April
6, 2020
Today’s
image – I was thinking about a news story from a couple weeks back. Las Vegas
municipal services decided to manage their homeless population’s infection risk
by moving these unfortunates to a parking lot that was taped off into spaces
six feet apart. Out in the open elements
these displaced people were parked, while the hotels in the casinos stood
empty. Today, I listened to local news
while sewing masks after school. They
interviewed the director of a local homeless relief organization that provided
shelter to hundreds in our area. The
director mentioned that more often than not, these people live in such crisis already
that they miss the big news stories or just decide to tune them out because
they don’t want to stack more crisis on top of their own unsolvables. She said they were managing the mandates of
the outbreak dangers with federal funds that were matched by community funds to
put up their homeless clients into hotels in the area for the duration of the most
jeopardy. I made a mental note to donate
again to our community fund. Practicing
generosity is usually the best solution.
Today’s
observation – I experienced a sad coincidence today. While typing up my entry
from yesterday, even in the midst of my thoughts about the tragedy of putting
our dead to rest during this epidemic, I got news that a friend and fellow
Rotarian had died last night in his sleep – heart attack. How strange to fear a logical death in
context and dread from clear and present dangers? When the actual one defies our sensible
expectations and rides in at its own bequest.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Today’s
idea – A Pablo Neruda poem bubbled to the surface just now.
Keeping Quiet
Now we will count to twelve
And we will all keep still
For once on the face of the Earth,
Let’s not speak in any language;
Let’s stop for a second,
And not move our arms so much
It would be an exotic moment,
Without rush, without engines;
We would all be together
In a sudden strangeness.
One,
two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve!
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