We're back at Toronto's Pearson International Airport from our winter travels. It's sheer pandemonium. Next day, the WHO officially declares the COVID-19 a pandemic. Today, the panic is quite palpable. So dense, you can feel it in the air.
We join the long lines snaking through the jam packed terminal. Beneath the pensive gaze of the custom and border guards, some in medical masks and gloves. Some not. Faced with a seething, angry mob.
People push. Shove. Heave to and fro. There's lots of line jumpers. Angry shouting matches. Janet and I are stuck, at the weary end of our long, winter journey. Two tired travellers seeking repatriation; to just be back in the safety of our own home. But faced with a frightening spectacle. A pandemic that's suddenly turned very real, for us. Along with everybody else and their mother, desperate to get home asap, before the shit hits the fan.
This winter, we've been to Japan, Florida, and Cuba. I've got a headache. We've both got the sniffles. All symptoms of the virus. But also very typical for this time of year. So who knows?
The politics of the Great 2020 Pandemic are maddening enough to burst a blood vessel!
Here in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford's Conservative government has eliminated sick days for our lowest paid workers. If away, they must pay for sick notes, they can ill afford. While Doug the Thug claims that no cost will be spared to ease the economic crisis. Perhaps for his big, fat corporate friends that is!
Hello Corporate Socialism! Watch the big business bail outs begin. While the little guy once again, gets stuck with the bill!
Stateside a befuckled President Donald Trump has been all but in complete denial. Crying fake news. Wasting valuable time before he flip flops. Promising that he'll keep the stock market open for his big, business buddies. Other partners in crime. A small consolation for the poor working American stiff.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is in self imposed social isolation for two weeks. There are so many words and terms that seem benign in our new COVID-19 lexicon, eh?
His wife Sophie was diagnosed with the virus, so he's being prudent. Cautious. And very Canadian. Likewise, Toronto Mayor John Tory self isolates too, after possibly being exposed to the virus, while travelling over seas.
Two different political. Different levels of government. Both setting a good personal example for a jittery public. Like them or not, and I'm not usually sold on either, it's a big plus!
Now a days, these emergency measures are called "flattening the curve". Think better safe than sorry. An ounce of prevention. Nipping it in the bud.
Italy is in lockdown. Whole cities in China quarantined. Welcome to COVID-19; a new respiratory virus for which there is no inoculation shot, yet. Nor clearly defined public and medical procedures yet in place. Everything is evolving by the minute.
In Ontario, we're caught with our pants down, so to speak, amongst all Ford's health cuts to ... ahem ... balance the conservative provincial budget.
Hell, truth be told, testing centres are just now being set up here in Toronto and across Ontario. A full week after we've returned home!
Most of us probably don't have the virus, though most everyone is very worried that they do.
So here we are, trapped in our very own Toronto, Ontario, Canada existential crisis!
What can Janet and I do? Japan's close to the epicentre, but we travelled there in November. As for Panama City Beach, Florida? Or Santiago de Cuba? Could we have gotten infected there?
We've decided to self isolate for two weeks. Take it from there .....
Anyway, here we are, back home from our travels. But quite frankly out of everything. The kitchen shelves bare.
My ... er ... unregulated weed man provides free home delivery, so I quickly load up on Rick Simpson Oil, a THC tincture, and some nice bud to tide me through the crisis. Calm minds will prevail! In our home, anyway!
The pharmacy renews all my other prescription for three months, over the phone. Delivers them too.
But we absolutely need to make a grocery run to Costco. And so we do.
Oh no! A frantic crowd quickly strips a skid of water bottles clean, no sooner than it's wheeled out on the floor.
The mad frenzy continues. Get this -there's no more toilet paper left! Anywhere! Explain stockpiling toilet paper for me, please!
Only in Canada you say?
A couple grab at the Maple Syrup. Madly staring at us. Not so little knives shooting from their dazed eyes.
Jeez. No problemo. it's yours!
It's only fitting, I suppose, that come March 2020 we are faced with yet more crisis, shock and awe. I should be very upset.
But here Janet and I are stuck at home for two weeks. With a great excuse to relax and do absolutely nothing!
Family and friends call to check up on us. Our building super and neighbours too.
I smoke another doobie. Put on some more tunes. Janet couch surfs the huge backlog of all her favourite TV shows on the PVR.
How surreal! Despite the gnawing uncertainty, all is well. Still, it's hardly a happy occasion. And after so much adventure and excitement on the open road, the homebound boredom is definately setting in.
Sigh. Alas.
Anyway, with spring just around the corner, we'll be off to the Land o' Lakes soon enough.
Meanwhile, I hope you are staying well. Taking good care of yourself too, wherever you are.
Remember, it's okay to go outside for a nice, refreshing walk. Some exercise, Maybe in the park. Or the countryside. Just so long as there aren't lots of people around.
Works fine for me. It was getting too peopley outside, anyway.
Heh. heh. Er .....
Though last time I looked out our window it was rather eerie. Busy, bustling Weston Road is now quiet and empty. It's rather unsettling, but let's hope for the best.
We are all in this together. So let's take every reasonable precaution, for both ourselves and the sake of others!
And hey -we've still got the internet! Expect lots more of my blog site updates in the daze ahead!
Pax/
Salud!
David C
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