Friday, May 1, 2020 (Beltane/May Day); from Jinny in Cary, NC to Sally in Taneytown, MD
Dear Sal,
This year’s “May Day” is as much about international distress signals as any international labor celebrations, it seems to me. Covid so far seems be outstripping any of our efforts to contain it. Glad you seemed to be doing better in this week’s Sunday evening phone call. I’m glad you got my check, and hope a larger government check will reach you soon if it hasn’t already. Covid hasn’t been easy on anybody. I’m sorry you’re pretty much stuck at the farm for a while. I admire the way you’re pivoting to try to provide additional food during this growing season.
The general lack of U.S. political leadership concerning the virus has been galling, though it has seemed to me that the governors of our respective states—Cooper in North Carolina and Hogan in Maryland—are being somewhat more level-headed and effective than most. Many state governors of both political parties are doing their best to coordinate responses to the pandemic, sharing information and resources. Some have grandstanded more than others. Nobody seems to me to coordinate less or grandstand more than our sitting president. His pronouncements bother me. On March 13, 2020, some (perhaps hostile?) news outlets quoted our President as saying “I don’t take responsibility at all.” In late March, U.S. case numbers surpassed those of any other country. So much for our stellar health care system. We don’t have enough tests, enough protective equipment, enough knowledge of how the virus spreads or how to protect ourselves. I’m probably preaching to the choir. Sorry.
Just before our library system closed up tight, this bookworm had a chance to check out one more set of books. During the next weeks, schools closed. Grocery stores posted reductions in opening hours. When I went to our local garden shop to get spring planting supplies, all the checkout clerks were wearing gloves to avoid contact with either patrons or cash register keyboards. Cash was no longer welcome most places—touch-free credit cards were much preferred. Our county officially went on lockdown as of March 27.
Supplies of wood and of plexiglass have dwindled as banks, groceries, hardware stores, and most other small businesses jury-rig barriers and enclosures to try to protect their employees from contagion. For a while, neighbors and friends disinfected incoming mail and waited several days before touching it. Same with groceries. Restaurants struggled to adapt—how can one mask and eat at the same time? Most are now “take out only.”
Searching out what covid humor I could online, I came across this dirge for the millennial generation, which includes your son Alex and most of the cousins:
“Millennials have had it rough—a terrorist attack ushered in our teen years; as we became adults there was a global financial meltdown; when we started parenthood there was a global pandemic. We’re pretty worried about middle age.” Perhaps more truth than poetry, though I’m not sure that the challenges of millennials outstrip those of our grandparents’ cohort or of other earlier generations during unsettled times.
News has become even scarcer and more biased—many reporters are in quarantine or are self-isolating. I’ve been learning more about video conferencing platforms like Zoom, and having virtual conversations with others working on increasing voter turnout in this fall’s elections. We’re sending out thousands of postcards to intermittent voters.
I can now attend “virtual” church, and have been sampling services at both of the churches I previously attended in person. I’ve borrowed a neighbor’s sewing machine and am learning how to make cloth face masks. Somehow we’ll get through this. Please take good care. Talk with you again on Sunday. Lots of virtual hugs!
Love, Jin
