If I watch the news at all, I do so with the sound off and CC on. That way I don't have to hear it, which somehow makes a difference. I don't want to see specials on the virus or anything like that. I get three channels lately on TV. ABC and CBS won't come in anymore, unless the weather is just right. I get NBC, local FOX and PBS right now. Weather changes can make another channel suddenly appear for a short time.
I may have a trapping gig today, which is exciting to think about. A stray appeared, crying and hungry in the business district in Lebanon. A lady who works near where he showed tried to catch him but she got scratched. A local rescue contacted me, asking if I would trap him, said they'd take him in, til his owner, if he still has one, can be found. So today if he's still around, the lady working near will let me know.
A diversion like trapping a single stray fills me with excitement. The little joys of these days.
It's not so bad, really.
It's not like its a war, with bombings and destruction and bloody partial bodies rotting everywhere and no food or electric or communication. It's not that sort of hardship at all. There really is very little hardship to life right now. I'm not working, there's no stress like that. So why do I miss working so much?
I like to connect with people, so yes I miss getting and giving hugs to strangers, as I used to do when working, at colonies. And conversations and standing in line at the spay clinic, swapping stories with other trappers and total strangers with my car full of cats who would rather be anywhere else.
I became very excited when I heard the governor would announce the conditions for reopen of the economy here and that perhaps the first thing taken away to be restored would be non emergency medical procedures. That includes spay neuter! My heart jumped for joy. That was two days back I think. The reality of the announcement was there was no timeline at all for getting back to normal, which caused my heart to sink into blackness and bleak thoughts took me over.
These things happen in our world now and then, I think to myself. We're overcrowded and like an overcrowded animal shelter, when one gets sick, its sure to spread to the entire shelter. The disease will run its course and whomever is left standing will carry on in the end. Like in an animal shelter, diseases that run through don't have an agenda and no matter how much one little kitty wants to live, her hopes and fears for life and future, they don't matter to some faceless killer virus. We're no different.
Oregon's restrictions are not as severe as those in many states. Lots of businesses remain open. If we don't work, we are asked, but not forced, to stay home. There have been no tickets given out or fines, like in some other states where power freaks seem to enjoy turning one another in, or being overzealous in arresting those felt in violation. Oregon's restrictions are measured and practical and adult--relying on the good sense and wisdom of citizens, to some extent. There are people without good sense or any wisdom, I know that. Let the virus take them out, is all I can say.
All the bickering and childishness of leaders in our country has also taken its toll, in my hope for a return to normal. I try to trust the three western state governors who seem intent on following science and public health guidelines to get us all through and back to normal. I don't need to hear the national BS-- just a practical approach to the current problem that works.
That's all a person like me could want.
Update: I caught the buff orange stray. He was living down an embankment in the berry vines by the gunkiest yuckiest scummiest "pond" you could imagine. Looks like the sort of pond that mutated creatures, exposed to radiation, might slither out from at night, covered in that bright green thick slime. He wouldn't come up to the sidewalk to the trap. So I slid down the embankment with the trap, tried to find a tiny piece of level ground for the small trap, but couldn't. It was too steep. So I built up a level platform with broken branches and rocks from the embankment and got him that way. I took him straight to the rescue who asked me to trap him in the first place. Took only an hour but I sure enjoyed doing it.
I imagine you miss being able to do good, as well. It seems built into your DNA. ~hugs~ Take care and I hope you get to help this kitty.
ReplyDeleteThanks Darla, yes I miss it.
DeleteI hope we get back to some normalcy. ~nods~ And bless you for all the care and dedication caring for all your rescued kitties. I can't imagine daily cleanup such as you face. ~nods~ Oh, and I just had to watch Daisy's alarm clock video again. :) Be well!
DeleteHey Darla, its not so bad, especially now, at least gives me something to do.
DeleteI hear you.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a relatively soft lockdown here, and some businesses are still open. Vets have been hit hard though - not least by the absence of masks and gowns.
There is talk here of lifting the restrictions but we are told it will be at least four weeks. And yes, I avoid the news when I can. I cannot change anything and it doesn't help my mood.
I hope you do get out and catch (and save) that small hungry cat. It will be good for you and for her.
It is better to skip the news. I caught the poor older skinny tame orange boy, down in the briars, in an area without residences, by a muck filled algae covered pond or sludge or something but it wasn't nice. He's been there a week too, workers told me. I took him to the rescue who asked me to catch him, so now he's safe at least. Felt good to be back at doing that. Even for just one kitty in trouble.
DeleteI agree it would be nice to corral everyone who don't follow any sort of social distancing, and close the door behind them so they could infect each other.
ReplyDeleteHaha, a nice dream!
DeleteUntil #45 came to power I wasn't a great one for state rights. As you know, some can go out on a limb on contentious issues, but thank goodness some states in your country have acted well and ignored what #45 might say.
ReplyDeleteYes, some states are better led than others.
DeleteMy son and his family lives down in Medford Oregon. I am thankful I can find things to keep me going.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been down to Medford in awhile.
DeleteI'm so glad you were able to get out and help that kitty. Yea!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you were able to catch the cat...it's so rare right now to be able to find someone to help, not because people don't want to, but because they are closed down (if a business) or hard to reach. Take care of yourself..stay safe, stay well.
ReplyDeleteYes, no one in rescue or cat fixing knows exactly what to do with themselves, or the calls they get, with no spay neuter available. Its tragic, for the cats, and very hard on us types who have tried to halt the tide of unwanted cats for years, only to watch it build again, as this virus and restrictions halt all avenues once open to help.
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