Opening Statement



Tuesday 3 November 2020

Toronto Covid Diary -Trippin' With Doug Fraud!


It's autumn in Toronto. Janet and I are back from the Land o' Lakes. Self isolating In our condominium high rise, in the cities west end. 

I gaze out our living room window at the Humber Valley. The thick, lush forest an exploding kaleidoscope of fall colours; Bright orange and yellows. Crimson reds. Very earthy. Dank. Nature shuttering up til spring.

While at home, one autumn day after another, runs endlessly into the next. A blur. A daze. 

The TV drones on. CP24 is rattling off the latest Covid numbers. There's more record highs! Even higher than last March, when the pandemic began! 

Back then we went in lockdown. But now? 


Ham fisted Premier Doug Fraud shamelessly plays an ill-advised, political card game of sorts. Dealing out the re-opening and closing cards, for Ontario's most troubled hotspots, at the business lobby's request. Brazenly, he shuffles and reshuffles the deck. Hiding our province's skyrocketing Covid numbers. Turning Ontario into a a Covid style, Trump Land North. Plagued by chaos and denial.

What's more important? Profitable bars, restaurants, casinos, strip clubs and gyms? 

Or overcrowded classrooms? Senior LTC? Eviction notices? Frontline workers? The less fortunate?

Sadly, in Doug Fraud's Ontario, it's business first! A short sighted trick, to get everybody back to school and work asap, despite the deadly, long term risks.

As for our everyday public health and safety? His hokum messaging is confusing, very muddled at best. 

Best beware! A tsunami's coming! 

A huge, viral tidal wave, at the very least! 

If life's a beach, then Doug Fraud's Ontario has become the perfect storm. 


One can almost hear the thunderclouds rolling overhead. The rising tide lapping at our door! As far too many of us misguidedly ignore social distancing. Discard our facial masks. Acting like they don't matter anymore. 

It's gotten so bad that Janet and are self isolating again. We hardly go outside. Except for supply runs, to stock up on PPE's. Consumables. Household supplies.

It's too exhausting dodging all the Covid zombies. Unmasked and undistanced, stumbling about the store aisles. Our city streets. Very stressful too!

I shiver in the cool autumn air, an early hint of the long, dark winter ahead, as the virus spreads.

I close the window, shut everything out. Drifting back, in my thoughts, to much happier days last summer at the lake. 

Lake Misissaganon Trippin'

I'm floating in my kayak. Lazily adrift, under warm, blue skies. Smoking a joint, lost in my peaceful reverie. The perfect social distancing!

We're far from the crowds at our trailer, with a deck and fire pit, on a big, thickly forested lot. Safe and comfy within our own, little, outdoor social bubble. 

It's a great Canadian summer retreat! Paid for by my teacher retirement gratuity. From 8 years or so ago, when I cashed in my chips, after my union sold us out, to the province. A sad betrayal of our most basic teacher union principles. So much BS!

With that, lots has sure changed. I liked teaching, while it lasted. But now I love retirement even more. [1]

We decided to downsize our city home. Condo life has proven comfy. Cozy. With 1200 square feet, there's just about enough room for the two of us. Less maintenance and upkeep too, especially as the cold weather arrives. 

The Trailer -Our summer space!

Come autumn, we usually start watching for last minute deals. Planning southern vacation getaways; to wile away some time outdoors, on a warm beach in Cuba. Jamaica. Mexico. Or Florida. Or maybe we'll save up. Fly away to Europe or Japan, if we're feeling more adventurous. 

But not this year. Nor maybe next year. Or the year after that either. Not with the coronavirus feeding off all the apathy and chaos, the sickly particles spreading through the air.

So what to do, as the Covid fatigue inevitably creeps back into our life? 

Well, we're weathering the second wave on line again. Plus with movies, music, books. I write a lot. And we talk on the phone, with family and friends. 

Mostly, we be here now. Just Janet and I cuddling on the couch. Holding on tight. Very tight. Being in and of the moment together, the very best place to be. 

But to liven things up? 

My Corona Survivial Kit -City Edition!

It's high time for some vapour puffs, from a jar or two of my favourite boo. Or perhaps a dab of shatter. Or an edible. While Janet prefers her sleepy time CBD's, with a spot of THC, courtesy of our evening pot of tea.  

With cannabis, unlike booze, there's no hangovers or blackouts. It chills, relaxes, and pacifies. Lights a creative spark. Is an excellent medicine for the everyday aches and pains of old age, whatever ails. And unlike tobacco, Cannabis is non addictive. Doesn't cause cancer either. 

Fortunately, Canada legalized weed in 2018. Pot shops are now popping up everywhere. Even during the first wave lockdown, it was widely available for pick up, delivery or by mail.

We've sure come a long way, since my I started toking back in the early 70's, After I later  began teaching, I still risked jeopardizing my job and everything I had worked so hard for, if I got caught. So I gave it up. For good measure, booze and tobacco too. 

Quite frankly, to quit drinking was the hardest part. Most everybody drinks. But for me, it often was like throwing gasoline on fire, what with all the stress in life and at work. 


I stayed completely straight for a few decades instead, about 22 years to be exact. To get the job done. Promising myself, I'd revisit the decision later on, after I retired.

Turns out, I only missed my weed, not so the other two. The biggest problem was that it was illegal. Since I started imbibing again, I haven't noticed any ill effects. 

I know lots of you love a nice weed buzz too. Oh Cannabis is still the best read blog on my site. So while we can't share a toke together in person anymore, for now, that will have to do!

Meanwhile, Janet and I count our blessings. Knowing that we're very fortunate to be living here in Canada. Enjoying a very middle class way of life. Our medicals covered. The household bills paid. We are resigned to being trapped indoors, until hopefully, we can escape back to the lake again next spring.

Plunking myself down on the couch, I squeeze Janet's hand, as we settle down into the long, dark winter ahead. About as ready as we can be.

Please beware of Doug! Take good care of yourself too! Until it's really safe out there, so we can all get together and puff, puff, pass again!

Peace/ Pax!

Stay tuned ..................

David


Footnote

[1] Quite frankly, I loved being in the classroom, teaching my students. It was all the other "adult" BS I couldn't stand.

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