I now have my bipolar sister Shelle and her two birds living with me. She had physically and mentally reached a point where she couldn’t properly care for herself and her pets alone on her 10 acres outside tiny Red Rock, TX., even if COVID-19 wasn’t around. Her cat is with my Austin brother and her two large senior dogs are boarding with my veterinarian until we (siblings and I) can find them long term placement. All the pets, as well as Shelle and me, are going through quite an adjustment period, but I’m relieved to daily know she and her pets are safe and she is very grateful.

Take care and we’ll all get together when COVID-19 allows!

I think the problem is not your particular ship’s sea days – since you all seem healthy so far – but the chance you’ll pick up the virus when you’re in port, because it’s pretty much everywhere and pretty much everything is being cancelled, postponed, or shut down for the next several weeks. And overall “social distancing” is today’s keyword. Gatherings of any size are strongly discouraged and of over certain sizes are banned. (Fiesta is postponed until November.) Extended spring breaks followed by online classes are becoming the temporary norm. Folks are hoarding supplies and hunkering down. It’s gonna be a surreal (and isolating) few weeks.

I’m keeping you in my thoughts and intrigued to see how the logistics of your USA return play out.

And now I’m working up the courage to brave my H-E-B… It will be interesting.

All the best to you and your shipmates as you navigate this mess!

Robbye

i remember being on the u.s.s tarawa when deployed with the 31st marine amphibious unit 1979 in the south china sea, and taking aboard several hundred emaciated vietnamese “boat people”. a number of the countries nearby (hong kong, indonesia, philippines, others) were not to keen on accepting them as refugees. we had a good medical staff on the tarawa and were able to provide some help, as well as food, basic shelter, and water. we even had a baby delivered on board and the mother named her “tarawa”. i don’t remember where we dropped them off.

here is a short article on the aftermath of that humanitarian rescue:

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=57441

bill

San Antonio was housing multiple cruise ship passengers in quarantine at Lackland and one who had passed the first two “tests” and remained asymptomatic was released by CDC before results of the third test came in… these test results were weakly positive and she was returned to quarantine, but not before dining and shopping at North Star Mall. The mall was closed for 24 hours for cleaning and the Mayor was furious with CDC and declared a state of emergency. Really fun.

Given the latest news I’ve heard last night and this morning, I posted the following on Facebook about 30 minutes ago:

~~~
“CORONAVIRUS ~ MY TWO CENTS

I believe in PROACTIVITY vs PANIC.
I am neither helpless nor invincible.

I don’t blow off the media reports as purely sensational AND I do my homework to sort out the facts from the hype.

So much is still unknown and changeable. Nobody involved is infallible. This is what feels scary. In comparison, most of us have survived the flu many times in our lives and think nothing of it (beyond its misery) when we get it.

This morning’s reports indicate the global mortality rate of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) is 3.4%, whereas for influenza it’s not quite 1%.

The good news:
80% who test positive have mild symptoms and spontaneous remission.
Hardly any children are becoming sick.

The bad news:
Most of the serious illness and death is occurring in those who are mature adults (my words ~ and my demographic) and those with underlying conditions or compromised immune systems.

There is mixed advice about masks and some other things, but EVERYBODY advocates for serious handwashing and avoiding behaviors and circumstances conducive to all kinds of disease transmission.

Fist, elbow, kneww, and ankle bumps are becoming popular greetings to replace handshakes.

I choose to stay informed and, within reason, to err on the side of caution.”
~~~

And, in other news, Joe Biden appears to have won Super Tuesday, with Bernie Sanders nipping at his heels. California results are still pending, but that’s how it’s looking. Most other Democratic candidates have dropped out and endorsed Biden. (Trump is, obviously, winning all Republican primaries.)

I hope, regardless of necessary modifications, your trip continues to be fun and educational (and safe) for you!!!

Robbye

Although I’m not responding to each one, I’m thoroughly enjoying reading all of your blog posts! What a trip! And, yes, I’ve traveled (and lived in Mexico) enough to have witnessed and experienced the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty, luxury and misery, support and suffering. This awareness is one of the educational aspects of travel and it forever impacts us.

What a fantastic journey you’re on!

The good ol’ USA is bracing for an anticipated coronavirus onslaught and media and social media commentary vascillates between the two schools of “prepare for the worst” and “it’s all being blown out of proportion”. I’m of the “Keep calm and wash your hands” mind. I’ll follow CDC and WHO guidelines to be as proactively preventive as possible and otherwise live my life. As it turns out, I’ve got a higher-than-usual number of other significant life challenges to deal with right now… I refuse to go into panic mode about any of them. I will prevail!

I hope your trip remains educational, fun, and meaningful for you through its conclusion, and I look forward to seeing you upon your return!

Robbye

I had a feeling this was coming. I too have been to places where the poverty and living conditions are carbon copies of what you have been experiencing, and it makes those visits both “sweet and sour”.

A great majority of Americans have not ventured beyond our own borders, or on those rare occasions when they do, migrate towards venues that provide a “little america experience”…very sanitized and far from reality (i.e.): some of the favorite tourist meccas in Mexico and Central America. In a sense, those young “backpackers” who bother to shed a comfortable life style for the adventure and experience of traveling and going somewhat native, know more about the real world than do their parents and home-bound peers ever will.

Looking back, I believe one of the real advantages of the military draft system was the exposure it gave to many young men (at the time, no women were drafted that I know of) of the real world beyond the U.S. shoreline.

I am sure you will notice it when you travel to India, and yes, I believe you do become somewhat “immunized” after being around it for a while. I have a friend who accompanied her daughter on a trip in the far south of India to adopt a little girl, and her descriptions and pictures of the living conditions of most of the population tell a story that most westerners would close their eyes to.

Your inclusion of the vegetarian fare on the dinner menus made me hungry.

The Jubilados ask about you on the rides, and are still grading all the rest stops using your point system.

Bill