Hi Mq -
Just got back from a road trip to Florida and back - the drive is about 1000 miles, which is a problematic distance for me, not quite near enough to drive comfortably in one day, not quite long enough to feel justified in spending one night in a hotel.
I did what I always do, spent the overnight in a hotel on the trip down, felt like a fool (two rooms in a strange and uninteresting city, $100 -- two rooms because the boys are both over 6 ft. 2" and need an entire bed apiece), and drove the whole way on the way back (didn't get home until 4:00 a.m.), and felt like a bigger fool for pushing myself and taking the risk.
The place where we vacationed was a cabin in a state park, had no TV, no telephone, and it's way out in the country so no good newspapers. We left on the 14th, returned on the 22nd, so I had no idea that there was an outbreak of SARS (Severe), MARS (Mild) or CARS (Confusing Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in Canada, which seems to be perpetually confused -- I hereby nominate a new name for the disease in Canada - STARS (Stone Walled Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
Nevertheless, I thought about SARS quite a bit when using public toilets and washing my hands before and after -- air driers are common, most people don't realize that air driers are filthy, as they blow contamination all over your hands. I was carrying a bottle of Purel in my purse and a package of sanitary wipes and a bunch of paper towels.
Everywhere I went I noticed people putting their dirty hands on their faces and then spreading germs onto everything they touched. I-95 is one of the busiest highways in the nation, and Fridays in August sees a constant stream of people from all over the world, all waiting their turn to use the toilet, spread their germs, and pick up new ones to carry along on their way.
Globalization and epidemics are two sides of the same coin. There's no escaping it.
I've had my heart scanned, less than 0.1% blockage, and am working on increasing lung capacity by walking more. What else can we do? You suggested buying a respirator, but that's not a realistic option, it's not just extra oxygen (which, by the way, you can buy for home use).
My suggestion is to do whatever makes you happiest, e.g., spend more time with your wife and children. Carpe diem. |
