Our Best Stuff From a Week in Limbo

The election is over but not over, and the pandemic rages on.

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Happy Saturday. It’s a gloomy day here in Ohio, and not just because of the rain. We’re not even close to winter yet, but we’re getting a preview of what a battle of endurance it will be. Normally I’d spend this weekend planning for Thanksgiving, getting ready for family to come in, sorting out who was bringing which dish, and buying a couple of turkeys (leftover turkey is superior to Thanksgiving Day turkey—this is not up for debate). 

That ain’t happening this year. We’ll still make too much food, and we’ll kick off the holiday season properly with our first viewing of Christmas Vacation, but that’s about it. If we’d had plans (we didn’t), those would have been scuttled Thursday when the call came in from the school district: Our youngest had a classmate test positive and now he’s in quarantine—complete with Zoom school—until the end of the month.

I’ll admit it: I didn’t have the best response to the news. My phone might have, um, fallen out of my hand and landed halfway across the room on a pile of laundry I’d been avoiding. I know it sounds petty, but he was supposed to have a swim meet this weekend, and quarantine meant he couldn’t compete. Our kids have been practicing since June, and practicing, and practicing. But they haven’t had a real meet since February. I was upset he was going to miss out. As it turned out, the meet got canceled anyhow. And I don’t see how they’ll be able to schedule anything for the rest of the season. 

Of course all of it makes sense, and it’s just a small thing. It pales in comparison the news that hospitals are filling up, that in North Dakota (where we have family) a full 10 percent of the state’s population has been diagnosed with COVID at some point, that New York state just recorded its highest single-day total of cases (but hey, at least Gov. Cuomo is getting an Emmy for his “masterful” press conferences or something).

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  1. Avatar photo
    Some Viking

    No worries regarding your “rant”. We’ve all likely been there—or are there too! I’m just sorry you—and too many of us—have to deal with the at home “learning” thing.

    I totally agree with your observations about government vs business. Government is so full of blow hards. It’s pathetic. Our “leaders” seem like nasty middle school and high school kids who never grew up! (My rant is over!😉).

    Have a nice week!

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    rlritt

    "We live in an era in which progressives demand absolute adherence to an agenda driven by identity politics, and they threaten people’s livelihood if they don’t toe the line." We do? Why can't you say "no" of "F" off? An agenda is not a law. Who gets fired if they don't toe the line? I've worked for corporations for many years and if you do your job well and make money for the company, you're usually solid.

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      rlritt

      "or"

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    Monica from Richmond

    Rachael, sorry about your swim meet. I clicked on your link to the Seattle hypothermia case when you said that the doctors used a "newish" treatment. Were you aware that ECMO has been around for decades?

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    Connie

    The kids are going to miss out on Santa this year. No matter what we adults miss out on this holiday season, it pales in comparison to what children will miss. I told my two nephews that Amazon has cheap Santa costumes, and suggested they dress up as Santa for their one year old and two year old, respectively. Dad as Santa, and Mom can take pics. It’s cool if the kids are young enough to buy into it.

    I suffered with severe OCD that went undiagnosed for 35 years. (Thank God for medication, which I have been on for six years.) I remember all those painful Christmas seasons, which were the worst time of year for me. OCD is a very isolating disorder, made more acute by an inability to connect with people. This Christmas season will find many people (mentally healthy and unhealthy) isolated from the warmth of family and friends. Christmas television ads, from previous experience, can be very painful when you are isolated. It bothers me so much to see Christmas ads that do not reflect the reality of 2020. There is nothing worse than seeing family/friends share the warmth of the Christmas season when you unable to do so. It bothered me so much I opened a Christmas2020 Twitter account, to rank television ads and tweet that ranking to those companies. It won’t change a thing, but it makes me feel better.

    I’ll be putting up my Christmas decorations next week. I was ready to leave them all packed away, and do my best to avoid the season (old habits), but I decided COVID was not going to be the Grinch that steals my Christmas. I hope, whatever your situation is this holiday season, that you don’t let COVID be the Grinch that steals yours.

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      ~sg

      (((hug)))

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    BikerChick

    I would love to see some coverage on parochial schools and how they've been able to stay open during the pandemic. Our local elementary parochial school is business as usual while the public schools are all virtual. I consider them the "Sweden" of education.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Matmos

      Smaller class sizes, no teacher’s union, more resources probably help.

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        Kmregan7

        Don't have to take higher-risk students (those with pre-existing conditions, disabilities, etc.) have more money because they don't have to comply with IEPs, etc. As you said, smaller class sizes.

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        BikerChick

        Actually the teacher's unions aren't a problem where I live because their power has been diminished. I'd have to say our local schools are doing a good job, keeping elementary students in person for the most part. It's everywhere else in the country. And it's a huge problems because kids at home means health care workers can't go to work.

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  6. Donna R

    "that New York state just recorded its highest single-day total of cases (but hey, at least Gov. Cuomo is getting an Emmy for his “masterful” press conferences or something)." If you click the link, you'll see the actual headline is "Governor Cuomo Announces New Record Number of COVID-19 Tests Reported to New York State in Single Day"... TESTS not cases. Big difference. So it's possible the sarcastic comment may be misplaced.

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      Matmos

      This is an important point. New York has not hit the peak that it had in April, and that was back when it was much harder to actually get tested, so the counts are almost certainly bot comparable.

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    Angie

    Thanks for your efforts Rachael..I appreciate them ...
    I don't have children so I am not having to deal with these issues...sorry you are having to..I keep telling myself, it won't be forever for all the other inconvenient and scary conclusions possible
    It is a cliche...but, hang in there, and at least we have you and you have us to commiserate with

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    Angie

    Yea for Ohio...( I live there too)

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    Kaitlin Johnson

    Thank you for these. You are so understanding of how kids are feeling. I’m on the older end of that but still feel a little kid’s anxiety and disappointment. This year has taken so much. The minute you accept it, something else is gone. And I’m so incredibly blessed, so I can’t even imagine what others are going through.

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  10. Scott Mc

    I love your wrap ups and your rare rants. Human response from another form of the impact of this interesting 2020. Hang in there glad you didnt need to use the phone insurance but get the other on the laundry. Your patience with him is admirable but he needs to quit slacking off. Keep up the good work. Your full work is appreciated especially managing the primadona(s). Happy Thanksgiving in advance.

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