April 27, 2020
Day 35
Today is New Zealand’s last day (fingers crossed) at Alert level 4. Total lockdown has been strange, weird, scary, sobering and somehow exhilarating. As I said at the start of this blog, “Nothing concentrates the mind like a sentence of death”. Events in this country thus far have me feeling hopeful, but I am mindful of the nature of the beast and thus will continue to act as though I am still in lockdown and keep on searching the chaff for the wheat.
Robert Heinlein is one of my all time favourite authors. If you haven’t read any of his works, now would be a good time to start. In The Notebooks of Lazarus Long he says, “What are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what “the stars foretell,” avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable “verdict of history”–what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future, facts are your single clue.”
Thirty-five days into the new normal and there is not much buzz about a cure or even a high percentage treatment and if there is they’re saying it will be later rather than sooner. On the status board of most of the institutions and governments working in that direction is a sign that says, “Don’t hold your breath”. As of this date, as I write, you can wear a mask or a full face respirator, shop at dawn and swim in a vat of hand sanitiser when you’re done, but, young or old, rich or poor, covidiot or pragmatic prepper, whether or not you’re going to catch it and whether or not you’re going to survive unscathed is still a numbers game.
Today’s are as follows.
Minus 1 New cases today. 38 Recovered cases. Ratio of recovered cases to active cases is 80%.
20% to go…
ironwoodwind 
Dear Doug,
Sci Fi of our youth has become the fiber of our present existence, hasn’t it? Here’s to lower numbers. I smile behind my smiley-painted face mask and continue to shelter in place with my palette.
Shalom and love to you both,
Rochelle
Dear Rochelle,
May you have plenty of colours to compose with and never run out of paper. There’s got to be an online contest re painted masks. Have you looked around for that? Could be fun.
Thanks for reading my maunderings.
Love back at you.
Cheers,
Doug
Your enlightened straight forward approach shows what are the facts. Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, which become your values. This is your task at hand, and its an unparalled one.
Good morning, Justin,
It is wonderful to see your comment and to know that you, too, are safe and reading somewhere out there. Do you have to contend with the challenges inherent in some of the major hotspots? Or are you self isolated in safer climes? I wish you well and am thankful for your kind thoughts.
Cheers,
Doug
More wonderful numbers, good news about moving off the current phase, and a glorious photo. Bill’s the sci-fi buff here, although I read some Ray Bradbury in the past. Let’s hope our future is brighter than those generally portrayed in science fiction! 🙂 And it always seems to be dark and rainy, too.
janet
Hi Janet,
Sounds like New Zealand in winter. But it’s bright and sunny and warm right now. Indian Summer still rules. Have you read There will Come Soft Rains? by Mr. Bradbury? Say hello to Bill for me, stay low and enjoy the day.
Cheers,
Doug