Mary Beth Writes

Len wrote this and put it on Facebook. Many of you are not his friend on FB and this is funny.

And awful. Jeeez, where did we get this president? 

.....

This is Berry. She belongs to my son and daughter-in-law. She is delightful, but maybe not the brightest bulb in the litter, if you catch my drift.

In this post, I'd like to compare the President's performance in the Coronavirus crisis with what Berry might do.

1) Would Berry have fired the Pandemic Response Office?

Not likely. Berry still has trouble remembering which way the door opens. Directing Steve Mnuchin to issue a personnel directive? Not happening.

2) If she had fired the Pandemic Response Office, would she have accepted responsibility?

Berry has lapses, as we all do. A pillow was chewed, a hole dug in the yard, garbage spilled. Mistakes were made, but her eyes always own up and acknowledge that she did it, and begs your forgiveness. I can hear her mom asking, "Berry, did you fire the Pandemic Response Office?" and her meekly nodding and laying down. Yes, she would absolutely accept responsibility.

3) Does Berry understand the importance of testing?

I once walked Berry down a busy street in Waukesha and saw her alert to a Sandhill Crane high in the air. Her ears perk up when she's inside but hears another dog hiccup several blocks away. I am sure that, right now, she knows the location and sex of every squirrel in the neighborhood, and what they ate last night. She is the very soul of a sensory network combined with sophisticated big data resources. Yes, she understands testing, cluster analysis and containment (kennel) quite well.

4) Can Berry show concern?

Anyone who has ever looked at a dog's eyes knows how foolish a question this is. She doesn't need to read it from a teleprompter (not likely, anyway) or wait for advisors to move her to action. Something on your mind? She's all there (on your lap) with soft warm ears and a soulful look. Yes, Berry could have shown unqualified compassion and concern for everyone -- EVERYONE -- threatened by the virus. Which, really, is what was needed most of all.

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Len’s Birthday

11/30/2023

Last week I mentioned that Monday of this week would be Len’s birthday. A friend remarked to me ever so kindly later that day, “I thought his birthday was the 30th?”

It is. Len’s birthday is the 30th. This same friend has commented to me, over the years, about how much I remember.

Covid Diary #1350 Thanksgiving

11/22/2023

Today is 1350 days since the that March Friday in 2020 when we all went into quarantine.

Today is 60 years since JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. I remember that day, so does Len, so do many of you. Here’s a scary truth. We are as far today from that day – as that day was from the Wright brother’s first flight at Kitty Hawk on Dec 17, 1903.

Quarantine Diary #1349 Sci-Fi & Prophecy

11/21/2023

We both took Covid tests this morning and both of us still have pink lines. I asked the internet what this means and it says I might be pregnant.

I have a call into my doctor’s office to discuss. I feel so much better that if I didn’t know I have Covid, I wouldn’t know it. I’ve been sicker than this after too much pie.

Covid Diary #1347

11/19/2023

A few of you might realize yesterday we were 1345 days since March 13, 2020, and today we’re at 1347. Yup, I used a different calculator. Just a fun reminder that precision depends as much on asking the right question as doing perfect math.

I’m in day #4 of having Covid. No more chills. I have a fever of 100.4 which is more impressive than the 100.2 that Len achieved on his Day #4.  I’m taking various OTC meds and I keep track of them in my phone’s notes because, wow, it’s so easy to have no memory of the last time one took something. I’m good. Enough.

Covid Diary #1345

11/18/2023

I thought I was done with the Covid Diary but guess what? Len and I caught Covid this week! Actually, Covid caught us. We have continued to wear masks in stores, library, meetings, and our church so we will never know for sure where Len encountered Covid. And since I got it four days later, I guess we know where I got it…

My New Substack for Short Stories

11/11/2023

Let’s call this “Old Dog Versus New Tricks.” Does it feel to you as if I’ve been extra quiet these past months? It does to me. One big reason is that I’ve been figuring out Substack.

Here’s the deal: In addition to this blog, I’ve been writing more creative fiction. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and I’m finally taking it seriously. I’m not giving up this website, but substack is going to let me concentrate on short stories and other stand-alone pieces.

What’s Substack?

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