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| Is there any chance that the Cape bridges could be closed? In a word, no. |
I'll be honest. I don't know how much longer this social-distancing thing is going to last. I've noticed signs in the last couple of days that the suggested means of "flattening the curve" of the COVID-19 pandemic is meeting increased resistance here in my corner of the country.
On Friday, as I took my weekly drive into Boston to pick up my weekend's worth of food, the Southeast Expressway was crowded -- maybe only 1960s-level crowded, but crowded nonetheless. Still, I've gotten used to it taking just 25 minutes to get from Mansfield to Hanover Street, which will probably be just a wistful memory by the time this crisis is over.
Then on Saturday, I was returning from a shopping tour -- wore gloves and a mask, of course -- when I saw at least three clusters of multiple cars at houses not too far from where I live. I can't say for a fact that two of the three were parties (I had no doubt on the third), but those certainly seemed to be instances where people were clearly ignoring the stay-at-home suggestion in place here in the commonwealth. We're not yet under mandatory quarantining orders, probably because our coronavirus numbers may not be spiking as they are in other states, but then again, there are some in this state that are still holding out unrealistic expectations that schools are going to be back in session on May 4. There's an awful lot of denial going on, and we could all still be in store for tougher times to come -- and I'm not sure people are going to take too kindly to that.
Imagine, if you will, this was Michigan. There, the governor has banned travel for individuals from their primary places of residence to vacation property they may own elsewhere in the state. I'm not sure how enforceable that is, but it was enacted following concerns expressed by resort communities in the northern part of the state, citing a lack of medical facilities there that would have to cope with a sudden spike in coronavirus cases.
That's reminiscent of concerns expressed a few weeks ago by some of Cape Cod's year-round residents over a similar influx of mainlanders, leading to requests that the Bourne and Sagamore bridges actually be closed during the pandemic.
No such luck, said the Army Corps of Engineers, who manage the three Cape Cod Canal bridges (don't forget the railroad bridge in Buzzards Bay). They are essential highways in every sense of the word.
Personally, I'm satisfied to stay in the house at least five days of the week. I've been making food runs on Fridays because as the only person in the household, I can't stockpile food for more than a week without it going bad. Then I pick one other day to brave the supermarkets or pick up prescriptions. I think I'm dealing with it relatively well because, as an only child, I spent much of my upbringing learning how to occupy myself without siblings around.
But some people are struggling with it, and I have a bad feeling that it's all going to bubble over and go terribly wrong at some point.
Now for some other thoughts as the pandemic enters its fifth week:
The backyard is still lagging behind in growth, probably because it doesn't get enough afternoon sun. Also, my backyard is half regular grass and half of some stuff that I believe is called "zoysia" grass, which grows really thick and plush during the growing months, but then turns a very pale yellow when it's dormant. I once joked that you could see my yard from space because I noticed once on Google Earth that if you zoom back out to about 40 miles (or roughly an elevation of 211,200 feet), you could still see a yellow dot where my backyard was if the view was during the grass' dormant period.
Well, that's still about 10-12 miles shy of the boundary between our atmosphere and outer space, but never complicate a good story with facts.
Anyway, there are still yellow patches in back and only a few areas where grass growth is worth mowing, so I let that go. Plus, my left knee has been very sore lately, and I taxed it enough by mowing the front. My lawn may look plush and flat, but there are little bumps and ruts everywhere from the winter front heaves, and my left ankle seemed to catch every one of them.
The mowing resulted in about two-thirds of a bag filled with clippings, still less than the full bag that usually results. But it looks nice and neat. And the sneezing fit that send some dog-walkers scurrying to the other side of the street? Just my usual grass allergies.
** Facebook is getting ridiculous. Given some of the shit that people post on the site, I had something pulled off one of my posts today that made no sense whatsoever.
I wrote the following: "I have a social distancing suggestion. Someone too close? Just fart."
OK, that may be a little raw, but it is good advice, and it does work.
Meanwhile, somebody tried to post a witty rejoinder below my post, and while my post wasn't removed, the response was. Now if only Facebook would be just as diligent with the neo-Nazi crap, hate speech and Republican propaganda, and maybe the world would be a better place.
** A sad note to close today's thoughts. I learned today that one of the most decent individuals I've ever known in the coaching profession, former Norton High girls' basketball coach Al Nuttall, passed away this weekend as a result of the coronavirus.
Al retired from teaching at NHS in the mid-2000s and from coaching a few years before that, but as I said, he was one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. He loved his athletes and would do anything for them, and no one was more cooperative than Al when it came to reporting scores and providing the local media with the information we needed.
I believe he retired to Florida, and when I saw the Facebook post from longtime Norton town official Bill Gouveia referring to something written by Al's son, it really hit home hard. But at the same time, I will always remember Al quite fondly. Every high school kid should have a teacher like Al Nuttall as a role model and an inspiration.
** Stay inside and wash your hands. It's what Jesus would want for this Easter Sunday.
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