By the way, before I begin, "Masks don't control viruses; they control you!" Follow the science, as Joe Biden and his Democrat tyrants always say while they throw scientific facts out the window! With regard to masks, the growing group of Frontline Physicians say:
"The big deal is, they may be soft, and they may look okay, but this is George Orwell’s boot on a human face forever...."
I haven't blogged for a week --- too busy celebrating family. We left Virginia for Texas on the 22nd to attend the first wedding in the grandchild generation. Friends were shocked when I said we were flying. I haven't set foot in an airport for years. Between the obnoxious TSA and the cattle car/sardine can airline model, I'd had it with flying.
We generally drive to Texas, but neither of us was physically able to deal with a 22 hour car trip (one way) and the extended time involved. So, after a conversation with our oldest daughter, who assured me it was the best time to fly because passenger traffic is down and the airlines have social distancing practices in place, I went to Priceline and made reservations. Not to Austin, our destination....but to Dallas since we could get direct flights both ways and fly on United Express which uses the smaller planes with two seats on each side of the aisle. That meant renting a car and driving three hours from Dallas to Austin, but it was well worth it. We had no traffic issues on either end of the trip. One mistake -- I left my prescription sunglasses in the car's beverage holder. Oh well -- they were a previous prescription and at least five years old, so I got my money's worth out of them.
It's good to be home and looking back on a wonderful visit with four of our five children and their families. So many happy memories from this event:
- We met our son's littlest Texas rose for the first time. She was born last December when my husband was dealing with a knee replacement that soon went sour from an infection and kept us pretty much home bound for the past year. (Our little travel trailer is still in winterized mode from end-of-season 2018.) It took a day or two for her to warm up and go bouncing on my knee as we "Ride away to Boston to buy a penny cake...." but we were fast friends by the time we left yesterday.
- The 3-year-old and I resumed our dance routine to "Yum, yum breakfast burritos" and "Raining tacos." She also introduced me to the grubs in the back yard.
- The soon to be sweet 16 daughter shared her art portfolio with us and we went walking the neighborhood to see all the Halloween decorations. One dapper skeleton made the photos as her "prom date." I don't think she'd want me to post the photo, so I'll just say she is a good sport and we are already making a plan to fly her to Virginia for Spring break. A thrift store shopping trip is on the agenda and one to the Green Valley Book Fair if it's open. Some little local cousins who didn't make the wedding were excited to hear about our future plans. They can't wait to see their cousin from Round Rock!
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| Is one of them our granddaughter's prom date? |
- Lots of card games, a post wedding brunch, bouncing another baby granddaughter on my knee (who was happy to be passed around since she's too little yet to be in the "only mommy" mode) were other highlights.
- We and three of our children and families pretty much took over the lobby at the hotel for games and get-togethers with snacks. No one seemed to mind and I shared a bag of chips with a nice lady watching TV. We visited with her and other guests a bit, but mostly just enjoyed being family for a long weekend of fun and fellowship. So many hugs and conversations with our precious ones, as well as lots of euchre and phase 10 card games.
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| So proud of all the cousins who planned a surprise song for the bride and groom. Little sis stuck to the bride like glue and even tried to join the Daddy-daughter dance. |
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| Our Lady of Victory, pray for us! |
Masks , to wear or not to wear depends on the Science you read Maryann.
ReplyDeletePresident Trump's Doctors at Walter Reed hospital came out en masse to give an update on the President's health. They all had surgical masks on. His Primary said , "We wear masks to protect our patients and ourselves." I agree, having read enough medical journals to understand how they lessen the viral load one might be exposed to or spread.
You are entitled to your opinion but
I see it as an social act of Charity towards others who are vulnerable and not as a 'boot' on anyone's neck.
The Catholic blogger Vox Cantoris ( David Domet) also sees it as an act of charity.
I noted that most non denominational Christians also see masks as a portend of the AntiChrist's control.
They apparently have not read the Scriptures through the commentaries of the Early Church Fathers either who , like St John Chrysostom , explained "sexually perverted Ministers" as one of the most clear signs referred to By Jesus when asked what He meant when He said ," The End Times would be worse than Sodom and Gommorrah."
I agree that there is a lot of disagreement among the scientists. When do you think it will be okay to put the masks away? Will that time ever come? I have grandchildren in Fairfax Country, VA who are out of school now until the end of the year with no firm plan about reopening even then. What will be the sign that we can take off the masks and return to some semblance of normal? Or is masking the new norm forever?
ReplyDeleteDoctors and nurses wear masks so blood and pus from patients won't sputter out onto their faces or into their mouths. I'm in Florida where we have a REPUBLICAN governor. We don't have to wear masks and schools are in session, stores and businesses are open, we're going to Mass at full capacity and the economy is booming.
ReplyDeleteFor her sake, I do hope when it's Elpine Flower's time to pass from this earth that when she meets Our Lord for her judgment he's wearing a face mask - possibly with Pooh Bear on it to comfort her in her inordinate fear of getting a disease that she has 99.5 % of recovering from.
Sarcasm aside Susan ,I too live in Florida in another county than yours and people down here are still wearing masks.
ReplyDeleteI consider your comment rather nasty coming from a professed Catholic.I do NOT have an inordinate fear of disease Susan , I am a retired Hospice nurse probably with a more realistic view then yourself.
Return to normal? Perhaps soon Maryann when Regeneron, like Remdisivir, is readily available to the public as it was for the President. Eli Lilly is also looking for approvals for a similar iv drug.
Your posts sound like those of Q ANON followers, mocking and sarcastic towards anyone else that does not hold your views.
I thought better of you Maryann.
I just wish someone would answer my question about what the sign will be that it's safe to go back to having normal relationships, seeing people smile, being able to recognize (and hear) the people you are talking to, etc. I've asked a number of the people who support wearing masks at all times, and none of them yet has answered the question? Are we waiting for Dr. Fauci to give us permission?
ReplyDeleteWhat did I say that sounded sarcastic to you, Elpine? Seriously...I have never dismissed the risk of the virus. My husband and I live a quiet life so we had little need to change our habits. Our biggest social event is daily and Sunday Mass and weekly adoration. Otherwise, we mostly just go to the grocery store once a week or so and to the Farmers' Market which is outside.
ReplyDeleteHydroxychloroquine has been available since the beginning of the pandemic and its effectiveness illustrated by many doctors actually using the protocol (described by the Frontline Docters) for their patients. If anyone has engaged in mocking and deriding, it's Dr. Fauci who said several years ago that HCQ was an effective treatment for SARS, another serious viral illness. Politics changed his tune, sad to say. And politics has driven most of the decisions about mandates, lockdowns, school closings, etc. that are disastrous.
The virus is serious, but the consequences of draconian reactions are too. And the more testing that shows how widespread the disease is among the population, the lower the death statistics are. Surely all the other related deaths from delayed cancer diagnoses, avoiding treatment for strokes and heart attacks out of fear of going to the hospital, the increase in depression and suicide, and the other deadly unintended consequences need to be evaluated.
Thank you for your service to the dying. I would think that makes you especially concerned about the deaths of the elderly, particularly those with dementia, who don't understand why they have been abandoned by their loved ones? How many in substandard nursing homes are dying from lack of oversight, like the father of Chris Ferrara, head of the Catholic Lawyers Association whose dad contracted the virus but probably died because he was so seriously dehydrated, a chronic problem that his sister kept on top of with daily visits.
And are Susan's comments any more dismissive than yours accusing me of being like Q-Anon (whatever that is) and of being mocking and sarcastic?
Respect cuts both ways, and I'm disappointed in you too, since so often we have had civil and agreeable discussions.
From CDC website:
ReplyDelete70.2% of those who get Covid ALWAYS wear a mask
Those who NEVER wear a mask 3.9%
The remainder are those that SOMETIMES wear a mask.
Someone please post a peer reviewed published medical study that states
the effectiveness of masks against viruses.
All the ones I`ve read say there is no difference in contracting
a virus whether you wear one or not.
Ave Maria
'Hydroxychloroquine has been available since the beginning of the pandemic"
ReplyDeleteNot in Virginia. That would make it to hard to maintain Northam's mask regime.
Alpine Fleur - You must have an inordinate fear of disease because ALL you talk about is wearing a mask. When the post is about a lovely family wedding, you comment on wearing masks. When the post is about who Jesus would vote for, you comment on wearing masks.....So, yes...you have an incessant unremitting preoccupation with the face diaper and that we all must wear it.
ReplyDelete(PS - Read with caution. I'm not wearing a mask as I plunk this out on the keyboard in my own home.)
Elpine couldn't you have said something nice about the newlyweds?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Dymphna. I miss posting comments on your blog. I think we are kindred spirits. And how I enjoy all the beautiful art you find.
ReplyDelete