This morning I woke up as usual before dawn. I have never gotten rid of that work mode in my internal clock. When I was working, we had to be at work at 5:30 am. If I don’t get by 5am, the cat is in my face and pawing my arm. He knows what time it is. After I got up, I feed him his first meal of the day. Then I opened the interior door. Its going to be another beautiful day. It is in the low 70.s and will heat up to the mid to high 80.s. The air is so fresh in the morning, and theirs a gentle breeze blowing in. As the sun rises, the rays of light start shinning in and the birds start chirping. They are starting their day as well. Such a beautiful morning. The birds have no idea, all seems so calm and pristine, but theirs a health crisis looming and shutting down the world. Nothing in our lifetime has ever happened like this before. It is a Coronavirus Pandemic. Then I turn on the TV and check the news on my phone…..Reality sets in…..
In the State of Texas, only essential business are open through the month of April. Schools are closed till May 4. Social Distancing protocols, will also stay in effect through April. Our curfew is still in effect. All of these things are so important to slow down the Virus.
New York is suffering the worst. In the past 72 hours their death toll has doubled to over 1900 people. New York City is running out of hospital beds and ventilators. Some of the bodies are being loaded into refrigerated reefer vans. The hospitals have no room nor do the funeral homes. The news says that as soon as a person dies their is another person waiting for the ventilator. In Central Park, they have set up a 68 bed field hospital to treat the overflow of patients.
Good Samaritan Purse is a Christian organization from North Carolina. This hospital is composed of a Respiratory Care unit with ICU capabilities. The whole world is shutting down and suffering with this virus.
This is a chart of the top 4 countries. We are #1. Almost a million people have been affected. Over 50,000 deaths. All of this has happened in such a short time. Just several weeks ago, life was still normal…..How fast it has changed. Here in the Rio Grande Valley, it is just starting.
As of last nite, we had 106 cases in the RGV, which is these 4 county’s. We live in Cameron County…..Hidalgo is to the west of us. Cameron County went from 26 to 37 overnite. 9 of those are in Harlingen. So it is now here. Here at the park, our Club Houses are now closed as well as the pool and spas. Everyone stays home, but we still walk around the park and practice Social Distancing.
One of the couples in the park are making light of the situation. They set up these chairs so Social distancing can be practiced when your walking…..lol….We also decided the other day to open the North Hall. We have a nice Library and lots of puzzles that people can take home. So now on Tue and Fri, 11am to 12noon, they can come in and exchange their books and puzzles, so they have something to take home to do. They will be sanitized and set in quarantine for a week before being put back into circulation again. They were pretty excited about that. Many people still like having the book in their hands to read rather than a Kindle.
Last nite (April 1), we all joined the group “Let Their be Light”.
Anyone who had a porch lite, turned it on. Many lite a candle outside their door. All for the support of our Medical personal working to help save the lives of those afflicted with COVID-19.…They are all putting their lives at risk. This also includes my daughter Tammy. She is a RN working in 2 different hospitals in Illinois. Her youngest daughter, Carly is now staying with my other daughter Tina full time. They decided since Tammy can be, and has already been exposed, you never know if she may come down with the virus or pass it on. Tammy brought presents the other day and visited through the screen.
She brought lots of different treats, matching pajamas for the girls and of course …..”TOILET PAPER”….. Carly sure misses her momma, but she is also having fun with Miley and Austin. She is in the very good care of Aunt Tina. 
This had to have been so hard on both of them. I’m sure their were tears. I know Carly wanted to run into Mamma arms…..But this is for the best for right now.
So Aunt Connie had to get into the act also. She brought the kids Dirt and Worms...Yum…Everyone loves them…
Of course DeeDee had to see Aunt Connie also. 
These are the strangest times. Some strange and bazzar memories these kids will have. Theirs been nothing like this in our life times. In years to come when the kids read these blogs, they will remember these stories and how it felt. Sad Sad times we live in. But on the other hand, families are now spending much more time together. They are doing homework, playing games, going out for walks and eating together. So their is a lot of good also. They world is on pause. Maybe this will be a good thing and have lasting benefits for families.
The unemployment claims have doubled in a week. It is unheard of. The families are going to have such a hard time. Anyone in an non essential job is now laid off. They are all staying home. You can’t look for a job as their is none. The government has passed a 2 trillion dollar stimulus plan, that will provide money for everyone according to their tax filling of 2018 or 2019. A single will get $1200, couple $2400, and each child is $500. The checks should be Direct Deposit with in 3 weeks. That will help but not for long. The stimulus will also be helping out the small business owner and the Airlines. Their is much more that is being planned to help. But its going to be a Looooong Road…..So here we sit….Watching tv….Rich worked on the She-Shed again today. He put in some more shelving for my crafts. Only 2 shelves left and I’ll finish painting inside. But no sense doing it today…..Their is Tomorrow....Tonight, we will sit outside and enjoy a beautiful evening on the patio
.............''AND LET THE FUN BEGIN''................. 