It was so recent that I attended the last MACA girls basketball game which was at Minnewaska Area. Losing outcome but a fun night. I'm a long-time acquaintance of some of the parents, make that grandparents! I communicated yesterday with a neighbor who was also at the game, and I noted that we seemed in such a different world then compared to now. We were in our regular old routine. A routine that we all took for granted, circulating and socializing freely.
How could that world possibly come crashing down? And it happened so abruptly, even though there were hints that something was up. So we are so terribly restricted now, no attending a high school sports event or like stuff.
I live alone and my only means of contact with others is through the library, the senior center, restaurants and church. Guess where that leaves me now? I have explained to friends that the upside for me, psychologically, is that no one depends on me. There is no one who would feel let down by me. No spouse who might get disgusted with how I'm managing things and would want to walk away. You know, by leaving a note on the coffee table with the phone number of her attorney.
I once had a friend who went through that. He was a childhood neighbor of mine, local public servant, and he's deceased now. God rest his soul. Hearing about others' divorces puts things in perspective for me.
I can't feel giddy about the 50-degree weather with what all is going on, but I have a pleasant surprise to report! I got a bill from ACMC, the big medical place in Willmar where I was referred to see a urologist, and with a little help from Medicare the bill came to $15.13. So I'm giddy with a capital "G": Giddy. I have no serious medical issues. But I'm of an age where little matters surface now and then. The age of 65 for Medicare is set for a reason. An older car develops rattles.
But a bill for just $15.13 after seeing a specialist! Eureka! My highest compliments to the doctor.
I had a colonoscopy recently and the bill was - ahem - a little higher. But, my highest compliments to Dr. Sam too. Speaking of being giddy, I got all caught up on my doctoring and dentistry just under the wire before the rush of concern about the virus, now pushing aside non-essential stuff. I take my Lipitor each day. Maybe that could extend my life, and ditto for the colonoscopy.
If you can afford it, American medical care including dentistry is pretty good. But why is dentistry classified as different from health care?
Superfluous note?
You probably got the same flier as me today (Friday). Looks like it's from the CDC and it's "President Trump's coronavirus guidelines for America." I don't see why Trump's name needs to be on this, any more than I could understand why the Stevens County sheriff had to identify himself by name in those recorded phone calls warning about a storm. I don't think the sheriff name-drops any more.
Elected people want their names to be top-of-mind, eh? As if we'd ever overlook the Trump name for long.
By now you have probably learned that the Republican Party is not as dependable as the Democrats in situations like this. An absolutely defining feature of the Republican Party - they would not dispute this - is that they do not want people to like government.
Comparing the two parties almost seems moot now because the political process seems almost a dog and pony show compared to what the central bank is doing: the Federal Reserve. This trend became more obvious than ever Thursday when Fed Chair Jerome Powell appeared on the Today Show. Do you realize how incredible this is? There has been an entrenched understanding for time immemorial that the Fed is low-key, taking pains in fact to operate in the background. The politicians are the ones who are supposed to be up-front. In other words, to lead.
But just as hyper little kids might "hide behind their mother's dress," so it is with politicians and the Federal Reserve. The latter comes to the rescue so often, it might as well be acknowledged as the chief institution in charge of our lives. That is not what it is supposed to be. The Fed is supposed to manage the money supply in a proper way. It is not supposed to be "the great and powerful Oz." And don't look behind the curtain. Maybe you'll see Mitch McConnell. Ah, dystopia.
Can the Fed really do the incredibly radical things it's doing without dangerous consequences for America? Endless "repo" and money printing, pushing interest rates to negative at Trump's persistent prodding. Oh, and no one is supposed to "fight the Fed" - an old and respected saying which exists for a reason, but the rule is stomped on now by the president. Hey, almost daily. And there won't be terrible consequences from this? Really? Are you prepared for true hyper-inflation?
Feeling stigmatized?
The little postcard in the mail today, which BTW didn't tell us anything that we all don't already know, had wording to make seniors feel defensive. It's bad enough with all the righties out there saying we might have to accept a mass die-off of seniors to save the economy. On the postcard it says: "If you are an older person, or have a serious underlying health condition, stay home and away from other people."
Take out the middle part of the sentence. If you're up in years, just "stay away from other people." We thought we'd never see the day, right? As if old people need to be automatically tagged as appropriate for isolation. Many old people feel isolated to begin with. The governor is pushing the isolation thing starting tonight, I guess. Not sure how things could be tightened any more.
Are senior citizens expendable through this whole situation, as the likes of Glenn Beck and others seem to be suggesting? We'll see how God feels about that. Is it dangerous for Trump to be pushing this idea of full churches for Easter, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ as maybe symbolic or whatever? We'll see how Jewish people feel about that.
Oh, but Trump and evangelicals embrace the Jews. That's only because the Jews have a role in fulfilling Bible prophecy. They are a means to an end.
I'll repeat: Easter is best celebrated with a chocolate bunny, and as for the spiritual angle, I suggest calling up the closing scene of the movie "Life of Brian" on YouTube. "Look on the bright side of life." Not everyone looks at life like me, but I truly am seeking the bright side.
Addendum: Tony Gausman has a nice suggestion for men trying to determine if they're really getting old: Can you still put your pants on standing up?
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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