How to save a life

Temperature: a cloudy, windy 10/50 degrees

Drinking: It’s too early in the season for glögg, isn’t it? Then again, do we abide by stuffy conventions and restrictions, hmm, sweetie darlings? No, we don’t.

Eating: Chloe brought me a snack (a mouse) from her foray into the garden, and is eager to share. We agreed she should have it since she did all the work. Good girl!

Watching: Have you seen No Time to Die? Did you enjoy it? Any…misty eyes? I was moved, sweetie darlings. By James Bond. I really was! For reasons I can’t talk about lest I ruin it for you, and I’d actively avoided any news and possible spoilers, managed to catch it early on, and was caught by surprise, which is always a lovely thing and all too rare these days, what with trolls trying to spoil the magic. And I always thought, or rather did at the beginning, that Craig’s Bond was too hard and cold, too one-dimensional. Which of course left plenty of room for growth and he did grow, to some extent. And he grew on me. But…where do we go from here?

Listening: to the Canada geese leaving. Go! Flee!! Before you freeze!!! Not that it’s been all that cold, but they know what they’re doing. One hopes.

Reading: The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun, and Paradis City by Jens Lapidus.

Thinking: Neurons that fire together wire together. (Hebb's Law) Meaning, we reinforce what we repeat, whether it’s a habit, a routine, a way of thinking. Good or bad, practice makes perfect. What would you like to do differently, dearest denizens?

Feeling: like I’m losing my patience with anti-vaxxers (and I am a patient soul, believe me), those who have no medical reason to refuse the Covid vaccine. I’m sorry but there you have it; without it there’s no hope of containing this. I had a lengthy but awkward discussion with someone who revealed they had not and would not be getting the vaccine. They ended the discussion by telling me that it is an individual choice and they are harming no one but themselves if they get sick. Yes, you’ve made up your mind based on what you believe is best for you. No, the harm has a social dimension and repercussions. You are endangering your family, friends and anyone you come in contact with. You have to treat every encounter as a possible danger to you. And yes, many experience but a mild infection, but some get truly sick, some suffer from long Covid, some suffer permanent damage to nerves and internal organs, some end up in intensive care, and some die. You will not know which ticket you drew until faced with it. Fit as a fiddle? Good for you but won’t make a difference in this lottery. Unless you protect it your body is a potential variant incubator. You won’t want to be remembered as the source of yet another new strain. Hospitals are under strain, the staff exhausted and exasperated. Non-emergency treatments and surgeries on hold means conditions may become life-threatening. Cancers and other tumors go undiagnosed. You are not simply exercising your free will, you are being selfish and casually cruel toward your fellow humans. Have qualms or questions? Don’t consult the Google machine, consult a doctor. Don’t assume that because you are “never ill” (Really? Think back a bit. No, seriously.), this won’t affect you. A skydiver may jump a thousand times without incident. And have jump number 1,001 be their last. It’s all good and well to be an optimist. It’s even better to be prepared, especially when you're being offered every chance to save a life including yours.