Carole Simpson

The Pandemic Makes Some People Act Crazy

May 29, 2020 | Coronavirus, Dumb Americans, Health, Something. To. Say.

The Pandemic Makes Some People Act Crazy

Hello Everybody:

I have something to say about the pandemic’s effect on many Americans.

I’m in my third month of isolation and I’ve been doing okay. I watch way too much news but that’s the business I was in. So, I feel stressed out and anxious, because nobody knows what’s going to happen, or what the new normal will be. I don’t think I’m going to like it.

But Memorial Day Weekend sent me into a tailspin. I was so angry. Did you watch the news? Who were all those people who went to crowded bars, who huddled up together on beaches and touched each other’s bodies everywhere at parties? No masks. No social distance. What were they thinking?

More than 100-thousand dead Americans since February.  40 million Americans out of work. And here we had these lunatics throwing caution to the wind, as one woman said on camera, “Cuz, I gotta get my party on.” Well, party on, idiot. You and all the other idiots, willing to endanger themselves and the rest of us. I have to say they looked like 20 and 30-somethings.

How are we ever going to control Covid-19, if younger people ignore the restrictions and requirements? They’re crazy, just like Donald Trump, who does the same thing.

I thought the pandemic would make Americans band together and fight with all our might to destroy this killer. But no, we have too many people, who think they have a constitutional right to be stupid.

Until next time.

Pets and the Pandemic

May 5, 2020 | Coronavirus, Mental Health, Something. To. Say.

Pets and the Pandemic

Hello everybody.

I have something to say about the joy of pets during the despair of the pandemic. I can tell you that things are a little less stressful if you are staying at home with a loving pet.

This is my crazy poodle, Roxy. She’s still a puppy and makes me laugh when I might rather cry.

Like other canines and felines, she doesn’t know anything about the horrors of the coronavirus. All your pets want is food, a walk, some playtime and plenty of sleep. Ah, but even more, they want you to join in the fun: their very best friend.

They love you.

How anxious can you be when your cat crawls onto your lap and starts purring. It’s so calming. Or when your dog stares at you, with his tail wagging and a squeaky toy in his mouth?

In March when the national stay at home orders took effect, there was a run on animal shelters all over the country. Shelters in Los Angeles and New York had a 500 percent increase in applications for cats and dogs to foster. Shelters with animals to adopt were overwhelmed.

People stuck at home to avoid catching the coronavirus, don’t want to be alone. They want company. They need emotional support, even if it’s provided by a creature with four legs and a furry coat.

Until next time.

The Pandemic Is Setting Us Back

Apr 18, 2020 | Coronavirus, Health, Something. To. Say.

The Pandemic Is Setting Us Back

Hello Everybody:

I have something to say about the coronavirus quarantine.

Over the past five weeks, I’ve had plenty of time to wallow in the daily statistics of sickness and death. That got to be too much.  Instead I decided to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive. What good could COVID-19 have on America? I struggled. And struggled. It’s killing too many people before their time; it’s straining our health care system; it’s imposing impossible demands on doctors, nurses, health workers and first responders; it’s wrecked the economy leaving millions with no jobs and no income. And we don’t have as much fun.

I was looking for something positive.  Maybe there will be new technology and new medicines, but that will take awhile.  And then I thought maybe going through this horrible ordeal will bring our country together, brother to brother and sister to sister, a new happy family.  But then I realized who’s president. He’s divisive.  And folks, divided we will fall.

See you next time.

America The Frightful

Apr 11, 2020 | Coronavirus, Something. To. Say.

America The Frightful

Hello Everybody. I have something more to say about that #%$!! coronavirus.

      I just learned one of my close relatives tested positive and is in the throes of fighting this “thing,” this microorganism that is trying to steal her breath.  What does Trump call it, “the invisible enemy,” yes.  It has changed America the Beautiful, into America the Frightful.  The virus is on a death march from sea to shining sea, sickening and killing our people regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. But, one caveat: as if marginalized people didn’t have problems enough, “The Rona” as they call it in urban communities, is hitting blacks and Latinos the hardest.

      Each day the news on the increasing number of infections and the exploding number of deaths is heart breaking.  And I, who called myself, the wise old woman, realize I’m not wise. I can’t get my head around this transformation of our country. Things happened so fast.

      Wasn’t it just a month or five weeks ago that we were working on the job, going to school, playing sports, eating out at restaurants, going to movies, the gym, and church? Socializing with friends, hugging our loved ones, and flying on airplanes? Our cities weren’t ghost towns.

      That virus reared its ugly head and our lives turned upside down and inside out. And you know what? I think life as we lived it–in just February–may be gone for years. Maybe forever. Change is gonna come.

See you again.

Can The Coronavirus Be Funny?

Mar 27, 2020 | Health, Mental Health, Something. To. Say.

Can The Coronavirus Be Funny?

Hello Everybody. I have something to say about the amazing capacity of Americans to find humor in the face of adversity. I ‘m in the third week of my self-imposed quarantine from the coronavirus. I have been feeling depressed and isolated. But recently, I happened upon some You Tube videos that finally gave me a smile. Take a look:

[Music Medley]

“Don’t let the corona get on ya.” Love that. Go to You Tube to see the entire videos and some I couldn’t include. We deserve a little laughter.

See you next time.

Coronavirus Part Deux

Mar 13, 2020 | Health, Something. To. Say.

Coronavirus Part Deux

Hello Everybody:

       I have some more things to say about the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic

       I told you I was afraid a week ago?  Well, now I am 6 times as afraid. So scared, I got out of Dodge. Well, I actually got out of Boston and my high-rise condo, with its 35 floors and crowded elevators. I am now hunkered down in our summer home off the Atlantic Ocean. 

       Now I didn’t do this on my own. My daughter, Doctor Mallika Marshall was hounding me leave Downtown Boston and come here. There are no crowds this time of year and little to do. Mallika said she doesn’t want me coming back home until she decides it’s safe for me. Isn’t it funny how the children become the parents.

       Although otherwise healthy, it’s my age. Dr. Marshall said when we get older, we lose our reserves to ward off disease. I have a 79-year-old, heart, old lungs, old kidneys…you get the picture. So, elderly people are the most likely to die from the coronavirus.

        So here I will stay—quarantining myself. I have my pets with me, my iPhone, the Internet, my television, some books on tape, jigsaw puzzles and plenty of food. I’m blessed, I know, to have this option. And I pray that you will be safe. Just take all the precautions and know that “this too will pass.”

Until next time.

Coronavirus Anxiety

Mar 7, 2020 | Health, Something. To. Say.

Coronavirus Anxiety

        Hello Everybody. I have something to say about the coronavirus pandemic. To be honest with you, I am afraid. I’m very afraid. I’m in the elderly high-risk group. I’ve been living on this earth for seventy years and I can’t ever remember anything sweeping half the countries on the planet bringing with it, disease and death. And to make matters worse, our government seems ill-prepared to handle the crisis that is already changing American life as we knew it just six weeks ago.

         We were in a Costco last weekend to do what the experts say we should do. Stock up on paper goods, hand sanitizers, medicines and other necessities, in case we have to be quarantined. You’ve been in a Costco and you know the check-out lines are in the front and the food is way in the back. Well the lines at every checkout station stretched all the way back to the meat. People pushed baskets overflowing with toilet paper and bottled water and wine and candy. Whatever your necessities are.

        I couldn’t wait in those lines. I went somewhere else, but I did stock up. And I’m washing my hands feverishly, and I’m afraid to touch my face and scared to turn a doorknob. Trump continues to minimize the danger, but scientists warn things will get worse before they get better.

        So, as silly as I feel with all my provisions, I think we all should heed, “Better safe than sorry.” People, get ready.

 

I hope to see you next time.