BLOG # 100, BELIEVE IT OR NOT?

BLOG  # 100, BELIEVE IT OR NOT?

Yes, today marks the one hundredth blog that I have posted since the first one began to annoy you in early September 2019. Since then, I have shared over 56,000 words on over ninety issues or topics and have had my blog read over 6100 times. None of these numbers are of any relevance but I have found writing the blog an enjoyable activity for myself. As an aging senior, I have used it to try to remain mentally alert to my surroundings and to allow me to blather on about anything I found interesting or stimulating. I thank you all for taking the time to either read the blog on occasion or regularly. I have received many encouraging comments either formally through the comment tab on the blog, or in personal emails, conversations and encounters with you. Again thank you! 

Over the past seven months I have tried to deal with topical issues or some minutia that has caught my attention. I have tried to avoid wasting a lot of your time and mine by not reacting too often to Trump and his infinite list of outrageous quotes and actions. At the moment however it is much more difficult to avoid the current pandemic news that affects us all. Everything I have written about earlier seems so irrelevant and mundane in comparison. Can you believe that I wrote three blogs on Felicity Huffman regarding the college admissions scandal? It’s importance pales in light of today’s daily depressing news. My how the times have changed!

In a blog earlier in March I naively wrote, “The symptoms of coronavirus do not appear to be much different than the seasonal flus that seem to circulate every winter. As of Feb 22, 2020, there were 18,000 regular flu deaths in the United States. The coronavirus has killed about nine people this year as of March 3, 2020, in the US. The regular seasonal flu is far more deadly if we just look at this small data sample.” ONE month later, on April 1, 2020, 4473 people have died from the coronavirus in the US as of today. It is mind boggling to witness the rampant growth of the pandemic when we examine the numbers. I use this as a single example of how my uninformed opinion of a month ago has been exposed. 

Again, I try to search for topics other than those Covid-19 related, but it is difficult to think that anything else is interesting to write about. For the next little while I may use some of the blogs that I wrote during the past seven months but did not post earlier. They may seem totally irrelevant and probably were even when I wrote them, but bear with me until I can move my mind off the beer bug!

When the pandemic finally is conquered or at least under control, and our economic outlook has improved I have a lot of questions that I am starting to wonder about:

• In light of continuing self-isolation, will drive-in movie theatres be resurrected?
• Will Goodwill stores be able to handle the mountains of clothing donations that will appear after massive closet cleanings?
• Will any new TV shows be produced over the next six months or will we be forced to watch reruns all of next year?
• Will people start to wear face masks all of the time in the future as a precaution?
• Will there be any contact sports allowed like hockey and football?
• Will people resume their practices of distant winter vacation destinations  or will they stay closer to home?
• Will airlines be forced by fewer travellers to reduce schedules, destinations, and reduce or increase fares?
• Will more people currently working from home continue to do so rather than returning to the corporate workplace?
• Will sports and entertainment venues that hold thousands now deliver their product without fans via pay per view media only?
• Will anyone ever want to go on a cruise again?

As you can detect, my inquiring mind has not completely seized up as I don’t think I will ever run out of questions. You may be exposed to another 100 more blog entries if I can get back on track. I also know that the delete button is always a flick of the finger away! Again thanks for taking care of me in my fight against creeping senility!