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Reflections on a Pandemic
In my nearly 53 years of life, I have witnessed two major historical events. The first was the uprising after the Rodney King verdict in my hometown of Los Angeles, California in May of 1992. It was a terrifying, uncertain and emotional time. There was violence, looting and fires burning everywhere. The smell of the fires permeated the air and plumes of black smoke hung over the city for many days. People were attacked by mobs on the street simply because of the color of their skin. Residents were told to stay inside their homes for their safety. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed for several days.
The National Guard was called in to restore law and order because the LAPD was inadequate and part of the underlying problems that sparked this revolt. I saw police in riot gear the likes of which I had only before seen in history books depicting protests during the Civil Rights Movement. The National Guard came into the city with their military vehicles that looked like the tanks and Humvees we see in war movies. They carried assault rifles and were posted at banks, grocery stores, small businesses, gas stations and many street corners. It was like being in a war zone.
Fast forward to almost 30 years later and we are amid the world-wide Covid-19 Pandemic. It is killing people by the hundreds of thousands and spreading like wild fires. It is decimating entire countries, states, cities and small towns alike. A stay home order has been issued by the government. Once again, people are filled with fear and anxiety about the future. People are dying alone, without the comfort, support and love of their families surrounding them. They are isolated from their loved ones for fear of spreading this deadly virus that attacks the respiratory system and other organs.
People have lost their jobs due to the pandemic forcing social distancing and the resulting closures of all businesses deemed non-essential. The unemployment rate is up an estimated 520% since the pandemic began. Feeding their families and keeping a roof over their heads has become a real concern for millions of people.
Small businesses have been devastated by the months-long shut down of their livelihoods. Some will not reopen and will be forced to close their doors permanently. Their employees will have to seek employment elsewhere. City, state and federal government budgets are experiencing massive shortfalls from the lack of revenue caused by all the business closures. This will cause more job losses in the very near future.
There are protests about the guidelines put in place to save lives and prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus. Some protesters are literally up in arms about not being able to open their businesses, go to their places of worship or restaurants and bars. They object to being urged to stay home and wear face masks when they go out in public. Some irrational individuals are convinced that this is a “fake virus” and the coronavirus is equivalent to the common cold. They think the government is overreacting and infringing upon their constitutional rights.
Anti-lockdown protestors have descended on government buildings in Kentucky, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Canada, Ireland and Germany. Some are armed with assault rifles. The NYPD pepper-sprayed a large group of African-American mourners not practicing social distancing while gathered for a funeral, but peacefully tried to disperse a crowd of thousands of Hasidic Jews who violated the same guidelines during a funeral for one of their own.
Some states are beginning to open back up and easing the stay at home orders even though the coronavirus is still very active and killing more people every day. The staggering amount of lives lost, jobs lost, the fate of local businesses and the economy are a constant source of concern. The health and welfare of my family and friends is of paramount importance to me during this time.
I pray that the entire world will recover from the harsh realities of this devastating pandemic that has ushered us into a new normal that includes wearing masks and gloves when we venture out in public. My heart breaks as I watch the evening news updates of the loss of lives around the world. I hope for better days as we all work together to recover from this unimaginable time in our lives when a virus caused the world to stop. A time when we were all #AloneTogether in this crisis. This period of our lives will someday be written about in history. Let us always remember the over 300,000 souls around the world who have perished due to this virus and the loved ones they leave behind to mourn them. May God bless and keep us all.
Be safe and healthy.
Erica E. Turner
While we are in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to continue to eat healthy. Anxiety and stress may make you want to eat more than usual. A common topic on social media since the lockdown began is weight gain due to excessive eating. The phrase “panic snack” has jokingly been coined as a result of the months-long stay home order. Many people are talking about eating too much due to boredom and anxiety. Predictions abound that the next pandemic is going to be obesity thanks to so many of us staying home more than ever before to reduce the spread of the virus. With some easy tips and a little bit of planning, you can stick to a healthy eating regimen during quarantine by following these tips.
- Listen to your body. Don’t skip meals because if you allow your self to get too hungry you are more likely to overeat when you do take the time to eat.
- Choose healthy snacks. Even if you are not very hungry, it’s helpful to grab something easy and light, like a yogurt, grapes, a piece of cheese or an apple. Fresh fruit and vegetables are plentiful during this time of the year and you should stock up during your grocery shopping. An alternative is frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Many frozen and canned produce have equal the amount of minerals and vitamins as fresh. Dietitians recommend draining and rinsing canned fruits and vegetables to reduce sodium and sugar before consuming them.
- Stock up on healthy pantry items. These are foods that can be stored at room temperature and are non-perishable. Examples include, pasta, rice and quinoa, dried fruit and nuts, dried beans, soups and canned meats such as salmon and tuna. Soups high in sodium can be diluted by adding extra water. Other items to consider are peanut butter and almond butter, which are high in protein and healthy fats.
- Make extra servings and freeze. Double the recipe of your favorite casserole or soup and freeze the extra. The next time you are hungry and need something in a hurry, just pop your dish in the microwave and enjoy within minutes.
When you are at home for the majority of the day, it’s tempting to grab snacks rather than prepare a meal. These tips give you healthier options and make it easier to maintain a healthy eating regimen while on lockdown. With a little planning, you can keep yourself and your family eating heathy even when we’re all stuck at home. As we practice social distancing, remember the goal is to keep everyone healthy, especially those around your dinner table.
ERICA TURNER JUNE 5TH
SCOTT HARRINGTON JUNE 6TH
DAN LUCKETT JUNE 30TH
Bamboozled: Confound or perplexed
Discombobulated: Confused and disconcerted
Cattywampus: Is not lined up or not arranged correctly, or diagonally
Malarkey: Insincere, meaningless, or deliberately misleading talk; nonsense
Brouhaha: An uproar or disruption
Skedaddle: To run off or away; leave in a hurry
Doohickey: Any small object or device whose name is not known or is temporarily forgotten
Persnickety: Too particular or precise; fastidious; fussy
Whatnot: A nondescript or indescribable thing or, sometimes, person
Flibbertigibbet: An irresponsible, flighty person
FLAG DAY SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH
JUNETEENTH DAY FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH
FIRST DAY OF SUMMER SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH
FATHER’S DAY SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST
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Meet Roger Weatherby, Jasmine’s fur baby. He is a four year-old grey tabby. When not sunning himself or napping, he enjoys playing soccer with hair ties and fake mice. When Jasmine's mom takes a bath, he sits on the bath caddy and drinks the bath water. Roger is quite a character!
"In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this." - Terry Pratchett
DAVID YATES JUNE 3RD
Diamonds can grow inside of other diamonds.
The blob of toothpaste that sits on your toothbrush has a name. It’s called a nurdle.
The 100 folds in a chef's hat represent 100 ways to cook an egg.
Some cats are allergic to people.
Apple Pie isn't actually American at all.
M&M stands for Mars and Murrie.
You can hear a blue whale's heartbeat from more than 2 miles away.
About 700 grapes go into one bottle of wine.
A $1 bill costs 5 cents to make.
Baby sea otters can't swim.
THERE ARE 27 FIGURES OF SPEECH IN THE PICTURE BELOW. THE FIRST TWO ARE 'IN A NUTSHELL" AND "A PIECE OF CAKE". HOW MANY CAN YOU FIND? THE ANSWERS WILL BE IN THE JUNE NEWSLETTER. GOOD LUCK!
ANSWERS:
- Time flies
- An ace up your sleeve
- Spill the beans
- Cat got your tongue
- Got the cat by the tail
- Kick the bucket
- Born with a silver spoon in the mouth
- Don’t carry all your eggs in one basket
- Wear your heart on your sleeve
- Keep your cards close to your chest
- Nail on the head
- Loose screw
- Cold feet
- Something fishy
- Fish out of water
- Tie the knot
- Living in your shadow
- Piece of cake
- Bird brain
- Cherry on top
- Chalk & cheese
- Knock your socks off
- Red herring
- An earworm
- In a nutshell
- On a silver platter
- On the wings of time
BONUS ANSWERS:
- Pull up your socks
- Rags to Riches
- Shadow of his former self
- Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
- Put your best foot forward
- Hard nut to crack
I pray for peace in the streets of every city in our country. Peace for all the countries marching in solidarity for the equality of all people. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
AMEN
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