The Observation Deck

This weekend, like many people I headed to Lakewood Hardware to get some paint. Place was packed, at least with cars. Headed to Home Depot for some electrical stuff, placed was as packed as I ever remember it. At least the parking lot, I never went in. People with and without masks.



Then I headed down into the Metro Parks! They had the road closed in a couple locations. This was done no doubt to prevent overcrowding. What it did instead was create parking areas that were packed with cars and people. It was crazy. The Germans just finished a study that speaks of the plumes left behind runners, joggers and riders. A plum of breath, water vapor and? trails off behind a walker 5 additional feet. A runner or jogger as much as 15'. With layering this too can build up.

Note to Metro Parks, open the roads.

Note to Humans, get smart.

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It’s gotten to the point where I don’t go down in the Emerald Canyon because people are not being mindful of social distancing. On the path, I usually step to my right onto the grass to put some space between myself and an oncoming walker or runner, but more times than not, they just keep walking right in the middle of the path!

The final straw was the runners who have NO regard for personal space. They come up from behind you, and even if I hear and step onto the grass, they are literally at my shoulder as they pass by hugging and puffing and spewing bodily fluids. I don’t understand it. The bikers are much the same - no bell, no announcing “on your left,” nothing.

Very sad to see such a lack of respect for fellow humans.

Bridget Conant wrote:It’s gotten to the point where I don’t go down in the Emerald Canyon because people are not being mindful of social distancing. On the path, I usually step to my right onto the grass to put some space between myself and an oncoming walker or runner, but more times than not, they just keep walking right in the middle of the path!

The final straw was the runners who have NO regard for personal space. They come up from behind you, and even if I hear and step onto the grass, they are literally at my shoulder as they pass by hugging and puffing and spewing bodily fluids. I don’t understand it. The bikers are much the same - no bell, no announcing “on your left,” nothing.

Very sad to see such a lack of respect for fellow humans.

The Nature Center was packed to overflowing.

At every point they closed the road, that became a huge parking lot.

It was crazy.

I am sure they were all the people saying, "When will this be over?" Meanwhile responsible people like you have been on this path of self isolation since beginning of February.

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What all this comes down to is to become aware of the parameters of the Covid-19 virus and then use common sense. The means generally stay home, but when you go out, distance yourself from other people and wear protective gear. (See attached article https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/ ... 866340001/ ) It's not just 6 feet, but up to 26 feet. Fresh air is fine, but not other people. Don't do it for just yourself but for others. I haven't ventured into the Metro parks or Lakewood Park yet as common sense tells me there are probably many people in these places not using common sense. In New York, they suggested the question to ask yourself, who are you staying home for? Take the focus off yourself and put it on others you care for.

As I begin to see positive or neutral reports on coronavirus trends, it makes me nervous that it will encourage some to act irresponsibly. I recently saw a commercial from a car dealership celebrating how they were opening again. Transportation is essential, so nothing illegal, but the enthusiasm in that ad made me very uneasy.

It will be a very long time before this is over. First there must widespread testing, and then there must be a vaccine. That's 12-18 months away. Meanwhile smaller steps can be taken, but slowly and carefully, and coordinated across states and agencies.

Jim O'Bryan wrote: I am sure they were all the people saying, "When will this be over?" Meanwhile responsible people like you have been on this path of self isolation since beginning of February.

Jim, is there no room for anyone in the middle? Why is asking "when will this be over" not responsible? Just because one is asking "when will this be over" does not mean they are not responsible.

Matthew Lee wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote: I am sure they were all the people saying, "When will this be over?" Meanwhile responsible people like you have been on this path of self isolation since beginning of February.

Jim, is there no room for anyone in the middle? Why is asking "when will this be over" not responsible? Just because one is asking "when will this be over" does not mean they are not responsible.

Matthew

We both know 99% of the world lives in the middle of something.

Of course there is. But it reminds me of the pesky sister saying ever 5 minutes. "When are we getting there?" Like it will be some secret they will never hear. Trapped in self isolation like those Japanese WWII soldiers hiding in caves until 1980. To me, the question in itself causes stress on all levels. It will be over tomorrow, or it won't be. You can go on vacation in June, or not.

They were not being responsible by crowding others with no mask.

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Everybody wants to know when it will be over. The toddler-in-chief looks at the international pandemic and insists it will bend to his will in 3 weeks. Great if it does but I don't think so. Some things might begin to get better by summer but we would be making a huge mistake by giving in so early. We can gradually get back to something approaching normal by taking a lot of protective precautions in the months ahead but the 2021 dates sound like a more realistic deal for a final conclusion to this sad chapter.

Everybody wants to know when it will be over. The toddler-in-chief looks at the international pandemic and insists it will bend to his will in 3 weeks. Great if it does but I don't think so. Some things might begin to get better by summer but we would be making a huge mistake by giving in so early. We can gradually get back to something approaching normal by taking a lot of protective precautions in the months ahead but the 2021 dates sound like a more realistic deal for a final conclusion to this sad chapter.

Sweden is not practicing the Herd Immunity approach.
https://wjactv.com/news/coronavirus/as- ... e-lockdown