Lots of thoughts have come to me as we are shut down. Some are new, some are just a reinforcement of something I’ve already known or suspected.

 

1. News exists to alarm, excite, upset, and capture attention. This is more important to news channels than to inform.
2. Everything can be politicized, even something as universal as a virus.
3. The library is a bigger part of my life than I realized. I have BOUGHT 3, no, 4 BOOKS in the past several weeks, something I usually refrain from doing because I don’t like to own too much stuff. (All non-fiction, so they will be underlined and referred to for awhile.)
4. Growing food is very difficult. I thought I had figured out how to grow broccoli by protecting it underneath from gophers, around from deer, and above from birds. The aphids snuck in the remaining holes. 
5. Rural living has lots of advantages over urban life.
6. Staying stocked up on essentials is a good way to live at all times. Not hoarding, but simply stocked up.
7. Neighbors are a hugely helpful part of life. These are conversations I’ve participated in or overheard: “Do you have room in your green can?” “I made some hand sanitizer – do you want some?” “We picked more oranges than we can use – would you like some?” “I made too much soup so I am bringing you dinner!” “May I borrow your pole saw?” “I’m going grocery shopping – do you need anything?” “Want to go for a walk?” “Here is a CD of encouraging music that I made.” “I made bread, and there is a loaf with your name on it.”
8. It is wise to limit one’s consumption of “news”.
9. My face is the itchiest location on the planet.
10. Focusing on what we have, the blessings in our homes, yards and neighborhoods keeps away the fear and frustrations.

This got too long. It will be continued tomorrow.