Athens in fine in small doses. Though with COVID19 my time in Athens is pretty boring. I simply don’t go anywhere outside the neighbourhood. I avoid buses and the metro so I don’t go into the center. I avoid anywhere there are too many people (again: the center of Athens).
And I don’t go ‘out’. I visit friends and do errands locally, all pretty much within walking distance. Boring. I did buy some more shorts though. I never ever wore shorts till I got some last year. It was so hot I wore them all the time. Now I have more to chose from. I don’t care what I look like any more.
Ahh the joys of getting older.
I noticed the National Art Gallery is opened again after its renovation but I forgot about it and didn’t go. I guess next time I’m in Athens I must make a point to visit.
Meanwhile I’m trying to take a step back and breathe about the whole reno thing. Its just so much I need to decide and think about and organise that I’ve been unable to sleep well in days with my mind going a million miles an hour.
So basically I do this:
And my favourite:
Hope you enjoyed the stuff I found online when I should have been sleeping. Maybe I’ll sleep better once I’m back home with my Lainee next to me.
Today I’m sharing some of my favourite movies. This is a tough one cause there are so many favourites!!! I love movies but there are some that have a special place in my heart. Where do I start? Where do end? So many films.
But here are some I always remember, some I own, some I only watched once and never forgot, but all favourites.
Let’s start with some Australian films. Disclaimer: I love Australian movies. And English ones. And American ones. And French. And Swedish… you get the picture.
The Year My Voice Broke. This reminds me of growing up in a small town in Australia. The first years of my life I lived first in Tocumwall and then in Griffith, NSW. There’s just something about small towns and the open spaces around them that just gets to me.
Another one that gets to me is The Dish. The Aussie humour, the sheep, the countryside. If you haven’t seen it watch it.
Another film I love. I think its the irony of it, a blind man who takes photos – cause he needs proof that what people tell him is around him is true.
The Big Blue – a fantastic film about relationships – between two men and the sea, between a man and a woman, between a man and a dolphin, about competition and love… A beautiful film.
Chasing Amy. A spin off of Clerks where I first met Silent Bob and his foul-mouthed sidekick. A movie which speaks truths about expectations in relationships and lying to ourselves and others by omission.
Flowers for Algernon. To be honest, this should have been in books since I read it before I ever saw it. Either way, its a heartbreaking story about a man who had nothing, gained everything, then lost it all again. Below is a pic from the original movie.
Harold and Maude. Classic. Again, the irony of it was what got to me first, but its all about living life to the fullest. Its more than a romance between a young man and a much older woman. Its about living without regrets.
The first Swedish film I ever saw: My Life As A Dog. A young boy learning to understand the world.
Torch Song Trilogy. About being gay in the 70s, about a relationship between a man and his mother and his relationships with himself and other men. A great film and play.
A friend took me to see this film back in 2008 and I loved it absolutely. Its a Japanese film about a man who gets a job preparing the dead for burial in the ceremonial way. Its a beautiful film with emotion and humour and a haunting soundtrack. I bought both the DVD and the soundtrack.
And no list would be complete without The Party. Peter Sellers at his crazy best, the drunk waiter, birdie num nums and a whole lot of bubbles.
As I said, there are probably too many movies I love for one or other reason to list here. These are just the ones that came to my mind as I write this post. New films, like Avatar – a world we wish existed, in harmony with nature.
And old films like 12 Angry Men (also a great play).
If I don’t stop here, now, I’ll never stop. I have things to do!
In the vein of sharing memories and things I miss, figured I’d share a few of my favourite things as well. There are so many of them, but I’ll limit myself to books and plays for this post. They’re sort of related as most plays I love, I read as books…
Firstly my favourite books of all time. These are books I always buy when I find them, especially the version I first bought. Call me sentimental. I always have a copy in my bookcase, or two or three of each. And I enjoy reading them again and again.
The Crysalids by John Wyndham – I first read this book when I was a ‘tween and it struck a chord. I’m not into science fiction as such, but this book is special and it started my obsession with books/movies about the end of the world. (Yep. I get the irony in that.)
Every Night Josephine by Jacqueline Susann. This book is responsible for my love affair with poodles. After reading it I set out to find a black girl poodle. Instead I found and fell in love with a white boy (Timmy).
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss – What can I say? Probably my favourite book of all time. I would read it in a house, with a mouse, with a fox, in a box, over here, over there, I would read it anywhere!
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok – I’ve mentioned this book before. A book I adore though it makes me question how much of an artist I really am since I’m not obsessed by it as a little boy called Asher Lev. I also blame this book (and other Chaim Potok books) for my fascination with the Jewish religion.
Of course I have tons of books I love but these are the ones that stand out cause they’re the ones I always buy again.
I grew up loving books. I remember my favourite days at school were book related… one was the day we’d get the brochure with books for sale. We lived in Greece at the time and buying books in English wasn’t easy. We had a library at school and I was a regular visitor, but having my own books was special. My parents would allow me a certain amount of money for books so I’d pour over the brochure, reading the synopsis of the books I liked and carefully deciding which ones to buy. The other best days were the days the books arrived in their boxes, opening the boxes and breathing in that new book smell… ahhh…
The only book I remember from back then was Where the Red Fern Grows, but there were so many more.
Now I have a Kindle and sure, I’m a book lover and I love the smell of printed paper and the feel of a book. But I also love having countless books at my fingertips at any given moment. I love being able to carry one slim tablet instead of a heavy book (or two cause I was close to finishing the first). I have to admit though, I miss having a bookcases full of books…
Then there’s theatre.
I love live theatre, but I must admit I have two favourite plays I never tire of seeing. In the theatre or as a movie, professional or amateur.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard. I fell in love with this play when we had to read it for school. Especially the speech below. I mean, how can you not love this play?
ROS: …Do you ever think of yourself as actually dead, lying in a box with a lid on it? GUlL: No. ROS: Nor do I, really… It’s silly to be depressed by it. I mean one thinks of it like being alive in a box, one keeps forgetting to take into account the fact that one is dead… which should make a difference… shouldn’t it? I mean, you’d never know you were in a box, would you? It would be just like being asleep in a box. Not that I’d like to sleep in a box, mind you, not without any air – you’d wake up dead, for a start and then where would you be? Apart from inside a box. That’s the bit I don’t like, frankly. That’s why I don’t think of it. (GUlL stirs restlessly, pulling his cloak round him.) Because you’d be helpless, wouldn’t you? Stuffed in a box like that, I mean you’d be in there for ever. Even taking into account the fact that you’re dead, really… ask yourself, if! asked you straight off – I’m going to stuff you in this box now, would you rather be alive or dead? Naturally, you’d prefer to be alive. Life in a box is better than no life at all. I expect. You’d have a chance at least. You could he there thinking – well, at least I’m not dead! In a minute someone’s going to bang on the lid and tell me to come out. (Banging on the floor with his fists.) ‘Hey you, whatsyernaine! Come out of there!’ GUlL: (Jumps up savagely) You don’t have to flog it to death! (Pause.) ROS: I wouldn’t think about it, if! were you. You’d only get depressed. (Pause.) Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where’s it going to end?
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde – The cleverest/funniest play ever. I’ve seen this so many times, even once in Adelaide starring Geoffrey Rush back when he was still acting on stage in Australia. He made an excellent Ernest.
Connecting with my inner princess isn’t as easy as it sounds. I’ve been independent, creative and restless for far too long. Not doing things or doing less, or getting someone else to do something for me feels like laziness at best, weakness (failure) at worst.
Even putting off grooming dogs feels wrong. Its work, slacking off work is just not acceptable to me unless I literally can’t get out of bed. Soon as I feel a bit better I want to start working. Maybe its my work ethic fighting my inner princess which won’t let the princess win easily.
Getting old sucks. I still think my body can do the things it used to do when I was younger despite repeated proof that it not only can’t, it sometimes downright refuses to.
You get used to doing less cause it happens slowly. The first time you get a really sore back from lifting something means that next time you try to find another way, the first time you get sick after eating something you shouldn’t you start to consider avoiding that food next time*. It happens so slowly that somewhere along the line you don’t even realise its happening.
Or like me, you keep trying and keep paying.
*If I had listened to my body more maybe I could have avoided the last almost 2 months. Of course I would still have had to have my gall bladder removed, but not in crisis with complications. But I am me, and I’m not a quitter. I keep trying to do things I should know I can no longer do.
If I had listened to my body many years ago I wouldn’t have ridden on the last afternoon of a 5 day trail ride in the bush and I wouldn’t have injured my vertebrae. I was already sore by then but I refused to give in when others were still going. I have many stories like that.
It doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to life, which is how I began to feel in hospital. There is still so much I want to do and try in life. It just means adjusting to new normals. Maybe ask for help when something is too much for me, or only work on smaller projects I can manage alone.
The main problem for me isn’t resting or taking time off to do nothing. Its that I view that time as laziness. Its a hard belief to get past. I’ve always felt a non-creative day, or a day where practical things don’t get ticked off the eternally growing To Do List is a day wasted. A day spent reading or watching TV is a lazy day which my body might need but my mind makes me feel guilty about.
I’ve had almost two months of this. In that time the most creative thing I did was start a new sea rope basket, at least that’s something. I spend a lot of time thinking about creative things: usually when I’m lying in bed trying to get to sleep…
It is hard for me to accept this recouperation time as necessary when I just want to get on with things.
Apparently we’re back in strict lockdown. Once again.
I didn’t know we’d relaxed… Okay, actually I did notice some shops which had been closed were open again but with very strict limits on numbers in the store etc etc. And curfew went from 9pm to 10pm. Now its back to 9pm curfews and everything closed. Again.
You know, I really don’t get this bulls$%t. I mean are all governments as stupid as this one or is it just Greece?
We seem to be doing a bang up job of the whole COVID19 thing, bouncing around from lockdown to free for all ‘come here for your holidays cause we’re safe’ then back to total lockdown, from restrictions to curfews to whatever.
***(added later cause I knew I’d forgotten something and it came to me late last night): Schools are to open, restricted hours of course, but kids are going to school while shops are to close again from Monday 4 January. These measures are in force till mid January when they’ll look at the situation again. How does that make sense? This yoyo-ing back and forth like we’re playing ‘now you see me, now you don’t’ and restricted opening hours? Obviously corona virus is only contagious between certain hours of the day…
In the first phase of COVID19 Greece was the shining example of what to do in a pandemic. The greek government put the country in strict lockdown, all but necessary business were shut, where possible people worked from home or else didn’t work and the government promised assistance (whether it did or not, I don’t know, I’m still waiting for unemployment benefits since I stopped working), schools were shut down and online schooling was introduced. No curfew but bars and restaurants were closed so there was nowhere to go. And the country had incredibly low COVID19 cases… although, to be fair, not many tests were being done either. Still, very few deaths, especially when you compared Greece to neighbouring countries.
Then, in all its wisdom, the government decided to open borders in order to rescue the economy. So they said they’d allow only people travelling from other green countries to enter Greece. With tests done at the border plus quarantine. Then it was a free for all, everyone could come to Greece for a holiday it seemed, barely any testing or quarantine to be seen. Over summer no businesses did well, everyone struggled, lots chose to stay closed as the cost of being open was more than they would make…
Why open borders at all? Make Greece a shining example of what not to do in a pandemic. Sigh. If they’d just kept borders closed for a full year it would have been so much smarter. Then they wouldn’t have had to lock us down again. Business could have opened and stayed open, people could have gone about their lives with restrictions and care. Is it really better to open places up then shut them down than to keep them open but keep borders closed?
I understand why the curfew – when shops and cafes closed at 10pm in summer everyone would go hang out in large groups in parks and have house parties. So they introduced curfew to stop that. Then we went into full lockdown and all movements have to be announced via sms again, with the appropriate reason for the outing otherwise you just stay home.
Its frustrating.
As you know, I don’t mind it. I don’t go out much anyway though I do miss meeting a friend for a coffee now and then or a drink once a fortnight at a cafe. I’m mostly fine with lockdown, barely even inconvenienced. I have my interests and I live on an island so I can walk on the beach every day. This just seems so fruitless.
Anyway, this has been on my mind today cause I took mom to Parikia to see her sisters and walked and made calls in order to stave off boredom. Everyone I spoke to said the same thing: Why open borders which was always only going to lead to another lockdown? And I felt frustrated for people locked in apartments in big cities, those with health issues who daren’t risk going out, stuck within 4 walls with nothing to occupy them cause not everyone has creative hobbies like I do.
But enough depressing thoughts. Here is progress on my fish project…
I must confess (so you don’t think I’m a genius all the time – I’m only a genius most of the time) I had planned to paint the fish with colours… soft washes of colour like I do on the marble paintings… but it looked hideous so I went with a flat grey colour. I’m ok with that.
I gotta get going now. Eric is using my forearm as a bed and its making typing into a weight workout for my arm.
Partly cause I had a minor existential meltdown. Partly cause the weather was still so good I had to continue swimming while working and attempting to create in my spare time. Partly cause I got lazy.
Mostly cause of the existential crisis.
I won’t bore you.
Let me just say that I have been creating, just very very slowly. I started a couple of sculptures a while back and one is standing still while I work on the other one. And its slow progress. Mainly cause I chose to finish it in fabric, so I have to sew every little bit on by hand. It takes a while.
I think I’ll stick to clay and glue next time. A mix of paper mache and whatever else I decide to add to each piece. I have ideas. Its time and energy I seem to be lacking…
Mind you. I have done a few things in the last couple of silent weeks.
I’ve socialized and been out to dinner and lunch a few times with friends and cousins.
I packed away most of my summer clothes and am still washing to put away the rest. Its funny to think that 2 days ago I was swimming and today I had to carry Lainee to work cause she wasn’t wearing her life vest!
I took down all the winter clothes and boots: hello Blundstones! I’ve missed you!
I cleaned Lainee’s teeth with the tooth scraper I ordered on ebay.
I found a rug I fell in love with, ordered it, was told it was no longer available (twice, from different stores) and called around till I found a store which had it in stock and ordered it again. I should have it next week.
I ordered a rice cooker. I miss my rice cooker. It just didn’t seem worth bringing it to Greece with me for some reason, yet its something I use a LOT.
I’ve been making (and eating) yogurt ice cream. I’m on the last batch before I share my recipe. Cause I’ve been experimenting to make it low fat and non sugar… while still maintaining taste.
I’ve cooked a couple of meals… its something I don’t do in summer and am still not doing as mom is always cooking and giving me food. In fact so much food I often don’t have time to eat it… Today I bought dill so tomorrow I’m making spinach pie. I told mom not to cook for me! I still have beets, fried red peppers and salad in the fridge from yesterday and today!
Moms are great, aren’t they?
I’ve been busy trying to organise some doctor appointments for mom and giving her things she needs now the weather is turning cool. I’ve loaned her my dehumidifier as the damp is bad for her arthritis. My small heater. A wool blanket. Some warm tops. Some warm socks. Some warm legging pants which will hopefully fit her – she’s so tiny now.
I’m still working thankfully. No idea how long for, but still going strong for now. Work while there’s work to do! I’ll be without work till next season soon enough.
Anyway, here is some island colour to brighten up your day since I don’t have much to say. Enjoy.
What can I say? I love the bright flowers and the old doors best!
It’s been the best October ever. Like September used to be. Warm weather, not too hot, no wind at all most days. The sea is still warm and the beaches are no longer crowded. We still have more people on the island than is usual for this time of year, partly cause a lot of people who have houses here and no jobs to rush back to are chosing to remain rather than return to a big city rife with COVID 19 risks. There are also still tourists on the island, though not tons.
My routine continues much as it has all summer. I wake up, walk Lainee, take her to work with me, come home, change into my swim suit and go for a swim. Spend the afternoon doing something while watching Netflix or else doing nothing and watching Netflix.
Twice a week I bring mom up to my place for a visit. Twice a week or so I have lunch or dinner at mom’s. Every now and then I meet friends for a coffee somewhere. This last week Lainee and I had breakfast at an outdoor cafe and on Sunday I went to Alyki with mom for a swim and lunch. Its a little custom mom and I started a few years ago: lunch, just the two of us, at Alyki. A taverna right on the water. Just the way I like to eat: tzatziki, taramosalata, fried potatoes and fried zucchini. Yum.
There is so much uncertainty about almost everything right now. I have work till the end of October for sure, but if we get another big order maybe longer. I just keep turning up till I’m told there’s no more work for me. Then I wait till they’re ready for me to start work again some time next year…
Mom and my aunts are all still here, thinking of staying at least till the end of October. Why go back to Athens and lock themselves up in houses or apartments? Looks like at least half of them will winter on Paros this year. Puts a bit of a crimp on my workshop at my uncle’s place if he’s using his garage…
I’m really hanging out to use my power tools again. I’ve missed them all these months. I have some pallets I want to pull apart and make my shoe storage and the cupboard to keep linen in. Itching to get to work on the antique wooden couch too… at least paint it so its ready whenever I am to finish it off.
Travel is also iffy… my plans to visit my friends in Denmark and Norway keep getting put off to some vague date in the future. First it was to be March, then October, now… Christmas? Christmas in Germany for the markets with my dutch friend was cancelled for this year. Maybe next year… Who knows? If we get hit with another lockdown (entirely possible) I doubt I’ll be going anywhere. I mean, I might be willing to risk myself, taking all precautions while travelling etc, but what about mom and the others once I return? It really sucks.
Anyway, you know I love being on Paros and in my own home, surrounded by my own work, projects and hobbies. The problem isn’t there. Its that I have no idea what the future holds – with things the way they are its impossible to make plans in advance. Everthing is up in the air. And I really don’t like so much lack of direction in my life.
So I’ve made one goal for myself: soon as I stop working for someone else I will start working on my own projects full time. I’ll go back to painting on marble, making mixed media art, making art from trash, sculpture, and whatever else takes my fancy. I might even make a few new dolls. I’ll find a place to work and I’ll start working on projects which require space and power tools.
I might even start cooking for myself on a regular basis again! I made thai green curry last night. Its been so long!
And next summer I’ll plan an exhibition of my work, all the different kinds of things I like to do.
But first I need to find out if I need a registered business to exhibit.
I found out the other day that my dad’s grandfather and an uncle died of dengue fever when it hit greece back in 1927-28. Who knew? And obviously, a lot of people were lost during the Spanish Flu pandemic in the early 1900s. I guess we should count our blessings despite all the inconvenience and problems COVID 19 is causing us…
That said, this whole COVID 19 thing is really wearing thin isn’t it? Greece had done so well during the first phase. We had strict lockdowns, you needed to send a text explaining why you were out every time you ventured out of your home. You were only allowed to go out to shop, assist an elderly person, walk a pet or exercise, or go shopping or to a medical appointment.
Then they lifted restrictions and opened the borders.
Welcome to phase 2 of COVID 19. We are now heading back to strict lockdowns as the daily cases rise to levels never seen before in Greece.
Great job guys. Well done. And its not like opening borders helped struggling businesses… tourism was low, too many businesses suffered – so many places didn’t open at all cause the cost of opening was more than they stood to make.
Yet Paros was busy. Okay, perhaps not 2019 summer busy, but busy nonetheless. August only. I rarely went out in the evenings but there were people around when I did, and beaches were busy.
Having become somewhat of a hermit, I’m looking forward to some more quiet times ahead when lockdowns are put in place.
So what have I been doing that’s kept me away from the blog?
Well… in bullet points:
I started a job at Yria ceramics and have been working more or less 8am-2pm 6 days a week for the last month.
Aunt 1 has been moved to the nursing home on Paros. I went to Athens to pick her up in person. She is very happy and grateful and isn’t complaining a bit. Right. And pigs might fly.
I have a tenant in Aunt 1s house and so far all is well with that.
The bathroom apparently works.
I still have to sort out the issue with the other loser tenant who doesn’t pay his rent till he feels like it. I may have a solicitor lined up to begin proceedings to evict him.
I am currently on the mainland, having come here to attend some dog shows in the south of Greece with a friends. Fun was had, awards were won. Then there was an airport strike which only affected 6 airports in Greece… Paros being one of them. So a 5 day trip is now an 8 day trip.
When at home on Paros my days consisted of work, accompanied by Lainee, a swim, a rest, Netflix and the odd bit of socializing.
And mom. Taking her places, helping her with shopping. Eating the food she prepared for me when I could keep up with it. Thankfully Lainee and the neighbourhood cats helped with that.
So there you have what I did do. What I didn’t do was get online much, hence the silence. I guess I just didn’t feel like I had much to say so I didn’t say anything at all.
Hopefully now the summer season is over things will go back to normal and I can be creative (for myself!) again.
So, as you know, I’m back home now. It feels great to be back in my own place and back on Paros. I’ve been swimming twice and have been sorting and cleaning the house.
Before I’d left for Athens and the shows I’d ordered some cubbies/drawers from Jumbo and I have already put them to use, putting small things in them. The project isn’t finished yet, but here they are in their places in the house.
In the bathroom…In the bedroom…In the living room above the sewing machine table, next to the old hotel reception cubbies…On the bookcase to hold office stuff…
When I say I’m not finished yet I mean I haven’t filled them all yet, plus I’m not sure if I’ll keep them all as they are or paint over the patterns, even just to fade the colours a bit. We will see. For now I think I’ll just make some simple labels so I dont have to open every single cubby when I’m looking for something.
Meanwhile, I’ve checked my plants, they’re all still alive. I do need to get some potting mix to pot up some more cuttings and repot some things. I found a stash of mixed colour and size rectangular pots in the trash before leaving so I want to use them for some of my succulents. I’d rather they were all one colour so I might try painting them… will see how that goes before I pot stuff in them.
I have tons of projects lying around taking up space in my living room but I managed to get rid of a few things…
For instance: the crocs I bought which arrived in the wrong size are now living on a friend’s feet. The foam for the antique Parian couch is now living on my neighbour’s outdoor couch (since the couch frame is still to be painted and will be put into storage till I have space for it). I’ve moved my storage suitcases (which were stacked next to my bed) to the now empty underbed space making them easier to get to and less bulky in the bedroom. I took some stuff to the rubbish cause I won’t use it, don’t need it. And I gave away some succulents I didn’t want…
I haven’t done a ton, but just those few things have made me feel better. I hate clutter and yet I live in a constant state of it given I only have a small place. Back in the old days of four bedroom houses with garages and sheds I could stash my stuff somewhere out of the way and close the door: instant neat and tidy home. Now I have to live with my clutter.
So… I better get to work on finishing some projects I’ve had on the wait list so I can rid of more clutter.
As promised, here is a photo of the two bird cages I found rubbish bin adjacent. Great find! I’m still working on how and where I’ll use them. I think I need a couple more fine ‘leafed’ dangly succulents for them. I’m picturing them on the rock wall behind my place with succulents trailing out of them…
Other than that I had a busy yet non-productive day. I took Lainee and Spitha (my uncle’s dog) for a long walk on the beach. I went for a long drive. I visited a nursery where I bought this pretty succulent for the one of the little nooks in the rock wall:
I also bought another basil plant. This time I went for a much bigger specimen and hope it survives. I’m not re-potting it yet to be sure. I also put it in the shade of the pine tree in case it doesn’t do well in the sun.
Its getting hotter now. Much more like summer is on the way. Walks are best in the early morning or late afternoon.
Its time to take the summer clothes out and put away the winter woollies. That’s something I never really did in Australia. Here in Greece its a bi-annual thing. Its kinda nice cause you see clothes you haven’t seen for 6 months and its almost like you have a new wardrobe.
I’m doing spring cleaning now, a bit of work in the house, a bit in the potted garden.
I was really tired so I took a nice long nap. Again. I don’t think I bounced back after that sleepless night and getting up at 7am the next morning.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about this situation we find ourselves in. Specifically I’ve been thinking about how COVID 19 compares to the Spanish Flu of 1918. The thing is, no matter how much research I do there are no definitive answers or numbers… There’s a huge disagreement on the number of fatalities from the 1918 flu and the deaths attributed to the flu itself or the bad treatment of the disease (aspirin given in deadly doses). Which in turn brings into question the fatality rate… its somewhere between 1-2% depending on who you believe as to the number of deaths all over the world – ie similar to COVID 19…
There’s also the fact that there was a war on in 1918, the disease was spread by soldiers and there were a lot of people living in cramped conditions with poor hygience.
On the other hand we have airplanes and more people travel these days enabling the spread of the virus to all parts of the world much quicker.
If COVID 19 had hit then, would it had killed at the same rate? More? Less? If we had the Spanish Flu now, how would that have affected the world in spread rate and death toll? Would it be similar, better or worse?
Both spread fast. Both can kill. Both are novel so there is no immunity in the population. We still have large populations living in cramped conditions with poor hygience…
One killed young healthy people, the other mainly kills older people or those with underlying issues. One is a flu the other is a sort of pneumonia.
Is it really that different or is the world different?
Its a really interesting subject and one I’m not in the least qualified to answer. I’d love to see experts talk on this subject cause right now, in 2020, we had information on the virus and its DNA mapped within weeks of learning of its existence. We know about personal hygiene and how to keep safe, We know how it spreads and most governments put into effect social distancing, cancelling large group events, shutting down businesses etc in order to slow the spread. We are in a much better position than the world was in in 1918.
If we’d done nothing and just let the virus spread naturally, infecting almost the entire population, overwhelming the health care systems of the world, would we be in the same position as 1918, with tens of millions dead?
I’m not a paranoid type, but I do think about things like that. I know that it can kill, but I’m not overly worried. I figure most of us will get it and recover unless a vaccine is found to stop it.
Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep some nights.
Then other times I’m just too busy building things in my mind to sleep.
