leadership

Post 60: #Coronavirus and a global perspective on…

…#accountability.

We’re sharing our experiences, thoughts, and uncensored opinions during lockdown, quarantine, and self-isolation. For some of us, it’s DAY 60. 

Anti-corruption or status quo?

RJD, #Beirut, #Lebanon

Unfortunately, lately I have been very down because there is no accountability in my country. Since February 21, we managed to contain the #Covid-19 outbreak in Lebanon. Hooha!

On May 4, we started phasing out the lockdowns. Today, May 13, the country went back into a total lockdown for the coming four days. Our infection rate has steadily increased after reaching 2 days with a zero-case rate!

Covid-19, worldwide, has become politicized. Lebanon is no exception. On top of which, our society lives on finding a way to break the law, not that there is much law and order in the first place.

So who is accountable?

It isn’t the people who have worked hard to achieve our amazing results up until this week. It isn’t the people who heeded the warnings and stayed home and wore masks and gloves.

Accountability begins at home, then moves into society and government. In our case, I blame society and government. Our government is to blame and should be held accountable for not following through on any of the laws we ever created, unless they are financially beneficial to the chief and his cronies.

Society is to be blamed and held accountable for knowing that it can break a law and there is no reprimand.

The only way to solve this problem is by instituting anti-corruption laws that are implemented to the T, with incentives for those who enforce them. Society and government alike.

That, my dear friends, is a long way away over yonder.

Retrieved from telesurenglish.com.
No copyright infringement intended.

Start at the top

Tina F., Fairfax, #Virginia

When I hear the words, “holding someone accountable,” I think of imposing consequences for bad behavior. It can be used to describe an individual’s responsibility to implement certain expectations.

Ideally the “leaders” in all aspects of society should be the ones to set good examples. We start at the top, causing a trickle-down effect of good behavior and accountability.

When it comes to the USA, the most obvious person who needs to be held accountable is the US President. Basically the President can exert the power to influence and set the standard for accountability so that his advisors, speakers, the Senate, Congress, and citizens are also held accountable. But when the person at the top is not providing any clear leadership and resorts to finger-pointing to shirk his responsibilities, he sends a terrible message. Our system is broken and we have no qualms hating and disrespecting others.

The accountability of the president is a loaded topic in itself. However, I would like to focus on a smaller section of the government, the criminal justice system.

Recently I have watched a lot of these docuseries about people who are wrongly accused and sent to jail for decades for a crime they did not commit. They spend years writing and reaching out to anyone who will listen. Some lucky few find lawyers or organizations willing dig into past cases, hoping to find evidence to exonerate these incarcerated individuals. Mostly these crimes took place before DNA evidence was used in court so when the evidence is brought out and re-examined, the DNA findings exonerate them. This may sound very quick and easy, but in reality it takes years to reopen a case and present all the bureaucratic paperwork that may eventually release the individual from jail.

This is where I would like to see a major rehab in the system. The accountability for wrongful actions in the judicial system needs to be more severe and publicly displayed.

It is shocking to see the corruption and lack of commitment in one of the most important Governmental departments. In some cases, the prosecution will not cooperate with the defense; in other cases, evidence is deliberately kept out of a trial. These are tactics the prosecution uses to speed up the trial. The value of the young defendant’s life is overlooked in favor of the courts and police departments reaching closure on a case. It is fact that prosecutors can advance their political agenda after several courtroom wins.

The exoneration of the wrongly accused does not automatically mean accountability for any wrongful doing by the criminal justice system.

So what do we do? We need to reassess our system of checks and balances and ensure that some control is in place in all departments of government and private companies. Starting at the top, we should count on our leaders to be held accountable for their wrongdoing, so we can set the example.

Retrieved from history.com.
No copyright infringement intended.

Kindergarten

RafifJ, #Malaga, #Spain

Accountability is an interesting concept, and it’s a hot topic now that there is so little of it around the world.

We learn about accountability early in life, about the time that we’re taught to share toys and play nicely in the sandbox. We learn to apologize sincerely when we bite our friends, and to “own” our behavior, or face consequences. We’re taught to make choices, and we mostly choose to do the right thing.

Where do we start to lose these values? How does accountability fade over time? Is it dead?

As people age, so many of them lose sight of what they learned as little kids. The death of accountability is a slow process, but by the time some folks are adults they’ve given in to greed, selfishness, entitlement, and even a sense of being above the law. You know the people I’m talking about – they transcend political party, religious affiliation, race, or any other distinguishing trait.

Wait. I don’t want start on a rant, so rather than go off on the UTTER LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THE WORLD, I’m simply going to share something I read a long, long time ago. This piece has stayed with me from the very first time I read it, and I try – try – try to practice its wisdom. Join me, won’t you? Maybe if enough of us take responsibility, own our mistakes, and be accountable for all we say and do, we can encourage our so-called leaders to do the same. Maybe it takes going back to basics.

“These are the things I learned (in Kindergarten):

  1. Share everything.
  2. Play fair.
  3. Don’t hit people.
  4. Put things back where you found them.
  5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
  6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
  7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
  8. Wash your hands before you eat.
  9. Flush.
  10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
  11. Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
  12. Take a nap every afternoon.
  13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
  14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
  15. Goldfish and hamster and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
  16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.”

― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

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Post 21: #Coronavirus and a global perspective

We’re a group of friends and family in various parts of the world, and we’re sharing our experiences and thoughts during lockdown, quarantine, and self-isolation.

This is Graupel

Norma B. Wallace, Bend, Oregon

During a FaceTime with family, I mentioned that I didn’t go for a walk because of the graupel outside.  You may not have graupel in your area – I have never seen it anywhere but Oregon. 

This got me thinking: why not go for a walk in it?

So the next day, when the white little pellets were dropping from the sky, I put on my coat and hat and went out for a walk. It really was nicer than walking in the rain a few days ago.

I am a lucky one, I can and may go out as long as I have the right clothes and stay six feet away from anyone. I am fine. If the weather is too severe, I can stay inside and be comfortable inside by the fire. Yes, I am very fortunate and so grateful. Today it is cold and snow is predicted and I will be reading by my fire. I will be fine.

Now I am thinking more. We do have time to think these days, don’t we?

Last week, my emotions went up and down with the weather. This week I am in a very stable, even-keel state. What’s the difference?

I have interacted more with family – social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t interact – it means we can’t interact physically. I have FaceTimed, joined a Zoom exercise class, talked over the fence with neighbors, and written (yes, with an old-fashioned pen and paper), and tried other creative ways to connect. I even had a birthday party for a neighbor within the guidelines of social distancing. I baked brownies from a mix I had. (I haven’t made a cake from scratch in years). I put a brownie in a bag with a small birthday candle in it with instructions to light the candle, take a selfie with it, and send it to the neighbor whose birthday it was. I put the bag on their porch and rang the doorbell. Neighbors were creative with their selfies and it made all of us a little bit happier. I am so grateful for all of my family and all my friends.

Yesterday was National Rainbow Day. Since I tied my blog to the weather two weeks in a row, I will end with a 🌈. Instead of wishing for a pot of gold, I wish for a cure for the coronavirus. A vaccine to prevent it. Yes, we all are wishing that this will come to an end. In the meantime, I will wear a bandana when I go out and practice social distancing.

I hope you all stay safe.

An act of kindness

Tina F., Fairfax, Virginia

Life during lockdown is so discombobulated. Time usually flies, but now the days seem to drag. Was it only a month ago that everything was still operational? Before the stock markets crashed and toilet paper became such a hot commodity.

I saw a meme online where a guy pays for his cup of coffee with 5 squares of toilet paper and tips the guy an extra square. I laughed, because it was funny and ridiculous. It will never come to that….Will it?

In our household, we still have a few rolls of toilet paper. But I told my kids if they see any while out at the store, to just buy it. They returned home with many items but no toilet paper.

Three days ago my son went to the Asian market and called me on his way home. he sounded so excited! “Mom, they had toilet paper!! I picked up two packs but the guy yelled at me and said I was only allowed one.

I laughed and answered that we don’t need to hoard; one pack was better than nothing.

When my son got home, he handed me a small shopping bag. “Where’s the toilet paper?” I asked. “In the bag.” I look inside and I see the cutest little four pack of toilet paper that I had ever seen. It was a mini 4 pack. I was happy and distributed them to each of us.

Today my friend texts me and says that she is at the store and do I need anything. Jokingly I text back – Do they have TP? LOL.

A minute later I hear the phone ding.

She responds, “Yup! But I can only buy 2 packs of 12 I’ll take one and I’ll give you one.”

Alleluia!! We can all rest assured that our butts will be wiped the luxurious cotton rolls.

Within 30 minutes she was in my driveway. I ran out and stood 12 feet away and gave her an air hug. She placed the items halfway between us. “ I also brought you napkins, chlorine, and a pizza. Just wipe everything down before you take it inside.” I nod in amazement. What a good friend she is. But that was not all. She had also brought us 4 masks from her own stash because she knew we had none.

I was so happy! Wow, so touched. Another big air hug and she was off.

I walked up to collect my items feeling so grateful. Candace has always been one of the kindest and most generous people I know and today was no exception. Thank you, Candace!

Cupid, Mars and Venus

RJD, Beirut, Lebanon

There is something to be said about the universe skies during Corona. I woke up at 3 am and for loss of what to do, not wanting to watch TV or listen to music, I went out on our terrace with my binoculars. 

Lo and behold, the beautiful sky! The beautiful, beautiful star-filled sky. No smog, no clouds, nothing. Just me and the sky. I took out my binoculars and began star-gazing. 

Orion’s Nebula was so clearly visible, giving birth to new stars. Venus was out there calmly in the Western sky and quietly yelling at Mars on the Eastern side. Spica was blossoming. Ursa Major was like a portrait. 

My thoughts as I gazed up went to a philosophical and existential place (again.)

We, as human beings and all life on earth, are but specs of dust in this whole big universe. But so many specs of dust that we have managed to make a sandstorm against the universe, not just Mother Earth. We have invaded space with our satellites, we have mutilated every aspect of this earth, and yet the stars are out there dancing every single night as if we don’t exist. 

Corona has taught us so many lessons that we needed to learn, and no, life will never be the same. Will we all be more mindful, less materialistic, more giving, less self-centered? Mars and Venus’s son, Cupid, will always be the god of war. We just need to learn which war we want to deal with. 

Speaking of wars: Syria, Iraq, and Yemen don’t have war anymore? Israel’s bombing of Gaza is agogo now? Venzuela and Lebanon’s poor getting poorer is not a war by the rich? Rohingyas, Kashmiris, innocent children and women being trafficked and abused are of no one’s concern?

I understand that the media is totally pre-occupied with five letters: N-A-O-O-R-C…but is the media so self-serving that our governments are passing laws right under our own noses that affect us all and media is not telling us about it?

Thank goodness, we are not remaining quiet this weekend in Lebanon about the Bissri Valley dam. Activists are making a massive ruckus about the government’s decision to go ahead with a dam that will kill the agriculture and forests, will not fulfill our water needs, and will be lying on a major fault line, possibly causing serious earthquakes. I will not even explain that the World Bank is involved… 

Retrieved from change.org

https://www.change.org/p/world-bank-save-the-bisri-valley-أنقذوا-مرج-بسري-2a82386f-15fe-49ae-b1bb-a55e12a17b39

Venus, Mars, send your son to fight for us all…we, specs of dust, need your help! 

This is a time when…

RafifJ, Malaga, Spain

Lockdown in #Spain extended until April 26. I just want to scream, and this is my rant.

Sorry, folks, I’m not upbeat tonight.

No, tonight I’m thinking about how this virus is continuing to spread despite extreme measures to contain it. I’m thinking about my family and friends, at least one of whom has already contracted coronavirus but cannot go to the hospital because he’s not sick enough. I’m thinking about the news I just read on MSN: “in New York City, crematoriums are now running 24 hours a day…” Another article tells me that in Ecuador, “bodies are being left in the streets.”

Tonight the number of confirmed coronavirus cases is close to 1.2 million around the world. Remember when the total number around the world was just over 47,000? That was in mid-February, just a few short socially distanced weeks ago.

Here’s the statistical significance of this virus: it spreads fast.

This is a scary-as-shit time. This is a time when families are starting to bicker as they grow increasingly claustrophobic. This is a time when domestic violence is spiking and the coronavirus is not.

This is a time when governments are locking us down or locking us up. This is a time when governments are revealing their true authoritarian faces. Note the narrative emerging from Hungary.

This is a time when governments are abandoning the fairytale of the collective, or the pretense of working toward the common good. Instead, they are bickering over who ordered how many masks, who stole what from which country, and who is the biggest hijacker. Note today’s international news.

This is a time when leaders around the world are increasingly adopting the war narrative – we are at war, we defend our sovereignty, we are patriots, salute the flag…blah, blah, blah. We are so, so mighty in our war…against…an invisible virus. Again, 1.2 million today. What does next week bring?

This is a time when we need cool-headed leaders. This is a time when leaders need to step up to the plate to which they were elected. This is a time when governments need to collaborate, share data, and protect humanity.

This is a time when we need leaders to demonstrate some goddam leadership. Unfortunately, like face masks and hand sanitizer, there seems to be critical shortage around the globe.

Thank you for reading our blog! All feedback welcome.

If you’d like to contribute a post, please get in touch! Send me an email, contact me on Twitter, or leave a comment here. 

Post 13: #Coronavirus and a global perspective

Day 13. Time is not flying, and it looks like lockdowns, quarantines, and self-isolations will need to be extended. Regardless of the dates, we’re chronicling our experiences during the #COVID-19 crisis. Join us!

BUTS-20

Tina F. in Fairfax, Virginia

No, the title of my blog today has nothing to do with the shortage of toilet paper. It is an acronym that I have created for a new disorder called “Brain Unable To Settle in 2020.”

It is a condition that has been ailing many of us in the past few weeks. We are programmed to have a reason to get up in the morning, go to work, and  accomplish tasks. We are consumed with a hefty TO-DO list even as we make small talk around the coffee machine. Most people long for time off in order to get to their other chores that usually take the back burner. Some examples are gardening, reading, sewing, or even writing that novel that’s been looming in your brain. So now we have been handed this “time off” and there is a problem: The brain cannot stop long enough to settle down and focus on the task at hand.

I have the BUTS-20 infliction. These are my symptoms:

I get up in the morning and make my tea, catch up with my text messages, laugh at all the #Coronavirus jokes. Then I feel sad so I make a cup of tea…wait, did I make one already? HANG ON is this a new email? I read the email from the stores offering huge savings on dust busters and the like. (Yes, I’m actually reading marketing emails). Eventually, I have breakfast and pick up my novel just to give up after reading  2 sentences.

Maybe I’ll get dressed now….No, it’s time to scan the news again. It’s all about #Coronavirus. I go to the pantry and look for the chocolates I’ve been hiding from my family…. shit I’m running low… Get on Amazon and order my next shipment of whatever will get here the fastest. I’m so tired. I need a nap.

COVID-19 or BUTS-20 ?? I’ll take the BUTS-20 please.

Gettin’ Squirrely

Sunny, a Global Cowgirl® in Frederick, Maryland

This is my Texas Longhorn, Moz. He’s my “Wilson” during the Corona lockdown. Wilson, BTW, was the volleyball in the movie Castaway that became Tom Hanks’ best friend when he was stranded on a desert island alone. Moz hangs on my wall in my home/office where I’m stranded alone.

Moz

Moz got his name from an old boyfriend who later ghosted me. I tell Moz (the Longhorn) I don’t hold that against him. Moz and I have long chats about the state of the world. He patiently listens to my woes about being isolated during the Corona scare.

For his part, Moz tells me what it’s like to be at home on his pasture. Tall grass, fresh air. No mad cow disease lurking about. He’s free to roam his range, but he doesn’t really wander from his spot on my wall.

Longhorns have “long” mesmerized me. I have this fantasy of living in an Airstream trailer with a deck, a hammock, and an outdoor shower. And grazing nearby are a couple of Longhorns. They look fierce with their massive horn span –up to seven feet, — but they’re actually quite mellow. Some people even ride them like horses I’m told. Despite often weighing more than a ton, when a drought comes to the prairie all they need is little dry scrub to munch on and they do just fine.

Looking at Moz looking at me from his open pasture helps me not feel so claustrophobic in my house. A nice house, but I think when this Cornona business is behind us, I’m gonna move into an Airstream out on the range and lie in the hammock at night looking at the prairie stars. And nearby are gonna be a couple of Moz’ brethren keeping me company.

Why not?

RJD in Beirut, Lebanon

Dear world citizen,

Lebanon has been called one of the best places to visit in recent times (https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-holiday-destinations-2020), did you know? 

To me, it’s bewildering, having lived here for more than 25 years. When I first moved here, after a 15-year brutally ugly civil war, there were no telephone landlines, no electricity, no hygiene, rubble on the streets from massive bombings, and many more “third world problems.”

With time, with perseverance, with the return of many expats, a semblance of a very fragile nation was built. 

But the house of cards brutally crashed in October 2019 when we, the people – the remaining few, got up and said “enough” to our decayed ruling class who have looted us of every dignity there ever was for a hard-working citizen. 

Photo credit: Michael J. Totten

Yet, today with the Corona world pandemic on top of all our problems, we are united and have somehow managed to keep the number of fatalities down (https://ncov2019.live/#lebanon.) Despite the lack of adherence to lockdown instructions, lack of following curfews, and a major hygiene problem in many areas, we are definitely in a better place than many “first-world nations.” Hint hint! 

So my words of wisdom for today are, why not move to Lebanon and rebuild with us, or visit us when this is over to help our economy? Why ever not? I did. 

Photo credit: erasmusu

Death of an Illusion

RafifJ in Malaga, Spain

Most days I watch a little bit of the White House #coronavirus updates. I generally can’t spend too much time on them because I’m afraid of throwing my laptop across the room, and hey, the apartment is a rental and I need the laptop so I can make money.

But today I happened to catch my New Hero, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York. And I was a spellbound. You know why?

Because I witnessed leadership. And I had not seen that in America in a long time.

The governor was acting presidential. Actually, he was behaving like any normal leader would: he thanked medical professionals and all the other people who work tirelessly to keep the rest of us safe and healthy. He deferred to experts, applauding their service and never once taking credit for their accomplishments. He only insulted the virus (“let’s go kick some coronavirus ass”) and he didn’t have a tantrum when asked uncomfortable questions.

Ah, leadership. We don’t have much of that in our nation’s capital. And Americans apparently don’t care: Trump’s approval ratings are the highest they’ve been. There is a perception – incredibly – that he is handling things well. How is that even possible?

Retrieved via Google Images from Brian Stauffer’s “Under Control” in The New Yorker magazine. No copyright infringement intended.

I don’t understand how this corrupt and rotten-to-the-core, pussy-grabbing megalomaniac, who has basically said our elderly are expendable during this crisis, is rising in popularity. He wants to open the economy, against all medical and scientific guidance, and doesn’t care that he will be endangering hundreds of thousands – millions even – of his own people. Is he blind to what he’s happening around the world? Has he not seen what this virus is capable of in China, Italy, or Spain? Has he not spoken with Boris Johnson or Prince Charles?

What saddens me is not that America has transformed. It hasn’t. But I do miss the illusion that human rights are sacred, and that the rule of law prevails. I’m not so naïve (anymore) to think it’s love – rather than white privilege and money – that make America go ’round. What saddens me is the blatancy of Trump’s hypocrisy, the depravity of Trump’s America, and how the so-called leader of the so-called free world is popular while jeopardizing an entire population for what??? Ratings and an election. And now, apparently, more and more of America believes that people are expendable. Life should be more precious.

Meanwhile, #Spain continues its lockdown. People are scared and the economy is tanking. But we’re in it for the long haul. You know why?

Because life here IS more precious.

#StayHome and #StaySafe

Thank you for reading our blog! All feedback welcome. If you’d like to contribute a post, please get in touch! Send me an email, contact me on Twitter, or leave a comment here. 

Post 11: #Coronavirus and a global perspective

Day 11. We’re chronicling our experiences during the #COVID-19 lockdowns, quarantines, and other restrictions. Join us!

The Upside of COVID-19

Cindy Castellana, Falls Church, VA

I believe we would all agree (at least those of us who do not live on Pennsylvania Avenue) that this whole #COVID-19 thing is pretty serious – and not in a good way.  Recently we have heard about the true nature of the human spirit rising up.

There have been countless stories of people taking care of their neighbors and thinking of those less fortunate. Then there is the seemingly worldwide outpouring of thanks to medical professionals who are stepping up, often at their own risk, to take care of the rest of us.

But how about those who, in the process of going about their everyday jobs, find a way to provide us with a little bit of joy and just put a smile on our faces? For example, there is Adam the Zookeeper at the Melbourne Zoo who used the Giraffe Cam to show us how to bust a move. 

There are those Policia in Spain doing what they can to keep their communities calm and safe. And today I heard that Starbucks is promising to pay their employees for the next 30 days, whether or not they are able to work.

We need these stories to counter the unbelievable things we hear that just make us sit up and say…WOW.

For example, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is willing to risk his own life to get the economy moving. He feels that if he is willing to be out amongst his peeps, so should the rest of us. 

I don’t think so. 

Then there is the woman who licked a public toilet seat, hoping to get the Coronavirus so she could build up antibodies and then go on about her life.  I guess she isn’t thinking about the whole I could die from this thing. And, of course there are those folks who partied hardy on the beaches during Spring Break, who are now surprised that they are getting sick with the virus. 

Maybe these are just examples of the natural order of things helping to thin the herd. 

***

Fiction vs Reality

RJD in Beirut, Lebanon

Collecting thoughts these days is tough. Only a month ago, I thought of a dear friend who lives in Milan and it took me a whole month to get in touch and check in on her and her husband.

Upon updating her on life in Lebanon, I came into a realization that was both frightening and surreal. Inasmuch as I was in the act, I was emotionless. Now the deluge of emotions is finally hitting me hard.

After the October Lebanese Revolution, my business suffered. This month, I had to close it down. The week I was calling the finale after 23 years, we were ordered as Lebanese to go into lockdown. Even though I couldn’t say goodbye to my team and clients, the emotional closure, grief, anger, frustration, and helplessness are taking their grip on me and making me feel more down than I ever imagined.

I spent the last few days weeding through paperwork, small items that made my business experience special, packing, discarding and donating…and I stopped a few times in tears. You can’t discard 23 years, a whole career, an identity into boxes and trash piles. I can’t. I wanted to celebrate and embrace the end. The age of Corona has robbed me of that…the Lebanese politics, economy and corruption took that away from me.

True, my anguish is nothing compared to the poor(er) people looking for a piece of bread…nothing considering the people being buried with no one to say goodbye…nothing if you think of war victims…refugees…nothing in light of the world gone amok I say to myself. But it was my world and I need to take a few days to mourn it, I say to myself, I am allowed to grieve.

I am trying to remain real and not imagine that I am living a fiction movie right now. I must hold on. My friend’s words, from Milan, resonated with me all day:

“I’m so sorry my darling …your place will always be the best there ever was! But an end is inevitably a beginning. Beirut….akh! But we must look ahead. Which gets harder as we age. Fail we may, but sail we must! Bhibbek kteeer. Lots of love from your Italia! 😘.”

From Milan

I love you too, ragazza 💜💜💜💜 and I shall sail…

***

Shut Down by Coronavirus

Tina F. in Fairfax, VA

As the time passes, I forget what day of the week we’re on and the news sounds a bit repetitive.

I think it was a few days ago that our Governor of Virginia gave us all new directive and instructions to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus. It included the usual list of closures and listed essential establishments to stay open. GUESS WHAT?? Turns out that liquor stores are essential and will remain open. Hallelujah!!!

But that’s not what got me thinking. It was the announcement that all schools in Virginia will remain closed at least until the end of the school year. Within a few minutes parents were posting about how sad it was that their high school seniors’ school year is over. They will not get to experience the right of passage that every privileged high school senior experiences. No Prom, no photos, and no walking across the stage to receive their diploma.

I get it!!! It is a blow. But honestly, I was secretly thinking that this maybe what is needed to curtail all the unnecessary and extravagant rituals that have developed over the years. Those elaborate “Promposals” for a start. They were really getting out of control. Teachers would allow students to “Prompose” during class. The media was plastered with clever ways to get someone to go on a date with you. All this was the beginning of hundreds of dollars’ worth of expenses. There were the tickets, attire, dinners, limousine hires, and photographers. Not to mention the announcement and the block parties and all those monetary gifts. So look on the bright side, think of all the money you will save!

We are facing an unprecedented time of disappointing firsts for most of us. But I think I can help.

I offer my Photoshop expertise. Send me a photo of your high school senior’s face and I will send you a series of photos of them in graduation gowns and prom dresses. ALL THIS FOR $100!

***

Even a simple delivery can kill you

RafifJ in Malaga, Spain

Every day of our extended lockdown I learn new realities associated with coronavirus. Today I realized that anything I order for delivery must be sanitized before it enters my home. After I bring it in, I have to sanitize my home all over again. I should probably even take a shower and wash the clothes I was wearing.

You think I’m overreacting? Well, I take precautions – not because I’m paranoid or a hypochondriac – but because my 17-year-old son lives with me. Anything I drag in, he gets.

The sad reality is that we can no longer take for granted our daily routines. Think about the steps you take in performing the simplest of functions – all the things or people you touch, what you eat or drink, how many times you touch your face in between these activities. Try counting them and the numbers might surprise you. In short, every thing or person you touch is potentially going to kill you. A lockdown and proper care can save lives.

A lot of people still think nations and local governments are overreacting. There’s a particular so-called leader (and his sycophants) who wants to save the economy instead of saving lives, and I’m delighted that #NotDying4WallStreet was trending yesterday. Maybe People Power and Twitter Power will turn the tide against the insidious incompetence in the White House.

With the number of cases exceeding 47,000 in Spain (and rising fast), it’s obvious that we can’t be too careful. As numbers rise exponentially in the United States, more people realize now that the problem is not just the economy vs the people; the fundamental problem is the utter lack of leadership in the face of this deadly virus, which claims people of any age, any race, any belief.

COVID-19 is forcing humans to change a lot more than our processes. We’re re-examining our values. Some communities are doing what they can to help one another, learning along the way how to deal with new rules in an increasingly virtual world. Other groups – well, let’s just say that this deadly pandemic is exposing more than just our immune systems – it’s highlighting the greed and corruption at some of the highest levels of the very governments elected to protect us.

So I’m #NotDying4WallStreet; neither should you.

#StayHome #StaySafe and #WashYourDamnHands.

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