Covid-19

 Enitled: "believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment."

So crazy how divisive this pandemic has become. Nothing in my lifetime has required such restrictive measures, measures our parents and grandparents endured in multiple during their lifetimes.

 

Thus, our acquired ease of comfort, plenty, and confidence of freedom have led to an expectation of non-interference of our intended paths. Rebellion when contradictions impede. A "How Dare You" mantra.

 

Some of our and our family/friend's chosen careers are contingent on the public's freedom to patronize those shops/services. When those freedoms are curtailed due to say, oh, a pandemic, the businesses fail. I get it. I was luckier than some with my chosen path: nurses were always essential. In retirement, I'm feeling fairly secure until Trump succeeds with completely destroying Social Security and the VA in favor of his rich supporters. Still, I've lived long enough. I feel so badly for those who own restaurants, bodegas, tiendas, bars. No trade, no income. Landlords. No jobs, no rent.

Cue the hue and cry to abolish the restrictions and trust the people to "Do The Right Thing".

Except they don't. No mask, because our constitution says I have freedom to choose. No social distancing, same reason. Many thousands more will die. 200,000 so far. 

Entitlement kills.

There are skilled neurosurgeons from third world countries starting over as orderlies here. Your lifestyle may well have to adapt/change. Kind of like the Jews in Germany, at least the ones who survived. Your restaurant closed? Lost your savings? Yep. Gotta move back home with the parents? Yep. No more health coverage without employment? Yep. Gee, if only there was a presidential candidate who would prevent those things. If Universal Health Care were a real thing...

People are chafing, angry, coming unglued at being restricted. Entitled. Scared, but not of the virus. Scared of change, scared of less. Entitled. Unwilling to bend, acquiesce, adapt. Entitled. SO uncomfortable with isolation, solitude, lack of contact. NEEDing others to complete themselves. Adamant that the government presumes to think it can control them. Ugly Americans. Entitled.

I've lost friends over this. Maybe some family, too. It's unknown if this will reverse with time, if/when normalcy returns. And I don't really care overmuch. I've learned way too much about these people.

Wear a mask. Stay home. Suck it up. Save lives. It's truly not that much to ask.

Really?

 

Kanga

Right after quarantining began, my single-minded husband decided he HAD to drive to California to pick up his new boat. So I moved into the guesthouse while he was gone, as I refused to get infected due to his stupidity.

Am truly loving living single. Quieter (he watches horrid westerns and CNN nearly 20 hours a day). Cleaner (he's a true pig). We visit each other a couple times a day, and text.

Luther is mostly here, and Sofia's still her Daddy's girl (but loves to visit because BISCUITS).

We take turns getting supplies from town when needed, probably once a week each.

After about a week here, I got stung by a scorpion in the middle of the night in bed, and have slept on the couch since. One quilt, one pillow, easier to scout for them there. The bed has too much bedding.

Found out I really CAN put that big water jug into the dispenser by myself, and hook up a propane bottle myself. I think I've lost weight, my underwear is looser. Only wear pajamas, so can't really tell. Mostly just snacks. Couple times a week I'll cook something and invite him to dinner.

With my Netflix, Acorn, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Britbox, and CBS all-access, I stay entertained.

Plus, now there's this: I have a new pet.

Note to self: If the cat wants to come inside after dark, first turn on the light and get your glasses.

 

Luther had a Kangaroo Rat in his mouth. Quite lively. He and I worked for 20 minutes trying to catch it, to no avail. Turns out they can climb brick walls. Luther leaves fresh mouse parts on the door mat every day, but has NEVER caught one in the house, plus google says Kanga is nocturnal, when Luther's out hunting.

Kanga stays under the kitchen or bathroom counter, but makes occasional appearances when I'm on the toilet or the couch. SO cute! Huge eyes, big cheeks, long tail with a plume on the end. I'm often up for a few of the wee hours, and leave the door open, hoping she'll run outside. But after 2 days, I was afraid she'd starve to death and die under the kitchen or bathroom counter, so now I feed her. She likes Ritz crackers and whole almonds. Mice don't starve in the other house, between Ron and the dog they can graze off what's dropped on the floor forever.

Today I opened a dresser drawer for fresh jammies, and she was there. Blinked a couple times, not alarmed. I was actually able to wrap her in a dish towel and was en route to the door when she wriggled out of it and leapt to the brick wall. Back under the dresser.

I put an almond under there. Wish she'd eat scorpions...