We Live in Strange Times: A COVID, etc. Update

 Dear Joanie,

    It is a fairly cool morning in August in Boulder, and I'm sitting outside at the Carillon while Dougie is in our apartment meeting with his Zoom book group.  It's noisy out here, but there's a cool breeze. Petunias and lilies are blooming in pretty stone pots. The noise I'm hearing sounds as if a dragon got loose and is terrorizing the neighbor hood, but I think actually someone is sandblasting the building. Nope. I just looked. It's a guy with a leaf blower of all things. Heaven forbid we have leaves on the patio! 

     I promised a COVID update, but other things have been happening, too, so that's why I put an etcetera in the title.

    But firsr, COVID.  Things were beginning to open up and relax when we visited you in May.  We did have to wear masks in the airport and on the plane, but otherwise  we were able to gather in small groups, especially outside, without masks on. In June, our restrictions got even more relaxed. and all vaccinated people were allowed to go mask-free. I enjoyed going to the big stores like Whole Foods and Target without a mask. Such freedom to breathe! 

    In July, we started to hear about a variant named Delta. At the same time, we began to realize that there were many people opposed to getting vaccines, and these are generally the same people opposed to wearing masks. They were yelling something about freedom. Of course, we're old enough to know how vaccines save lives. Dougie spent 5 months in Children's Hospital in Denver when he was ten and had polio. We know how debilitating  measles and whooping cough can be. And my generation all have faint little scars from our smallpox vaccinations. We're not stupid, either. We know there are chances of reactions to vaccines. We did our research. We believe the highly trained medical professionals at the Center for Disease Control. We got our vaccinations, as you know (see Volume 1). 

    Beginning in August, the CDC issued some warnings, and signs appeared on stores: "All Unvaccinated People Are Urged to Wear Masks. 

    Right now, on August 18, 2021, we are back to wearing masks, vaccinated or unvaccinated. Here at the Carillon, we must wear masks everywhere except in the dining room and at exercise classes.  We also must record our temperature and oxygen level daily. We are looking at some scary statistics. From The New York Times today:

                United States ›

	Avg. on Aug. 17	14-day change
New cases	139,872	+52%
New deaths	696	+87%

 In many states, Intensive Care units are full and not accepting patients. We have once again entered into crisis mode. What next, I wonder? And when you are 10 or 15 or 20, how will this time period be reported.

    And then: Climate Change! My next letter to you. 

    In the meantime our lives are filled with delight as we watch videos of you walking around with some kind of pushcart, playing in the park, swimming, and listening to someone playing guitar, also in the park. We watch these videos over and over again.  Our hearts are lifted up.

Love,

GG Katie