Sunday, January 3
Not much going on in the Whitaker house on this first Sunday of January. I sent a message to my Sunday School class reflecting on this week's scripture, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13. This is the familiar "a time for everything" passage. It is a very hopeful/helpful scripture in this transition era when so much around us is negative.
1 There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens: 2 a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, 3 a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up, 4 a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing, 5 a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces, 6 a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away, 7 a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking, 8 a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from all their hard work? 10 I have observed the task that God has given human beings. 11 God has made everything fitting in its time, but has also placed eternity in their hearts, without enabling them to discover what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there’s nothing better for them but to enjoy themselves and do what’s good while they live. 13 Moreover, this is the gift of God: that all people should eat, drink, and enjoy the results of their hard work.
We grieve our losses. They have been many this year. Margaret has lost both a son and a sister. Melanie has lost both a father and a mother. I lost a mother. Pastor Kristie’s mother lost her husband. We have lost several church members, including Evelyn McDaniel, Florence Evans, Helen Shipley, Hermenia Moore, and Harry Goodwin. And those are just the most recent. As I was cleaning off my desk to start the new year, I took a few minutes to look through the directory from our 150th celebration. I was struck by how many friends and family we have lost. I know Olivia still grieves the loss of her brother. If I have left you out, please share. We have been going through a time of mourning.
We pray that 2021 will bring us a time and opportunity for dancing. I try to remember the words of the Apostle Paul from 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Sunday Numbers:
US: NY Times, 2 pm
280,000+ new cases since yesterday; 20,560,300+ total cases; 351,068 total deaths
TN: 608,297 total cases; 7,025 total deaths; 0-10 31,042; 11-20 77,059
Loudon County: 4354 cases; 41 deaths; 90.4 case rate; 30.7 pos rate; 605 active cases
test volume is way down due to the holidays
Monday, January 4
Today marks the real beginning of 2021 for me. The first days were "holidays", but Monday is a "beginning" day. When I opened my Ipad early this morning (Bill was still snoozing), I found a new mail meditation to which I subscribed a few days back. This is from Fr. Richard Rohr and the Center of Action and Contemplation. I now have a new opportunity for reflection and spiritual growth, a new beginning. (https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/).
Despite the sense of new beginning, the day has been much like any other. I continued cleaning my desk, walked a mile on the treadmill, and finally finished the collards, peas and cornbread. Claire came over to do some dusting. While cleaning my desk, I found a little poem that I wrote some time earlier. I posted it separately on this blog - "A Choreography of Marriage."
We were hoping to go for a walk at 4, but we lost the sun and a breeze picked up so we stayed in, except for Bill's quick trip to town to the drugstore and to pick up our grocery order.
At mid-day today, the US exceeded 350,000 Covid deaths. More than 4 million doses of vaccine have been administered so far - much less than promised.
Loudon County - 4368 total cases; 42 deaths; only 49 tests recorded.
Tuesday, January 5
Riding on a breeze
Hugging the low horizon
January gloom
The morning gloom lifted and the sun peeked through but the temperature never got above the mid-40s and the breeze continued. I spend several hours on the new church website and worked in a yoga session in the afternoon.
Hamburger steaks, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy provided a warm comforting meal on a chilly day. We are waiting on election results from Georgia but don't expect to know the outcome until tomorrow (or later.)
Numbers:
US, 2 pm: 20,953,900+ cases; 355,524 deaths; countless people who are/will be permanently debilitated from the after effects of Covid.
TN: 617,649 total cases; 7267 total deaths; 20.85% pos rate
0-10 31,474; 11-20 78,029
Loudon County: 4408 total cases; 531 active; 42 deaths; 86.7 case rate; 29.6% pos rate; only 44 tests today
I am concerned about the low number of Covid tests in the county in the last 7 days.
Wednesday, January 6
Epiphany - My 69th Birthday!
I knew that today would not be a usual birthday celebration day because of coronavirus. We planned to order out for supper and I had a bottle of Proseco chilling. Facebook brought me many birthday wishes from friends and family, far and near. A great political gift was the confirmed with of one of the Georgia Democratic senate candidates and the probable win for the other. Imagine! Joe Biden will have a Democratic senate by the slimmest margin and maintain control of the house. I have worked and hoped for this outcome.
I was surprised by a birthday call from Lynne M. We haven't talked in a long time and it was great to catch up. Later, while talking to Anna, news of events in Washington DC began. We interrupted our news watching for a Zoom birthday call from David and family who sang a great rendition of Happy Birthday. Of course, Laura called, too, on her way home from work. We will go to her house on the weekend for cake.
Now for the news we were glued to all afternoon and evening. This was the day that the Congress convened to count and ratify the electoral college votes from the states. The process was underway and proceeding as expected. Some Republicans objected to accepting the Arizona electoral votes, so the senate and house adjourned to their respective chambers to debate and vote. The outcome was a foregone conclusion because the Republicans did not have enough votes in either house to sustain their objections, although more than half of the house Republicans supported the ploy. In the meantime, Trump had held a rally just before Congress opened today where he and his cronies incited the crowd to march on capital and make their objection "with strength." He told them that he would be leading them. (He went back to the White House instead.) What happened was unprecedented in American history. An angry mob (well-organized) marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, stormed and invaded the capitol building, forced senators and congressmen/women to seek protective shelter. Their rampage was barely resisted by capitol police who were obviously overwhelmed. Their self-proclaimed goal was insurrection, revolution, installing Trump for another four years. Anarchists, terrorists, white supremacists, "Proud Bois" roamed the halls and offices, vandalizing at will. This went on for several hours as we watched in horrified fascination. It was not until nightfall that police reinforcements and National Guard were in place and began clearing the capitol building and grounds. Before we went to bed, the Congress had reconvened and resumed their business.
The most disturbing scene of the afternoon was seeing the right-wing extreme radicals caring "Jesus" flags. These acts could not be further from "What Would Jesus Do?" After some reflection, I have hope for the future because throughout the fall and through this horrid day, our democratic institutions have held strong. This was symbolized best by the quick reconvening of Congress which worked through the night to complete the count and ratify Joe Biden as President-Elect of the United States of America.
In the fall, the state elections went without major incident and every state certified the results of fair and free elections, even though we know that there is voter suppression in many Republican controlled states with large minority populations. The courts, mostly with conservative and Trump appointed judges, affirmed the validity of the election processes. The military affirmed their neutrality in election matters. The press, the 4th estate, remained active and independent.
Altogether, our democratic institutions did not waver in the face of a "would-be" coup, a self-declared insurrection and revolution. The saddest thing is that the perpetrators consider themselves "patriots" because they do not recognize non-whites or liberals as real Americans.
On top of the trauma of the day's news, Ruby Tuesday did not come through with our streak dinners. We had petros instead (chili, served over fritos, topped with grated cheddar cheese). I did not fail to fully enjoy my Prosecco.
What a Birthday!
Thursday, January 7
We woke up to the aftermath of yesterday's events. I'm still feeling the trauma. We got moving slowly. A church recording session was scheduled for 1 pm. While in town, I had some bank business, including paying the property taxes on our land in Pontotoc County. I didn't have the spirit to accomplish anything else.
I was so caught up in the event of yesterday, that I didn't report one of the bright spots - the arrival of my new camera, a birthday gift from Bill. It is a Panasonic DC-FZ80, an update from the one I've used for years. The best feature is the 60x optical long zoon. I use it mainly for birds and outdoor/nature pictures. It is also a very good video cam.
For supper, I fried some chicken thighs and made cream gravy to go with the leftover mashed potatoes and green beans.
Numbers:
US: 21.5+ million total cases; 363,119 total deaths; more than 4000 deaths since yesterday - a grim new record.
TN: 634,237 total cases, 9000+ new since yesterday; 7492 total deaths; 0-10 32,310' 11-20 79.936
Loudon County: 4566 total cases; 548 deaths; 86 hospitalized; 94.1 case rate; 85 new cases yesterday; 28.4% pos rate; # tests still down
The county health departments is almost impossible to reach for getting an appointment for vaccine for those in the 75+ age group. Kathy has been trying without success all week to get an appointment for Wayne.
Friday, January 8
Schools all around the area closed for snow today. There was as much as 1.5 inches with 15 miles but we were blessed with a cold, dizzle for most of the day. Seems the closures were an over-reaction in some cases. We hovered in the mid-30s all day. Bill and I were glad that we didn't have to go out. My "productivity" hovered just above freezing as well. We didn't even get the Christmas tree taken down. Maybe tomorrow.
For supper, I settled for left-over fried chicken and added braised spinach, rice and gravy. I had promised Bill fried eggplant, but my eggplant was not good.
This was the 2nd day of more than 4000 Covid deaths nationally. The holiday effect is kicking in.
Saturday, January 9
The weather remains gloomy, but my funk seems to be lifting. After breakfast, we finally got the tree and garland down and packed away. We will wait for some help to get the boxes into the attic. The afternoon was given to TV sports, UT Vol Men's Basketball (they won) and Pro Football (who cares!).
Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo for supper, served over rice with crusty sourdough toast.
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