We here in Connecticut are learning to live with Covid19. While the virus is not our friend, we seem to have reached some sort of rapprochement with it. Most the state’s citizens wear masks in public places and observe social distancing mandates, without feeling that their constitutional liberties have been infringed upon. There have been localized spikes in four towns, New London, Norwich, Preston, and Windham, and the governor and public health department are considering ordering those places to remain at Phase 2 of reopening. But most of the state appears to have the virus under control, at least for now, with less than 5 new cases per 100,000 population being reported.
In my own little life, I recently cancelled my annual grouse hunting trip to Wisconsin and Michigan because Wisconsin has become a virus petri dish, with Michigan catching up, thanks to the Republican legislature and the state supreme court preventing Gov.Gretchen Whitmer from imposing new restrictions. Also, as you must have heard, members of a Michigan militia have been arrested by the FBI for a plot to kidnap Whitmer and try her for treason at some hidden location in neighboring Wisconsin, with the hope of somehow sparking a civil war. The militia, known as the Wolverine Watchmen, accused the governor of being a “bitch tyrant,” which suggests that these boys may be misogynists pissed off not because their governor is a tyrant but because she’s a she. Anyhow, I had a picture of myself tramping through the northern woodlands with my dog, shooting at a grouse, and drawing fire from militiamen in training for some other violent stunt.
Meanwhile, Leslie is watching the British Baking Show, which she does every afternoon. She finds the civility of its contestants soothing while the president of our country rages around the White House, madder than mad King George at his craziest.
That’s the news from Lake Wobegon.
thank God. Biden won.
Amen. But he’s got a steep uphill climb ahead of him, especially if McConnell remains Senate majority leader.
Hey Phil,
I just read this quote in McCullough’s biography on John Adams: “Our ancestors are now all gone, and we are to follow them very soon to a country where there will be no war or rumor of war, no envy, no jealousy, rivalry or party.”
Did your book title come from Adams?
Take a look at the epigraph in the book. The title is taken from Matthew, Ch. 24, verses 6-13.
Here in Australia, the virus has been mostly eradicated – for the moment at least! The year has consisted of almost no travel, but on the plus side, a lot more reading. I first read Romor of War (what is it with the American inability to spell properly!! LOL) back in the ’80s. It was one of those books I subsequently kept rather than disposing of to make way for others. I have just read it again. As a former platoon commander myself, although never in anything close to the situations in which you soldiered, I can say I have the deepest respect and admiration for you (and your men) for what you went through. I’m not American, but ‘thank you for your service’!
And thank you for yours. I spent about 3 months in Australia in 1985, in Queensland and the NT, and loved the country so much I was ready to move there. I also knew several Aussies in Vietnam — all great guys, or good blokes as you might say.
Our positivity rate here in WI is 17%. They are preparing to open the first field hospital,de cause the hospitals are at or nearing capacity. While I want to feel cocooned in our little Lake Geneva community of Fontana, there are far too many people who have made mask wearing a political issue, and just don’t wear one. The WI Supreme Court continues to try to render our governor impotent. Normally, I would be eagerly anticipating our Winter trek to FL, , but not this year. My snowbird friends who have already arrived tell me it is a nightmare. People are shoulder-to -shoulder in the bars and restaurants, all mask-less. Maybe we should be headed to CT,( lol) but somehow, after so winters in FL, I don’t think we could handle the snow and cold. I’m blaming Trump for all of this….along with everything wrong with our nation. Thanks for letting me vent….