Apart From It All

Today, official numbers are:
   USA:  614,180 sick; 
                26,081 dead
   World: 1,999,628 sick,
                 128,011 dead

The numbers are horrendous but, I am sure, are major under-counts because testing is still not available to most people. It is impossible to compare one week to another because the criteria change. New York just decided to add everyone who dies from any flu-like reason, and England has started including deaths at home, not just those in hospital beds. 

Even though the number of new cases and deaths in the US seems to be holding steady, not growing, I believe we are still just seeing the tip of the world-wide iceberg. So far South America, the mid-East, and Africa have not reported many cases. They will not escape, and the carnage will be massive. 

Covid Decoration
(Repurposed Palm Trunk)

Wrapped in our little privileged cocoon, we wait out the tribulation. We walk or bike in our comfortable community, then retreat to our apartment, able to organize and live our lives in as complete safety as anyone can have. InstaCart workers select and bring our grocery orders, Amazon drivers drop off any online items we want, the mail carrier puts our drugs in our mailbox. 

Through e-sign, we closed on our Windermere house today, after I wired the balance due to the sellers and the fees for Andrew, our attorney, from our Schwab checking account. Monday, we had a virtual walk-through via our realtor Jodi’s iPad and Zoom. I called up three insurance companies, reviewed their emailed quotes, and chose one with windstorm protection, which we paid for by automatic bank withdrawal. The electricity at that house is scheduled to be turned on, and the power here at the condo is arranged to be turned off the day after we move out, all via the respective companies' websites. I sorted out pool service by phone, and Grant is searching WiFi options. The boxes he ordered from U-Haul came yesterday. If only the packing could be done online, from the couch. 

Forty years ago, I celebrated with a good bottle of Sauternes when I signed the paperwork, in real ink, for my house. Tonight we will toast with Dark Horse Brut Rose, which I’m pretty sure was a Buy One Get One Free. The Sauternes will have to wait until I can go to a wine store and pick it out.