sunday update

I’m taking some heat for my rant about the SPCA shutting our off-leash park. Just for the record, I am a supporter of the work the Society does. And I donate to them regularly. As well, with the pandemic we are facing, I’m all over keeping the 2-metre social distance from others and staying inside. My beef is about over-reacting.
I’ve been going to the park daily for the last two weeks with my two pups. In this crazy Lock-Down world we must endure, its been an outing that’s kept me sane. Sometimes we’re the only ones there, sometimes other dog owners attend. But here’s the thing: when others are present, each and every one of us stays more than 2 meters away from each other and each of us wears gloves. For the most part, people and pups walk around the circumference of the park to get exercise (i.e. we're not there to breathe on each other). A couple of the “regulars” were present on Saturday when Molly, Macy and I went and they were the ones who told me the park was closing. None of us agreed with this. Each of us expressed the opinion it was a bad call, an over-reaction. Had there been instances where the park was full of people who were not observing the rules? Nope. If there were, yup, shut it down! But the point is, that’s just not the case.
      For what it’s worth, I think over-reacting in a lock-jaw style is as bad as ignoring the rules. Now, do I have a “dog in this fight”? Yup, guilty as charged. I miss this outing and I regret having to tie up my pups on leash and walk them around the neighborhood. But… well, there ya go.
 
    Meanwhile, I've now gone past 14 days of Lock-Down. But I'm not getting the feeling I should be gallivanting around the district anytime soon. Time for a little reckoning about how life as I know it has changed…
- Used to really enjoy listening to CBC radio programs, but they are doing the 24/7 virus reporting thing and a strategy of mine – albeit, as a news junkie – is to avoid listening to news all the time: it wears you down too much. So, bye-bye CBC…
- Can't enjoy the wilderness the off-leash park with my pups anymore (see above).
- I miss spending time with my family.
- I miss spending time with my friends.
- I miss singing every Friday at the Legion with The Midlandaires.
- Of course, it’s human nature to want what you don’t have: I was never a big face toucher. But knowing I can’t do that, now – dammit – I want to!
- I do feel down for the count and I recognize how bad that is.
- Gettin’ close to sayin’ Uncle? Wouldn’t blame you, cause I’m feeling that way, for sure. Kind of feels like the Virus has the upper hand. Trying not be negative but after washing my hands for the 24th time today, gotta tell ya I looked at Molly and Macy and said, “If it wasn’t for you two, I’d be ready to throw in the towel and say to the virus, ‘C’mon you big lug, come and take me, cause I’m outta here!’”
- OK, I should recall my words to a friend a few days ago when I was reminded that generations before us have dealt with disasters like the Spanish Flu. Which inspired me to contribute this thought:
Our parents and grandparents ventured precariously across an ocean to risk their lives in World War II, never knowing when, and if, they would ever return alive.
We’re being told to sit on our asses in our dens for two weeks and watch Netflix.
We’ve got this!
- Onwards!
Stay Healthy!

---