New and ... feeling dread and unease of the times

@robbie1956 Here is an explanation I used with someone who had that kind of fear: "A virus particle is like a speck of dust, not a cockroach. It doesn't have any way of moving on its own. It can touch you through close contact with droplets directly from other people, that's why social distancing is important and face masks can be useful. But once the virus lands, the only way it can move from a surface to your body is by touching it, then touching your face. That's why we counsel you to wash hands regularly and keep them off your face." Then I go on to explain the virus has a relatively short life on most surfaces, and routine house cleaning plus sanitizing surfaces touched after bringing in groceries, mail or packages is all you need. I used the cockroach example because they are a huge pest in South Texas, you could also use ant or flea to make the point.
Sue

Poor guy!

Thanks, that is well put...I and my wife wash hands and do the counters when getting home from outside....and when we handle the mail...but, sometimes, without being a nag, after the mail, not so sure about always....probably though....yes,
My acquaintance down in NC really thinks this virus can come through pipes, vents, I never even realized that townhomes were that intertwined.....but Like your description and explanations....

@robbie, Like you, what until recently for me was a once to the bathroom and back to sleep occurrence during the "wee morning hours", (pun intended? vbg?), now finds me awake for longer. Fortunately, I am not fearful or imagining scary scenarios, I just can't get back to sleep for awhile.

I've found playing a computer game or two or reading nearly always allows me to go back for another several hours of sleep. Sometimes, writing in my journal helps. May 1st, I wrote the following and sent it to my family who are living out-of-state:

"Texas, Our Texas, All Hail the Glorious State" : "Fourteen days following our esteemed state governor, AButt’s, declared shut down, today, May 1st, (not April 1st), at sunrise, my friends and I will join the 3 mile line of cars for admission to a nearby state park.

After navigating the overly crowded nature paths, we’ll lunch at our favorite restaurant for elegant inside pasta dining and toast our freedom with a glass of bubbly.

To celebrate Finally being liberated from lock down, we’ll use our X-mas gifted Blockbuster tickets for giant sized movie popcorn before settling down for a rerun of "The Way We Were".

Nostalgia will mandate a stop at our favorite bar for a Manhatten before a little jive time and hopeful moves at our all time favorite Singles Steppin' Out dance hall.

Granted our early morning barbershop hair cuts have given us an astonishing new look but after all, we can be trendsetters, too. Besides, we seriously health compromised seniors will have done our part to support the economy of "Texas, Our Texas". Feel free to sing along at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCxKVpaAI_g

According to AP release on Thursday, 5/31st, “And on the eve of every retailer, restaurant and movie theater being allowed to let customers back in the door, Texas set a single-day record high for fatalities Thursday with 50.

Stay tuned to read the secrets of our successful reopening in “Politics Unleashed”. Our group won’t be around to gloat but “What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play. Life is a Cabaret old chum, Come to the Cabaret”

Robbie, I think I'll be doing more journaling during those early wakeful hours. This proved cathartic...Smiles

@fiesty76 You think 14 days is bad try 2 months . That's how long we have been stay home in Calif. But now we have plenty of protestors wanting to ge out to the beaches ,parks and hiking trails. They are opening some but still you require distancing . Last weekend it was bad at Huntington Beach , will see what it is this week . If to soon the virus will skyrocket . The cleaning of groceries when you get home is essential so you dont bring it home with you from the store . I wear gloves when I go out to shop and still wipe it down when I get home . May 15th is the day when our stay at home will be lifted hopefully .

@lioness. I live in California too. Apart from my daily walks, the last time I went out anywhere was March 12 to my cardiologist. I saw the crowds on the beaches last weekend on TV. There will be demonstration today again there since Governor Newsome closed all beaches. It looks like people are just going to ignore the order. Yesterday I sat down and made a shopping list to my favorite grocery store Trader Joe since I know the store layout, I did a "virtual" shopping trip. I figure I can get everything I want within half an hour if I follow my plan. Usually I'd like to linger and check out new products they bring in from time to time and chat with the nice lady who does the food sampling. I guess that too would be a thing of the past. I think even if the stay at home is lifted, I would wait a little bit longer to avoid the crowds. Crossing my fingers that the number of cases will level out soon. Take care you'all!!

mayofeb2020 That's what I do I cant get to T.J . so I have a person that goes and he calls me to see if I need anything which is nice of him . I love that store also . I now just go to Albertsons its the closest . If people go out to soon it will start again and Dr . Fauci said he expects it to be worse the 2nd time around . Today there are free movies from Bing I haven't checked them out this is my cleaning day and time to change sheets . So be careful . Hopefully it will be over soon . I too worry about those who are disregarding the Gov. order to not go to beaches . O.C. wanted the Judge to overrule the Gov. but he didn't . Thank you take care

Thanks for your reply and your nice story....yes, your advice is good and it is comforting to know how many people and how far this little Ipad can reach.....also, saw the many YouTube options for staying social there are in the daily digest for today...I’ve had ZOOM in the past, but sort of reluctant to try some of the platforms ....SKYPE, ZOOM....but I’ve had folks tell me they are perfectly safe....in any case, this discussion group is a wonderful place to be......I talk on an EchoLink platform via VOIP to join some HAM radio folks from all over...but this group is better suited for more troubling issues, but EchoLink provides social reaching out even in normal times.....I hope you enjoy your day with your friends.....and thanks again for your reply 🙂

Hi,@lioness and @mayofeb2020, With asthma and compromised lungs, I self-quarantined on March 13th well ahead of our gov's stay-in-place order. Maybe we can be charter members of the 2 month club? smiles. Since that day, I've not driven, nor shopped, nor ventured beyond walks in my neighborhood. I've received two local grocery deliveries and the driver wore a mask and gloves. Today is my 8th week of complete isolation and it may be another 8 before I start to venture out. Many can get the virus and be very sick but recover. If I get it, I will most likely die. Makes sense for me to stay put because my bucket list remains long with aspirations!

The frustration and resentment for me has continually grown because too large a percentage of people in my community, neighborhood and state have totally disregarded all guidelines for distancing, shopping or gathering in large groups. Despite over a million recorded cases and over 600 reported U.S. covid-19 deaths, most in this area do not wear masks and continue to consider published statistics as media scare tactics.

Like CA,Texas is one of the largest states in the nation. However, unlike CA, it has one of the worst records for testing per capita and waited until two weeks ago to issue stay-at-home orders. Thurs, one day before Texas reopened yesterday, it reported its highest single day of covid-19 fatalities and the state health dept. announced that the state was not near the peak in diagnosed cases. Yet after only 14 days of the state order, this state has now reopened. Did the virus evaporate? I fear the reverberations of this hasty reopening will create a far greater and longer lasting disaster in both health crises and economic hardship for our nation.

Apparently, it took the FL. gov only a few short days to shut back down the beaches he'd re-opened.

My earlier post was written very tongue in cheek with a large dose of sarcastic satire and derision for the the hordes who will be throwing all caution to the winds despite the guidelines repeated by the national infectious disease experts to reopen slowly and monitor closely. Yes, I can do all those early morning activities I mentioned earlier but will I? Not on my life and not preparing to risk yours prematurely either. vbg Best to us all as we struggle to find the most appropriate ways to stay safe and healthy going forward.

Hi, @ robbie, You were sweet to respond. I fear though my early morning post completely misfired in intent. I was really spouting off in a convoluted sarcastic diatribe about all "that could be possible to do" on the first day of statewide reopening of everything. My family, who I first intended this for, knows how terribly frustrated I am over what I consider my state's extraordinarily late and lax handling of covid-19 guidelines.

This is a wonderful group of supportive, understanding people. My apologies for not making clear from the outset that I was conducting an early morning rant. I can be impulsive and should have withheld the post at least without some caveats at the beginning. I will be one of the slowest to resume more "before covid-19" activities because of precautions I will continue due to chronic health issues.

My daughter set me up for Zoom and we have had several enjoyable visits. It has been a great experience to get to see and hear the family and we have had some good laughs about their various "new hair" styles. While I can see and hear them, they can only hear me which is even better! because my hair now requires a hat whenever I leave on a walk! I am such a clutz I don't know how to turn on the camera, so Zoom with the family is perfect. smiles

A good friend's hubby was an avid ham radio operator. It was so much fun to spend evenings with them and get to listen to conversations from other parts of the world.