Category: COVID

The start of Covid is when I began writing notes to grandchildren. I was concerned that the virus not overly burden your with anxieties. I cited Jonas Salk, the hero who relieved my generation’s concern with polio. Looking back on those days, it was the parents’ of our generation who most feared polio. For Papa, polio was scary but only if time was spent thinking about it. Dr. Salk did so much for children. But as I recall, it was whether the Braves could catch the Brooklyn Dodgers for the pennant, whether a tiger could really defeat a lion in battle as alleged by Tommy Borski or if Flash Gordon would escape Ming The Merciless at the next Saturday Matinee that dominated my 50’s thoughts. “What Me Worry?” seemed to be the collective refrain for my peers. I have a sense that this attitude is also prevelant with most youngsters in thoday’s generation.

Not so for parents in at least certain cases. One parent in particular appeared to be in a panic mode and prone to overreact. Along the lines of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Recent news reports include a bizarre situation in which that parent locked a 13 year son in a car trunk to avoid Covid exposure from said child. The potential super spreader was denied a seat in the back of the auto and relegated to the boot. The child may have had Covid or had been exposed to Covid, but in either case Mommy Dearest wished a test to verify the kid’s current status. So, off to a drive through test site without the prodigy enetring the cabin of the vehicle.

Some commentators might say wedging a teen into a trunk is more compassionate than having him walk or be dragged behind the family sedan. What is known for sure is that medics at a Texas test site have rules about swabbing the nose of a boy laying flat on his back next to a spare tire. Common sense prevailed. The kid was tested outside the trunk. Mommy must face the consequences for her illegal act. Thus, proof postive of some parental anxiety over Covid.

However, beyond the obvious, there is another lesson in this tale of anxiety. I was hoping to save these lessons until my grandkids approached age 16; the looming driver’s license threshold. Then there will be true cause for anxiety. So, with a car trunk story freshsly in mind be aware that placing a human, any human, even a sibling, in a car trunk is a never, never. Which brings Papa back to the 1950’s. Yes, young people did exactly that dangerous act. It was a way to sneak into a drive-in movie without paying full fare. (BTW: you may need to research the concept of “Drive-In Movies”) There’d be a charge, often per car and an additional amount for each passenger. Fifty cents plus a quarter each for three people was $1.25. The three or four kids in the trunk got in free. Divide that up to calculate your savings!

A rear end collision with someone in the trunk is far more dangerous that a regular accident. Lives are at risk whenever you drive. Don’t lower your odds with careless behavior. In prior postings I advise against “doing silly” but say it’s okay to sometimes “be silly.” Drivng is never a time for silly. When you get behind the wheel of a car you graduate to be the most sensible and responsible person on the planet. No creatures in the trunk, no pulling taboogans behind on a tow rope, no drinking/drugs or allowing passengers to distract. I’ll tell the story down the line when driving is addressed head on (No pun intended) but once Eddie M, a pal, almost caused me to hit a pedestrian when I was driving. Putting him in the truck was not an option but he should have sat in the rear seat. Riding shotgun, he stretched out and did silly with his left foot and the gas pedal. When you begin to drive, no matter how responsible you are, be on the lookout for the unexpected. Not a time fpor silliness.

MARCH 2020

This message goes beyond Papa’s old joke as suggested by its title. I discovered there is no longer a need to traverse any parental conduit to reach you. My oldest grandchildren have access to their own e-mail account. Watch out for Papa’s stream of conscious wisdom. Once you become addicted to e-mail it’ll be like I have a highway into your heads. Unfettered access. Don’t buy into the belief that aluminum foil over your skull can block out dangerous concepts. A very doubtful proposal; although I’d love to see you all wrapped up with foil turbans.

I miss everyone. This Covid 19 virus is a pain. All kinds of free time and I can’t go near you. This would have ben an ideal time to hunker down and watch Papa movies. Yes, even black and white films. I spend much of my time reading about so many scientists at America’s great universities , hospitals and research centers racing to uncover treatments and a vaccine for Covid. It boggles my mind and jolts the imagination. Medical progress seemed to take so long in the past. I told you about the lengthy wait to develop protection against polio in my youth. It was such a blessing. Nowadays, it is full speed ahead. I believe a Covid vaccine will be developed sooner rather than later. Keep positive thoughts along with a healthy measure of faith in the dedicated researchers. I try to keep that in mind when facing the high cost of medical treatments and medications. Extensive research facilities are required when developing new treatment drugs.

No school or virtual school is odd. But, perhaps patience will be developed as we all wait and wait. Love, Papa

In a separate writing of musings that I am preparing to give you, I claim that you have brains. And, to use the brain to pursue common sense. In regard to Covid 19, anxiety of its unknowns is natural. Perhaps a historical perspective is in order.

Contagious outbreaks are nothing new. In the past they created feelings of no defense when they seemed to hit without logic or reason. I know that it is hard to escape thinking about such matters. My brothers and I were in that boat in the 1940’s and 1950’s. However, we didn’t have as much knowledge at our fingertips as is true today. Movie newsreels depicting kids in iron lungs was very disconcerting. Yet, I remember we didn’t dwell on it too much. There were too many fun things to do and talk about. So, when Covid does cross your mind, try to keep your thoughts proportional.

Polio was our scary scourge. For many years its cause was not known. In 1908 it was discovered that a virus caused it. Outbreaks occurred mostly in the summer months from July through September. Outdoor activities were often restricted. There was a belief/myth that a chill got the virus active. I remember an imposed half hour period under the bed covers following a bath. It’s a funny image now; hiding under blankets from a virus. At times, temporary emergency hospitals were created, including inside tents, to accommodate patients. Quarantines existed. If diagnosed, a child was separated from parents for 10-14 days; including needing to view each other through windows as is being seen on TV now. I remember my mother walking door to door collecting money for the March of Dimes. The donations went towards research for a vaccine. In 1952 over 57,000 cases were diagnosed in the US with 3100 deaths.

Then, after all those years, a vaccine was found by Dr. Jonas Salk. He became an immediate hero in our lives. I think he got special permission to field test 2 million kids around 1954. I can’t recall if I was a part of that but I do remember getting the shot around that time frame. A heavy burden was lifted from America’s children.

Today, our medical research abilities are far ahead of those polio times. 1908 to 1953!! They’ll have a Covid 19 vaccine if needed next year in all probability. Effective treatments sooner than that. Wash hands and distance and it will all be behind soon enough. A good feeling; especially at my age. Time will pass for you. It can seem to go by at a very slow pace at your age but there is an end and it will be sooner than feared. Who needs fear?

April 2020

Six feet apart seems to be the current wisdom for avoiding spewed Covid. If the average sidewalk is five feet wide, one of two walkers who pass each other must step aside. Seems easy enough. If both step off the edge of a sidewalk then a seven foot gap is created. But, what if there is no sidewalk situation? Innovative minds suggest:

1. Two muskies
2. Three badgers
3. Three upright beer kegs
4. Five kringles
5. Fourteen bratwurst

There is a theme here. A place where a sense of humor is appreciated. Finding some fun in this time of Covid. And, so proud when one of you had a quick reply: Hockey Sticks end to end!

Hang in there! Scientists are hard at work for a vaccine.