It's incredible the times we are living in. In my lifetime, so much has changed, yet there is always a constant...Life goes on. I will absolutely NOT diminish the current situations. Our family chose to stay home, do our part to flatten the curve and do our best to keep our family safe. Yes, this makes a massive impact to our budget and honestly, within our family dynamics as well. When you are adjusted to a family of 5, 3 of which leave daily for jobs/school, and there are just 2 home regularly, it has no option but to cause things to be jumbled. After nearly a week of our family being home, having 3 meals a day together, taking care of the farm chores, meals, and even entertainment...it's been an adjustment.
For me, there is a lot more work having everyone home full-time. After the first couple days, I realized quickly that trying to keep up the normal routines, cleaning, laundry and ever other normalcy...was not going to work. My days, prior to quarantine, were scheduled to the hilt. Up everyday between 4:30 and 5, coffee, social media time/online games, husband out the door by 6, oldest daughter on the bus by 7, son out the door by 7:30, shower, breakfast, print/layout youngest daughters schoolwork for the day, check emails, begin work by 8:30 and daughter's schoolwork. Then you'd have phone calls, teleconferences, multiple rounds of email responses, talking to businesses/organizations, lunch and clean up, and the day would continue this way through 5 pm. Husband would be home by 4, oldest daughter by 4:15, son by 5:30-6, supper, clean up or going right into family time until 10. Attempting to throw in laundry, deep cleaning and any errands in the midst. This was a typical 7 day schedule for me before last Friday. Since then, I feel like a chicken with my head cut off...even more! Now, 5 people 24/7, is including more food and prep time, more laundry, constant messes and comments of boredom(yet helping to clean is not an option), more demands of my time(since all are home), absolutely no reprieve from constant noise, and still trying to keep some resemblance of at least human habitat in my home.
The strangest part of all of this has been the good changes. My family learning to coexist with everyone home. I've had several days now that I have not had to prepare supper. My husband has cooked several times and my son cooked last night. My husband and son have found a way to work together instead of constantly butting heads. This has been a HUGE bonus! My girls, they tend to want attention for while, but then they just go to their separate areas and it is quiet for a bit. The kids and I typically have music going. Music to me is a cure all when stress reaches too high levels. Thankfully, the board games and craft supplies from Christmas are getting a workout! For 5 days, we as a family have had 3 meals a day together. We have talked, laughed, and bonded even more than before. Everyone has found ways to make each day work...even if it means taking off to their bedrooms, outside or just putting in headphones and tuning everyone else out(except me...I've usually got at least one trying to constantly be under foot).
On the note of the current issue. This virus is one of concern, not panic! I am concerned about it. Here's why: this virus is unknown in the sense we have supposedly not had it here before(although I really think it was the flu that hit my house in November/December). The concern is more because of the lifespan, the varied symptoms, and the complete disregard of responsibility. This virus is bad, it is unpredictable, BUT it is small in overall numbers. Since I am a numbers person, I wanted statistics...not just the fear propaganda on the news. So, here it goes...
WORLDWIDE FIGURES:
499,935 Total Cases, 22,323 Deaths, 121,211 Recovered, 143,534 Cases Closed.
That is an 84% recovery/discharge rate. Of that, 95% were mild conditions, 5% were serious/critical.
Here's more numbers to consider and please keep in mind that the populations of countries such as China and Italy are significantly OLDER than other countries.
Country: China(total population-1.386 BILLION 2017), 81,285 cases, 3,287 deaths, 7,405 recovered, 3,947 active cases
Italy(total population -60.48 MILLION2017), 74,386 cases, 7,503 deaths, 9,362 recovered, 57,521 active cases
USA(total population-327.2 Million 2017), 74,375 cases, 1,072 deaths, 1,850 recovered, 71,453 active cases
Spain(total population-46.66 MILLION 2018), 56,197 cases, 4,145 deaths, 7,015 recovered, 45,037 active cases
Germany(total population-82.79 MILLION 2018), 41,519 cases, 239 deaths, 5,673 recovered, 35,607 active case
This is just 5 countries! Look at the numbers. Should we be panicking, absolutely not. Should we be proactive, yes. Should we be comparing this to an apocalypse? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
We are in an era of constant news, constant connections, and constant divides. Open your eyes, folks. Yes this is scary and even dangerous. Yes, we need to take precaution measures to protect our loved ones, but this is in no way, shape or form the end of humanity. If you are buying into the hysteria, please stop! Get the facts. There are more people killed in a single week, in Chicago than what have died from this virus. There are more people killed from the annual flu than the number of cases from this virus. More people die from hunger, vehicle accidents and medical prescriptions than our annual number of cases of this virus. Here is a quick numbers list:
Drug overdoses(2017) includes prescriptions 63,632, Diabetes 80,058, Flu/Pneumonia 51,537, and vehicle deaths 40,327.
This is why I say be cautious but not panicky. Yes, this virus is scary even for me, but it is not the end of the world. It is yet another means of driving fear, panic and hysteria. You have got to use some common sense. This virus can stay in the air and on surfaces 3 hours to 3 days! That is concerning for many who shop online or in store. Now that many within several warehouses have contracted this virus, anyone shopping online(even if in quarantine) has the added concern of having this virus brought into their homes. The same is true if you purchase items in store and use their bags.
I have seen and heard about so many people completely disregarding the warnings to stay home, social distance, and limit exposures. This is tragic in the sense that while you may be healthy, and never have any symptoms, the virus can live on items you are wearing or even your hands for a number of hours. In that time frame you could potentially infect your family or anyone else you come in contact with, may be even someone that is not healthy enough to fight it off. So, unintentionally, you have the potential of infecting so many. Yes, constant hand washing is imperative. However, this type of hygiene should be a no brainer anyway! Who is NOT washing their hands regularly?!!!! EW! Folks, the thing is, HYGIENE is something many take for granted today. During the Black Plague of 1918, they did not have indoor plumbing. They did not have many of the modern conveniences we have today. Constantly wash your hands but all the antibacterial soaps kill ALL germs, even the good ones! So, a few little tips from a holistic view point: If you are dealing with the public - wash your hands with antibacterial soaps but keep products like corn huskers lotion on hand to put moisture back into your hands. Shower - a good hot shower will help cleanse your body but will also refresh your mind and spirit. Eat healthy! - if I hear one more person say it's too expensive I may blow my top! If you think buying quality food is expensive...have you priced cancer lately?! Eliminate ALL soda from your diet! Soda/pop blocks your immune system for up to 30 minutes per 12 oz can. That means every soda you drink cause your immune system to stop working for 30 minutes, which in turn is 30 minutes you can be exposed to every virus/bacteria out there and your immune system can not function properly enough to fight it! Get outside!!!!! I can not stress this enough! Being outdoors is imperative to your overall health! Sunlight gives us natural vitamin D, you get fresh air, being outdoors helps to lower your stress levels, and for the love of all things good...take time to walk barefoot in the grass!!!!
A few more tidbits before I get off my soapbox. For everyone to achieve optimum health, you have to have balance of mind, body and spirit. When you have an area that is out of balance, your health will be affected. If you are working in the public, it is necessary that you do everything you can to limit stress, get plenty of sleep and feed your body quality nutrients(NOT the processed crap!), and drink plenty of water...hydration is a key to keeping healthy.
Now, onto other news. It's garden season, finally!!!!! Although it's still pretty chilly and muddy, the planning and acquiring of seeds/plants is in full swing. It's the time of year that I love. It's finally warming up, and I'm craving the feel of dirt on my hands and my toes in the dirt too! There is only one thing better than raising your own food and to me that is watching my children grow. Working the soil, planting seeds and plants, tending to the soil/plants, watching them grow and begin producing fruits/vegetables, and the processing and preserving that food; it is truly an unimaginable accomplishment. Knowing the work, time and effort that goes into every garden no matter the size, the amount of food you can gather and preserve to not only feed your family but also preserve for later use is incredible! Growing tomatoes, peppers, onions....gives us pasta sauce, salsa, stewed tomatoes, tomato juice, and chili sauce. Frozen peppers, jalapenos, corn, peas, green beans, horticulture beans, kidney beans, radishes, carrots, and potatoes....all can be preserved in jars or in the freezer. Did you know you can even can meat?! I had the honor of being taught this process by one of my husband's grandmothers. Not to mention you can make and preserve homemade soups, make your own pork & beans, your own V-8, and so many fruit juices, pie fillings and jellies. Gardening season is one that is good for the mind, body and spirit connection.
Life on a small family farm is always in motion. With hay, livestock - cows/sheep/chickens, running hounds and kids; life is NEVER boring! Usually, it's so active and fluid that keeping up can be a challenge. As the grasses are greening up and the trees are beginning to show life again, that means some much needed outside work and some much needed outdoor therapy! As we all face some unprecedented trials and uncertainty; it's so important to remember what is most important, and learn or grow the areas that can help you and your family in the future. Whether that means growing a garden, container gardening, or slowly building(once the panic buying is over)a one month supply of your necessities. Use this time as an opportunity to learn and grow. Never waste the opportunity to learn!!!
I believe there is a time and place for everything. Politics has zero place in the containment of this virus, PERIOD! Those who are using politics, as a means of leveraging this "pandemic" are not fit to be considered leaders. This is a time for our elected officials to pull their heads out of their backsides, and take care of America. I do not care what your political affiliation is, now is not the time for the rhetoric. It's time for decisive actions, on the issue at hand. Every race, every nationality, every gender, and sexual orientation; are being affected in some manner. It's time for our elected officials to stand for ALL of America's people.
As always, I am very opinionated, and pretty outspoken. However, I do not believe we should be in a panic. I do not believe that those who are elected to represent us should be making any laws that do not apply to all of America(including them), and I am fully in support of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I hope that Americans can eliminate the divide and begin again, working as families, communities and NOT the special interests.
Stay tuned, as I will be sharing a lot more information on gardening, veteran information, and so much more.
Salli
