What I Heard This Week! 12-17-2020
When you hear the name Mackenzie Scott, it probably does not mean much to you. If you add the Bezos name to the end, then you remember. After a 2019 divorce from Bezos, Mackenzie Scott had a net worth of around $60 billion. At that time, she promised to give away billions and in the past few months, she has done just that. It was announced that in the past four months she has donated more than $4.1 billion to nearly 400 organizations helping fulfill basic needs for many Americans struggling in the pandemic. She donated $20 million to Mile High United Way. Impressive.
Two things to make your day better: 1.) Do not watch the news. 2.) Stay off the bathroom scales.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have now certified their presidential election results. Actress, singer, and wife to husband Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson has revealed that nearly nine months after battling COVID-19, she still has antibodies for the novel coronavirus. Funny, it doesn’t seem so ‘novel’ anymore. 76 queens were found and destroyed in a single murder hornet nest in October in Washington State. Each queen is capable of forming her own colony. The White House Christmas decorations have 106 wreaths, 62 trees and about 17,000 bows.
Moms during COVID lockdown: “Mom, I need more toothpaste.” “Alright, but it will have to be part of your Christmas.”
About 20 million people in the U.S. could be vaccinated against the coronavirus in the coming weeks, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. “Even with these plans in place, Americans need to stay vigilant to avoid unthinkable death tolls.”
The American clergyman and author Tyrone Edwards said, “Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old, and some never grow so.”
According to Merriam-Webster, their 2020 word of the year is Pandemic. I know you are not surprised. Unprecedented was named 2020 Word of the Year by Dictionary.com. Ten years ago, in 2010. Dictionary.com announced its first word of the year…change. Wow What a difference ten years make.
That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
On 12/15, Brazoria County reported 342 new, active COVID-19 cases, the most the county has reported on one day. Prior to December, the highest number of cases reported in a day was 198 cases on 09-11.
Dear readers. I left you last week with a shorter column and the promise of more enjoyable stories this week. Well, I can now promise you the following is not fun or entertaining, but here goes: For 24-plus hours, I had been feeling pretty puny, believing I had a sinus infection, aggravated by some severe allergies. I skipped work on Monday, which I never do, and scheduled a COVID test at CVS. It was just a precautionary measure, to get one step ahead in case I had to go see the doctor for antibiotics. I knew that I would have to prove that it was a sinus infection before they would let me have an appointment for them to test me for a sinus infection…if that makes any sense? The appointment was a self-help, stick it up your nose, and rotate the swab for 15 seconds while we count, kind of test. It reminded me of having to walk during labor. When the 15 seconds were over, my eyes had watered all over my face. And I had volunteered for this…now the wait.
I have a separate entrance at my office, so I continued coming in and working for a few hours at night after everyone had left for home. I received the diagnosis text two days later with the word POSITIVE in big bold letters on the top of the text. NO.NO.NO. This was absolutely, positively NOT the answer I was expecting. My first thoughts were a false positive reading. Easy. I will just take another test tomorrow. For over nine months, I have worn a mask, washed my hands until they bled, worn gloves, shopped late at night when the stores are empty…I have done everything I was supposed to do. We wear masks at our office, the desks are far apart, customers are required to have a mask…we follow the rules. I use hand sanitizer as soon as I leave a store, I don’t carry a purse, just a phone case with a debit card, I wear my hair up, so it doesn’t interfere with my mask…it just couldn’t have happened to me. The fact of the matter is – it can happen to anyone.
It took me about two hours to research, sorting through my COVID-foggy brain, to accept that the test was probably right. I had a terrible cough, sneezing, massive amounts of congestion, along with the muscles, joints, and bones in my body hurting worse than I would have ever thought possible. My head felt like someone had just tightened my ponytail with a vice and my eyes were going to pop out. I could not take a full breath without feeling pressure and a rattle in my chest. Did I mention how very, very tired I was? My kids (both have tested negative at this time), kicked it into gear, researching what we needed, ordering supplements and a fingertip pulse oximeter so they would know if my oxygen levels required calling 911. They are my heroes in this story. I was certainly not in any condition to know what was best for me at that moment.
I still have no idea where I might have received this little gift of COVID, but I am here to tell you that this virus is REAL, and it is NOT FUN. People are dying, and hospitals are at capacity, along with our poor doctors and nurses, working themselves to death. Since as many as 30 percent of people do not show symptoms, you could be spreading the virus and injuring people without realizing it. I know you have heard this so many times. Stay home. There is not a celebration, party, or get-together that is worth going through this. I promise you. On the day that I write this (Day #11 since I showed symptoms) I spent most of my day in bed. Obviously, since it has not killed me or put me in the hospital, my symptoms are considered ‘mild,’ but I am here to tell you that even mild, this is the sickest I have ever been. Do your part. The health department called yesterday. They agreed that my daughter should have another test on Friday, then if it comes back negative, we are free to resume our normal lives on Monday. That will be 17 days of my life that I missed. I do not know about you, but I didn’t really have 17 days that I was willing to give away. The next time I see the protestors with their pathetic little signs in front of Walmart, stating that “COVID is not Real,” and “End the COVID Fraud,” or “It’s just as easy to buy a Scientist as it is to buy a Politician,” I hope I have an opportunity to tell them just how stupid and brainless they look and sound. I know that I am so lucky to be sitting here right now, but I am a little tired of everyone not doing their part to get this taken care of…
Have a safe week and as always, thank you so much for reading The Source Weekly. Please remember to always shop local this holiday season. It will make a difference for a small business and they are willing to help you shop in a way that you feel comfortable with. I promise to finish the “Teller” story next week. Yes, he is still perfect.
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Lisa
