republicans refuse to take seriously. Either that or they do and they don’t care who dies. I saw a picture of Donald throwing masks into the crowd at a rally yesterday. 10 days or so out of the hospital and he’s out having rallies amid attendees without masks. WITHOUT MASKS.

In response, I posted the following:

So masks are the new paper towel rolls? https://t.co/ySCIZcEJYr

— Jan Erickson ☾✯🌊 (@Mistress_Jan) October 13, 2020

The last year, let alone the last four years, has been nothing short of surreal. My husband and I took our vacation at the end of December 2019 and soon after we returned home, my husband became quite ill from something akin to the flu. After a week or so, I became ill as well.

Neither of us gets the flu very often. We may go years without getting even so much as a cold, but I can tell you in all honesty that whatever we had, we’ve never experienced before. I saw my normally healthy husband become so ill and stay that way for days before he was able to even get up off of the couch.

I had a cough that was weird and wouldn’t end, which seemed to resolve the day before I was to report for jury duty at the end of March. I sat in a packed room for the initial juror meeting to watch videos and to have the process explained to us. It was terrifying because the government was already giving the country mixed messages about the virus which I knew was complete bullshit. At least no one was coughing, including me. And fortunately, I made it through my two weeks without being chosen to sit on a jury.

We have no idea if it was COVID-19 that we contracted, but after watching the Chinese putting up hospitals in a matter of days to deal with the outbreak, it was clear to us that something awful was about to happen and it would be happening here in this country as well.

So, we effectively locked down on February 2nd. I know, because I checked my calendar and that was my notation for that day. We limited our grocery shopping to once every two weeks (or longer) and ordered what we could online. As soon as the cleaning protocols were known, we began spraying down everything with an alcohol/water solution before bringing anything into the house which we still do.

As mask patterns became available, I began making cloth masks for us to wear, finally buying a few as well to add to our stockpile. I ordered latex gloves and we go nowhere outside of our property without wearing both gloves and masks. I wear them even when walking across the street to the mailbox. Every time I see our mail carrier, I never see her with a mask on, nor do I see freight people wearing them either. So, I don’t feel comfortable around these folks or anywhere they’ve been.

In fact, I don’t feel comfortable around anyone not wearing a mask. Those who wear face shields only are doing no one any favors, not even themselves. It’s an illusion to believe that a face shield will prevent transmission of the virus. It’s just stupid, in my opinion, and I can’t even imagine the number of customers who can become infected on any given day at a business that allows their staff to do this when they just might be contagious and not realize it. Again. Wear a mask. Period.

So far, assuming we had the flu in January and February and not COVID, we’ve both stayed well. However, the stress from the endless worry has taken its toll.

We’ve come to expect that the current administration will lie their assess off about everything, but it was unbelievable how the dumbass in the White House and his son-in-law have handled the COVID-19 response by sabotaging everyone from first responders to anyone who became ill. As far as I’m concerned, this is criminal and everyone involved needs to go to prison. As to whether or not they will, as we watch the Republicans push through their nominee to the Supreme Court this week, the notion of justice seems a distant memory.

Instead, we’re treated to a COVID joyride, a once around the block potentially infecting his security detail to get the attention he apparently so desperately needs, as well as the continual lies from the White House doctor about Donald’s infection status. Is he or isn’t he? Did he really have it or didn’t he?

If his gasping Evita moment on the White House balcony was any indicator, it’s likely he has the virus. But that’s not stopping him from trying to transmit it to everyone from White House staffers to Secret Service, as well as Air Force One personnel. Even the housekeeping staff has been affected by this cretin’s asinine attitude. He’s abusing a nation while expecting us all to protect him from his “creditors” by reelecting him.

He’s blamed the military, police, Gold Star families, and most notably, Hope Hicks for his contracting the virus when in all likelihood, it was Donald who was the super spreader all along. It’s been stated by the White House that he’s tested daily, but surely that’s a lie. Because if it were true, then we’d know when his last negative test was. Not that we could trust the rapid testing the White House is using given its significant false-negative rate.

My money’s on the idea that he may have been tested once, but after that, he likely refused, deciding that as long as everyone else had their temperatures taken and a swab up their noses, he was all good. Let everyone else be responsible.

Admittedly, my empathic nature finds it impossible to deal with lies from anyone. So, to listen to all of this bullshit has my bullshit meter on overload. Turning 63 is a milestone. Its numerology is a nine and reflects endings and completion. It would be nice to believe that all of this will be over soon, even with the nonsense that will no doubt happen between the election and when Joe Biden is inaugurated in January 2021.

My pendulum has been consistent throughout and aligns with the election prognosticators who now say COVID-Donald will not be reelected. I hope that’s true. And if the number of people voting early is any indicator, we might see a better tomorrow emerge.

That said, Mercury turns retrograde today at 6:05 PM PDT and ends on election day. Yep. Miscommunication and all sorts of communication-related hijinks could occur and likely will. So, it will be more important than ever over the next three weeks to stay above the fray and see the bigger picture. Take nothing for granted, stay vigilant, and stay aware.

If you’re voting by mail, contact your local elections office if you can’t find out online so that you know where the actual drop-off boxes are and if you don’t trust the mail right now (and who would) take your ballot to the local drop-off box. The Republican Party in California has already reportedly scattered their own drop-off boxes around the state, which is illegal, but they did it anyway.

So, be certain that the drop-off box is an actual one and not a scam by the GOP. Know that they will do anything to win and behave accordingly.

My oldest son texted me a happy birthday this morning a few minutes after I woke up. Best birthday present ever. Between that and everyone voting early, I really couldn’t ask for a better birthday. Unless, of course, the entire country began masking up when out and about or around anyone at all, be it inside or out.

So to everyone…

Be good to yourselves, Be good to one another, and By all means necessary:

VOTE

Blessed Be