May 2020

Hello Again:

An email from an old fan said that he missed my writings and at these trying times, could use some encouragement.  I must confess that I too have been disheartened by all that is happening around us, and his e-letter was encouragement enough for me to restart my writings- perhaps in form of a Blog.  I hope that I can reconnect with you-all.
 
After retiring from my telehealth responsibilities, I mostly devoted my time in writing a couple of books.  Content and satisfied with life as an old man full of stories worth remembering and maybe even telling.  I took some time visiting my children and grandchildren and was overall contend.  Then this pandemic turned everything around and upside down. How did we come to this - I wonder!  None of the theories - whether conspiratorial, natural, artificial or economical make any sense.  Everyone has tons of ideas, proof, remedial or just put up with it reaction. Leaving most of us more confused and bewildered and our wonderful technology actually adds to the uncertainty.
 
I was at a medical conference in Texas some time ago, when I received news that a family member who was overseas had gotten ill, so I was returning home.  On the short flight back, I was understandably anxious and restless.  I must have been more tense than I realized, for, the elderly lady sitting next to me, placed a gentle hand on mine and said; "It's OK dear we will land soon.  I fly many times a year and feel very safe."  The interruption was welcoming and calming.  Just now, we could all use a bit of reassurance - whether related to our problem or not.
 
Back in the early 1990s, Carl Sagan, convinced NASA to turn the Voyager 1 space craft - that was on its way out of our solar system - around and take a shot of our planet from that far away.  The result was a blue dot in the vastness of space.  It revealed how small and lonely we really are.
 
Today our small and lonely planet is hurting. Our people are hurting. Our oceans are hurting.  We should take this time of isolation and reflect on our dilemma. Maybe we can heal each-other!