Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp, was an early proponent of hand-washing and better personal hygiene as a way to stem the spread of communicable illnesses.
Has it been more than a month since my last update? Why, yes. Yes, it has. Funny how that happens sometimes.
Following a wonderful week visiting ol' Mom and dogs in Pinehurst, North Carolina, it was back to work for two days before my university sent everyone home and decided that classes would be conducted remotely through the end of the semester and Final Exam Week.
All well, good, and completely understandable, but it has had the added effect of making free time less common than everyone thought initially. I am online even more now in connection to my work, responding to student emails, and the like than I was before 'The Blight' came along. Factor in the help I have been giving The Young Master with some online schoolwork since he has been at home for the last two weeks too, and it's easy to see where the time has gone.
All of which means, of course, that my 14 Minden Bosniaks have sat in their 'clear plastic food storage box as a dust cover' not quite finished since the last update in February. To be honest, I'm so tired mentally by the time 8:30 or 9pm rolls around each evening that the thought of picking up a paintbrush to concentrate on adding all of those little black horizontal stripes to a dozen or so red lances isn't that compelling. They'll keep for now I suppose, but it is frustrating when I think about it.
Thus far, the three of us and extended family around the country are well and adjusting to the rather large hiccup Covid-19 has caused everyone thus far. As much of a pain as it is, though, when it comes to public health in the face of a highly contagious virus, erring on the side self-isolation, lock-downs, extreme caution, and the like makes good sense. Consider, for a moment, the strains under which healthcare providers have been forced to operate and the possible alternative when people think only of themselves, do not remain at home, and congregate in large groups.
To agree, for just a moment, with one wild-eyed young politician on the far left here in the U.S., people are dying after all. She has a point. Extremely sound judgement, therefore, on the part of those world leaders and state governors here in the U.S. who have moved in the direction of limiting the virus' spread and keeping people safer than they might otherwise be.
With that same thinking in mind, I wish all visitors to The Grand Duchy of Stollen continued good health and more painting or gaming time than I have managed the last several weeks. Stay healthy everyone!
-- Stokes
Comments
Your profession surely is a busy one - more time consuming per your remarks. I had not thought of that. Logical I suppose when I consider the back and forth ping pong emails I get from clients. These can eventually add up to a great deal more than a person to person talk or even a telephone call. Emails can go on for weeks. The other day I got a telephone call from a friend. Twenty minutes of conversational satisfaction and crossing finish lines. A very good thing.
I just made a speech. Apologies.
Respectfully,
Bill P.