By Sherman R. Frederick
It’s pretty clear now, I am sorry to say, that this COVID-19 pandemic is a ways from running its course. The virus spreads quickly and targets the weaker among us. It did not fade away during the summer and, experts say, there’s a second wave yet to come.
While I’d like to engage in a conversation about whether the cure (the shutdown) is worse than the disease, I think it’s more important at this particular moment to highlight the need to stay alert.
This story illustrates that.
Bob Warren and his wife Barbara adhered to the coronavirus safety rules because, well, they were old (she 84, he 77). They lived in Los Lunas, New Mexico, and rarely left the house. Others shopped for them and disinfected the food boxes and containers before bringing them in the house.
Many of us do this and feel relatively safe. But then Bob required a heart catheterization. It had to be done. He tested negative for COVID-19 and was cleared to go to Albuquerque for the procedure.
He was in and out quickly and back home. The procedure a success.
Then days later he took ill. He had the virus.
The family called the heart facility immediately and, to their horror, found out four workers in the heart facility had been infected, including Bob’s doctor, who was in ICU fighting for his life.
Bob was subsequently hospitalized as the coronavirus took its course. Then Barbara, too. Unbeknownst to Bob, Barbara lay in a bed on the floor below him. She died first. Bob died shortly thereafter.
As you can imagine, there’s much finger pointing directed at the hospital for not immediately notifying patients of the potential infection. Had Bob known he was exposed, he may have been able to take precautions earlier and not infect Barbara.
Who knows? The bottom line is the disease spread like wildfire from doctor to patient to patient’s wife. From a big city to a rural city.
We’re still in the middle of this gawdawful pandemic. Do not let your guard down.
America just gave this baby redwood a big hug for generations to come.
A GOOD THING
The president signed into law legislation that fully funds plans for conservation and maintenance of National Parks.
The new law requires funding of the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund and addresses the maintenance backlog facing America’s national parks and public lands. The law would spend about $900 million a year — double current spending — on the conservation fund and another $1.9 billion per year on improvements at national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and range lands.
“I’m pinching myself. It’s a great day,” said Mark Kramer, director of federal external affairs for the Nature Conservancy.
“In California, we have such a varied topography that there’s always opportunity to make strategic additions to our public lands, whether it’s in the desert or along our coast.”
Amen, brother. Finally, some good news out of Washington.
Insert Clinton Photo
Race car driver Eddie Irvine, left, Bill Clinton and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
SHUN BILL CLINTON
Two underage victims placed former President Bill Clinton on pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s pleasure island. Formula One race car driver Eddie Irvine in court papers last week revealed he saw Clinton at one of Epstein’s wild parties. Bill Clinton admitted under penalty of perjury that he diddled an intern with a cigar in the White House. In his lifetime he is known to have coerced several women into sex. It’s called rape.
Yet, he is honored to speak at John Lewis’ funeral. That’s embarrassing for America. I don’t care if he is an ex-president, he should be shunned.
ONE MORE THING
— May you live long enough and free enough to cause our children just a bit of concern.
— It’s a little known fact that cow farts come from the dairy air.
— Ants never get sick because they have anty bodies.
— The wife of a hippie is Mississippi.
— And just in case you thought I couldn’t go lower on the Groaner Scale, I offer you this pun with sincere apologies to fans of The Doors.
And with that I’ll pick up my knitting and go. Until next week your homework is to smile once a day, stay safe and mask-up.
Sherman R. Frederick is the founder of Battle Born Media, publisher of intensely local community newspapers in Nevada and California, including the Novato Advance, the San Rafael News Pointer, the Mill Valley Herald, the Ross Valley Reporter, the Twin Cities Times, the Sausalito Marin Scope and the Pacifica Tribune. He may be reached at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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