Do you know what the most worthless item of 2020 is?
A day timer!
Our lives are now in a constant holding pattern. The new norm is cancellations.
Like so many others my spring and summertime plans have been nuked and ravaged by Covid.
April camping and hiking in Canyonlands National Park? That didn’t happen. The Earth Day tree planting gig? Negative. The five night backpack trio into the Grand Canyon? Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! The Friends of the Library Book Sale? Fahgettaboudit. The entertaining, informative and inspiring Green Drinks Happy Hours. Gone to Zoom.A Rockies baseball game fundraiser for Joe? What’s baseball? (No ballgame but donations are still being accepted. Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society) https://www.joescanlanmemorial.com/
Since mid-March my calendar contains nothing but emphatic slashes. There’s been no letup. All the cool volunteering gigs, the Brew Festivals, the groovy concerts in Buckley Park and the Steamboat Springs Crane Festival have been cancelled. Yet! The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally is still scheduled for Labor Day Weekend. Go figure. Varoom! Varoom!
On the bright side. I haven’t been furloughed or fired, contracted the virus or failed to pay my bills. I live in Durango, CO. I’m at an epicenter of natural beauty. My nice young neighbors do Welfare Checks on the new old guy in the ‘hood. My situation could be worse.
But I know things aren’t right in the World. There’s more than a few pissed off and edgy people out there.
Two examples: On a Memorial Weekend hike, I came upon a single parent and her two kids. They had backpacked down to a scenic campsite adjacent to a creek. It was mid morning, sunny and almost sweltering. They had a napalm sized campfire blazing away. I smiled before saying, “Good Morning! Maybe you aren’t aware of this but there’s a Forest wide fire ban in effect. We haven’t seen rain in a long time. It’s awfully dry.”
Mom sort of glared at me before telling me to mind my own business. I backpedaled away after she informed me my Mother dresses me funny. Sheesh! Of course, I phoned the authorities.
At a recent Covid related demonstration in Durango, an organizer described mask wearing people as “cowards.” The reason? They were submitting to the local Health Department’s suggestion of looking like the Frito Bandito in public places. OY! This could only lead to the Govment taking away our firearms! Where will all this tyranny end!
At least Durango’s demonstrators weren’t hoisting AR-15’s.
“Liberate Michigan! Liberate Wisconsin! Liberate Virginia!” Instigated the Commander of Controversy.
His Followers followed.
All this was going on prior to the murder of George Floyd. Riots and looting broke out in major cities. Mayors mandated curfews. The mayhem was followed by the theatrics and absurdity of President Lying Scumbag performing a photo op while clutching a Bible. (There’s never a lightning bolt when you need one.)
Do African Americans have a reason to gripe? You bet they do.
When the first British slave ship (Isabella in 1684) discharged 150 African slaves in Philadelphia, the die was cast. Bigotry and racism would become a cornerstone of America’s History. Slavery (AKA that Peculiar Institution) would hound our Country from 1776 to our present times.
The dream of “all men are created equal” was penned by Thomas Jefferson. Our Founding Father was a philosophical slave owner who was blind to his own hypocrisy. That was just the beginning of our Nation’s embrace of White Supremacy. Google the Three/Fifths Compromise (1787), the Dred Scott Decision (1857), Sharecropping (slavery light), Jim Crow laws, the rise of the KKK (1865), Plessy vs.Ferguson(1896), 3,446 lynchings and finally ponder why it took until 1947 for Jackie Robinson to swing a bat in the Major Leagues.
A historian could fill volumes with more examples. (Me too.)
So far in the post, I’ve covered “uncertain” and “angry.”
Here’s the awkward part.
Covid 19 hasn’t been cured. There Is no vaccine. The virus is still lurking around. People will continue to get infected. Many will die.
It’s a crappy time to be sociable. Attempting to make new friends and acquaintances when you’re seen as a possible virus vector is awkward. (Socially distanced hugs and handshakes are pretty unsatisfying). All my plans to get involved with my new community have been derailed.
For these reasons and the many others I mentioned in this older blog.
I’ll revert to my old sociable hermit mode and seek out nearby silent, serene and spectacular places. There’s more than a summer’s worth of exploring nearby. Hopefully the marmot terrorists will leave my truck and camper alone.
Does this mean I don’t wish to see anyone? Not at all. Friendly, good natured people with entertaining or interesting stories are always welcome in my camp. Bonus if they bring IPAs, desserts or cold veggie pizza.
Hope to see some of you this summer and fall.
Stay sane, safe and healthy out there,
Jeff
OY! We have been hanging out near grand junction country and it has been soothing to the soul. No social settings except river and camping trips And at least we can drink our IPAs. Nice summer ahead to you Jeff
ReplyDeleteYou nailed our times. Thanks for the beautiful pics. Enjoy life.
ReplyDeleteYup, kinda weird and scary year. Wish we could travel, but being outside is soul soothing. Happy summer Jeff.
ReplyDelete