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| The dance of the sugarplum......gulls |
Things are different.
I've watched with horror the news stories of people willfully attempting to injure others by spreading this dread disease. Seen stories and photos of fools at the epicenter crowding together to watch that government ship pull in and cramming the subway as if togetherness was all the thing these days.
City stuff...all city stuff.
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| Tree Swallows |
And then there are the small towns. I have seen a few and only a few incidents that made me cringe. A gaggle of bikers in leathers hugging one another in a parking lot and jumping up and down and making a show of themselves. Not impressed. Also probably not local folks. A few ill-advised play dates and the like.
But mostly, even though there are people on the bike path, fishing at the river, or walking the riverbed in the parks, they are almost all widely separated. I've seen lots of dads and moms out in yards playing with their kids and dozens of rainbows in windows showing solidarity and caring.
Local law enforcement is doing everything they can to help people weather this terrible storm too, from collecting pet food for food pantries and shelters to keeping us posted on numbers and news.
Then this morning our dear town clerk let me know that our tax payment, which has been in abeyance as offices are closed, will be processed today. Thus I can be even more careful not to overdraw the bank account today and tomorrow. That is the sort of kindness and thoughtfulness that sets small towns apart from soulless cities.
Thanks Roxanne, that was really nice of you.
Stay safe and strong dear friends and family. I hope you are all finding ways to keep your minds distracted from the 24/7 horror show raging all around us. The state is encouraging people to use birding for that purpose.... so that is working.....at least in the daytime...for me.
Much love from Northview Farm.
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5 comments:
Our parks and trails are full of people...silly people. But Gunnison County has posted signs that say if you stop here to visit you will be fined $5,000 and could receive 18 months in jail. Gunnison County is a hot spot in our neck of the mountains.
It has been said that you can't fix stupid and it becomes more obvious daily.
Thank you for all you and yours do for us daughter. We are very appreciative. Love, Mom.
Linda, people are out and about here too, but the vast majority seem to be being responsible about distancing. People need to get out so I am not sorry to see the little families walking and biking. Of course we saw a set of bicyclists trying to get the parks closed for those of us who practice distancing. There were four sets of senior...old enough to know better...citizens picnicking together at our favorite park yesterday. Oh, well....
Mom, no matter how grumpy I get never think that I am anything but glad to help out now or any time. My frustration is with the rude stupid people and the silliness in the way the stores are handling things, not with you. Love you very much!
The sad thing is, city people have little choice to completely isolate themselves. My son lives in Brooklyn, in a tiny apartment he shares with another family, and he has no car so he must use public transportation to get his groceries. So far, so good, but I shudder in terror for him when I see the graphic showing how NYC is the epicenter of this disease. And of course, he has no income, since he cannot work as a massage therapist. One day, it will be safe to mingle with others again. I manage to find places for solitary walks outdoors, but I am sorely grieving not being able to gather in church for Holy Week.
Jacqueline, that must be so hard for you and for him. Sorry you are dealing with something so serious. I get it that some of the things required here are impossible in the city. However I think up here where we are more sparsely planted some of our fearless leaders are racing to beat each other to the punch in adding often pointless and unenforceable rules and then encouraging people to rat on their neighbors. The disease is terrifying. Some of the responses from government and keyboard warriors are pretty scary as well. We have curtailed our birding, partly in the interest of not going to the gas station if we don't have to, partly because I am babysitting most days while Liz works two jobs, and partly because I don't want to be a part of triggering any more park shut downs. Not much fun. Glad we got a lot of good ones before this all gained steam.
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