Beneath the Wraps

          Last night Richard was approached by an unhoused woman who said she had not eaten for two days and would he be able to help her out.   We did happen to have some leftover food in the car.   He gave her the part we hadn’t eaten and she went on her way.   She reminded me of the unhoused woman mentioned at the end of this post.   One week into the pandemic and not all people were certain of how serious it was.   Masks and social distancing were not yet enforced everywhere.   Jaime and I could hear the homeless woman singing and Jaime decided to join her and made a tiktok video of the two of them singing “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman . I remember how Jaime looked at her as an equal and had not passed any judgement.   I knew she was standing too close for Carol’s liking. We had met up with her a day or two later ( here ) and had driven in separate cars. Jaime showed her the video the next day.   ...

         Yesterday, while checking out my facebook memories, I was reminded that one of my nephews had been scheduled for baptism two years ago.  I thought it was strange that it would be two weeks into the month instead of at the beginning – but for whatever reason it was changed.  Gary ’ s baptism had been moved to the 7th and my oldest granddaughter were both baptized at the same time but in different wards.  I posted that it must have been changed due to revelation as that was the last baptism to be held for quite a while in 2020 due to the pandemic.         My sister left a comment about the craziness of it all and I asked if she had read our brother ’ s post about his mention of a cat they call “ Milagro ” and about his late mother-in-law who had gone into the hospital with COVID.   Yesterday he posted many of the details about the next six to eight weeks – the devastation felt, the passing, the f...

                The last three times I was with Roland when he had driven to the VA it seemed like a big ordeal.  Instead of going the usual way which leads directly to the hospital, the back roads were required in order to keep all traffic moving in one direction  - only one way in and one way out.    Along the way we would see masked workers who would come up to the car, ask questions, take temperatures – I think they may have even offered testing but I’m not sure.     https://kcby.com/news/local/roseburg-va-health-care-system-holds-veteran-influenza-clinics You had to be healthy to get a pink slip (see here ) which was the ticket into the hospital.   If you were not healthy, no pink slip for you!   I’m at a hospital . . . that’s where sick people come to be treated.   Isn’t it?           Yesterday we learned we could have gone in the normal route as ...

                The first time that Roland and I went for a vaccination shot we had to make an appointment as I recall.  We parked in a parking lot and went through a tented area and were led to separate rooms to fill out paper work and receive a shot – which I never felt at the time it was given.  My arm felt a bit bruised the next day, but really not a big deal.           When we had gone to get our second shot I don’t think there was a designated time.   We drove through the parking lot and the health guides came out to us and gave us our second shot.              Jenna was not old enough to qualify for the moderna which Roland and I had received.   When Pfizer came out with a vaccination for those 12-18 we took Jenna to the fairgrounds to get her first vaccination and returned less than a month later to get her second shot.   ...

            From the beginning of the pandemic, the horrific pictures in the media, the stay-at-home and lock down orders, mask mandates, verbal battles, etc. has been a reminder to some cheesy sci-fi that gets played on the Comet station.   Only we are really living it – though some are still in denial about it doesn’t change that it is and has been part of our lives for one to two years.                     Jenna is currently in the high school library with a bunch of other students who have not yet received their schedules.   At least she’s not alone.   She has always been enthusiastic and fired to return to school – even last year when I wouldn’t let her.   This year is worse than last year was – more deaths, more cases.   That is why she doesn’t have a schedule and is in the library waiting.   photo credit source here         ...

 Last year when I enrolled Jenna for ORCA, they came back with her to enroll as a senior - which sounded absolutely cool to me. But neither Roland nor Jenna seemed particularly interested in advancing her - especially because Jenna wanted the opportunity of graduating with her class mates at the local high school and not online.  This morning she informed me of the death of one of the staff members who just recently died of COVID.  I don't know why she thinks that.  She doesn't seem to have a source. It is too late for us to enroll her back in ORCA.  As I mentioned, the school has been put on week delay from when they were supposed to start.  Oregon has called in the national guard to assist with the problem the state is facing with COVID (more specifically the Delta Variant) outbreak.  The state has made national news.  I wish we would have enrolled her as a senior.  Then I wouldn't feel like I am throwing her to the lions den.

                On Saturday I received my first COVID test ever.  I ’ m sure the person who was testing was being as gentle as possible – my poor nostrils.  I honestly was expecting that blood would come out of my nose.  It didn ’ t help matters when Roland (who ’ d been tested fair) coughed and spewed – or whatever he was doing.  He is NOT a wimp and I am so if he was having problems I figured it was bad.        It actually was not as bad as I had allowed myself to believe.   Nor was it as easy as my friend, Carol, had indicated the previous day.   It hurt!   And when I said it allowed, I heard Jenna behind me saying, “ Thanks, Mom ”          The person doing the testing told Jenna how brave she was – really?   Hadn ’ t I been any less brave?   We were told to wait 15 minutes for the results.   Roland started joking that “ mom...

          We are still moving too quickly in my opinion. Yes, precautions have been taken and mostly met at some places – but what about those who travel outside of the perimeters? Those who still don’t believe in COVID or the mask mandate or social distancing? Why are there so many who have the mentality of “to each his own” and not consider ALL those they come in contact from day to day? I have made it no secret that I was never in favor of watching the schools reopen. It’s true that several students do so much better with in learning – and while the percentages are down of students who have been infected they are STILL CARRIERS!            A friend of Jenna had called to report two classmates who are now under quarantine due to someone having tested positive for COVID – though Jenna had already known as we had been informed that in-person seminary learning would cease to exist for the next ten days at least....

                  After my eldest son ’ s wife passed away he was given options on how to continue.  An aunt from his mother ’ s side had offered for him to come live with them on the farm in Freedom, Wyoming.  His in-laws offered to allow him to continue living with them.  Of course Roland offered for him to move to Oregon.  I don ’ t know what it was that kept him in Utah.  I personally thought Freedom would have been the best choice.  Ali would have gotten to know cousins on the Warner side of the family.  Biff told me that she loved cows (that was when she was two – I have no idea what her interests are at present - wolves?) and she would have had the opportunity to interact with them and learn the ways of dairy farming.          Eventually Biff met Claire and thus stayed in Utah for her.   They finally got married.   She had fallen in love with both B...

I had made a purchase at Dollar General the other day.  The cashier asked if I would like a bag.  I had momentarily forgotten about the single – use-plastic ban that had been ordered just over a year ago.    https://www.wastedive.com/news/oregon-governor -signs-laws-banning-plastic-bags-straws/558262/ Dollar General gave out yellow bags before the end of 2019.   Recyclable gray ones were ordered.   They are not as appealing to the eye – nor do they fold over to line the trash can properly.   But they are definitely sturdier.   Five or ten cents per bag is still less than a state tax would be.     I get why it was ordered.   There are so many people who are concerned about the environment and will properly dispose of trash.   There are just as many who are careless – some who just let things fall where they land and don ’ t bother with disposal.   Sometimes the litter is accidental – like when the wind blows and ca...

            Roland has to take his vacation days or lose them.  He keeps on asking when and where we shall go.  He has a desire to go to North Carolina to see his mom who was supposed to come see us in May of last year – but because of the pandemic wasn ’ t sent.           There ’ s still a pandemic.   We are not in the clear.   It was announced this morning that while some counties have advanced from extreme to high risk, other counties have been set back – ours for example.   We were at extreme and went to high risk but have been told that we are entering extreme again.           I remember when we were told that the state would reopen in phases.   There would be four phases.   I don ’ t know of any county in the state who has gone beyond phase two.   I don ’ t wish for it to sound like I ’ m living in fear.   I thin...

            Currently there have been over 57,600 recorded cases in Oregon and over 700 deaths due to the cornavirus disease.    As of this week Douglas County makes up for 862 cases with 10 deaths.   Douglas County is 5,134 square miles with a population of just over 112,000.   The largest city within the county is Roseburg with the geographic size of 10.93 mi²  (whatever that means . . . math) with a population of almost 24,000.    Douglas County is considered to be a part of the Red zone. As of tomorrow to at least January 22 all students attending Roseburg schools will have to do so online except for K-3.   Apparently they are to remain in school until the authorities learn that it was probably never a good idea to do that in the first place. I don’t know about the other surrounding cities, but the two school districts within the area in which I live seem to be in full operation right now and will contin...

                 Election Day was three days ago and we still don ’ t know who the president is for the next four years.  I am hoping NOT Trump and yet at the same time, I know there will be violence from some Trump supporters who don ’ t understand that bullyism and threats do not make any country great.  They are abusing their freedoms and taking away others ’ freedoms.  There are so many ballots – more than any other year.   Perhaps four times as many.   It takes a long time to count – especially if there are less volunteers due to COVID.   If Joe Biden wins, I hope he sends in a crew to sterilize the white house and not move in for another month or two after his inauguration – that is if Big Baby Trump and his groupies don ’ t make it such an unrealistic ordeal.   Joe Biden has campaigned for being for the people – all people – whether he was voted in by that person or not.   Trump wi...