Looking for a Silver Lining

I've been struggling trying to come up with something to write about today, so I decided I'll just be real. I don't have any fancy words to make what we're going through seem any less horrific than it is.

As of right now, New York State leads the country with cases of COVID 19. As I type this, it's 1,374 cases with 12 fatalities.  NYC has 814 cases. 

I'm sure by the time you read this, the number will have risen again.
ETA, overnight it did change. I only have new statistics for the city -  3 additional deaths and 109 more cases. So, NYC alone has 923 diagnosed cases.


I imagine it must be strange reading about this from other, less populated, parts of the county. I remember reading the reports from China and wondering how the people were dealing with the concerns. Now I know.

There is ongoing debate about whether the entire state of NY will be placed in quarantine. The mayor says likely, the governor says it's not possible.

At the beginning of March we had no known cases. Key word - KNOWN.



It's alarming that there is such an increase in gun sales that stores can't keep up! Stores are reporting very long lines.

It's alarming when big stores offer gifts to lure people into stores for recreational shopping, when the most sound medical advice warns people to stay home. No free pizza cutter is worth the risk to lives!

It's alarming to read the very real concerns that our medical system is not up to handling the impending crisis.

It's more than alarming to see young people ignoring the danger, hanging out in bars and in crowds on Florida beaches. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-16/students-on-spring-break-swarm-failing-to-heed-virus-warnings

The photos from last weekend were so disturbing that all restaurants and bars were shut down to anything but takeout in the entire TriState area.

So is there any good news?

There is. The human spirit is alive and well as it turns out. Communities are banding together with innovative ways of entertaining the young.

Schools are reaching out via virtual classrooms. This I know first hand. I taught a full schedule of online classes via video chat on Tuesday, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future.

Stores - Dollar store, Stop and Shop, Target, local food coops, Whole Foods and others are closing early to sanitize, and then opening early for seniors and vulnerable populations to shop alone in a sanitized store.

Neighborhoods are organizing supply chains to provide groceries for the vulnerable.

Teachers are offering their expertise online to people who are trying to educate their children at home.


USA Today did an article about virtual tours of everything from to the Great Wall of China that you can do from home. #1 says that "Google Arts and Culture partnered with over 2,500 museums and galleries around the world to offer virtual tours of their spaces."

Let your inner mermaid rejoice! The Georgia Aquarium is letting you go under the sea with their webcam.


People are keeping a sense of humor. The Bangor, ME newspaper shared this list of alternatives if you run out of toilet paper.  

How about this?  The children's book illustrator, Mo Willems, is offering free doodling classes online for children or anyone who loves to draw. 

Newbery Award-winning author, Kate DiCamillo, is running writing classes on YouTube.


People are posting wonderful sweet stories like this one about the Irish President's Bermese Mountain Dog interrupting a press conference to get belly rubs.

Or this one about Chicago's Shedd Aquarium that is letting the penguins run free during their shutdown. They're posting videos on Twitter.

How about you add in any other good news you've found.

 Oh, and today is Fenway's birthday. He's 12!!!! Remember when he almost didn't survive being 7?