A ‘Very, Very Contagious’ Coronavirus Subvariant Is Causing Cases to Rise Again

I thought I was being so careful — think again.

Photo by Pille R. Priske on Unsplash

I received the first two Covid vaccines and the booster. I thought I’d wait on the second booster as the science wasn’t clear.

Some experts suggested waiting as a new variant may be looming, and another booster wouldn’t protect us against it.

Plus, the second booster may weaken our defenses against a new strain.

I decided to wait.

Monday night, I felt a tickle in the back of my throat. I attributed it to my allergies that had been present.

Tuesday morning, I realized it was more than allergies. I took my temperature, and sure enough — 100.2.

Today is day three of fever, chest congestion, and coughing.

I’m strong, healthy, and vaccinated. Because of this, I’ve been maskless when grocery shopping and out hiking, playing pickleball, and other activities.

Still, I’ve been cautious and, when available, dining out on a patio rather than indoors. I’ve also kept several feet between me and others when possible.

One perhaps reckless activity I partook in was an indoor pickleball class with 14 other maskless players. Could that have been when I contracted the virus?

My point is — do not let down your guard. The virus is still running rampant.

This morning, the news reported that cases are again soaring, and hospitalizations are up.

The headline was this ‘Very, Very Contagious’ Coronavirus Subvariant is Causing Cases to Rise Again.

I agree it is a sensational title — yet we must take this seriously.

A new, highly transmissible omicron subvariant is the cause of the rise in cases. The reported cases are three times higher than they were in March.

The seven-day average for hospitalizations is also up by 20%, with the CDC reporting an average of 2,215 admissions over the last seven days.

Before vaccination and even after one vaccine, I was relentless in my practice of mask-wearing, keeping my distance from others and, washing my hands, wiping down my kitchen counters and groceries as I unpacked them.

We’re tired of the damn Covid. It’s been a long haul.

Thank goodness for the vaccines, yet it is not a cure-all. Still, the vaccines are credited with the lower death rate over last year’s high numbers.

“Roughly, 66% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated,” according to the CDC.

Plus, the current dominant variants appear to be less deadly. Still, cases are rising quickly.

The dominant omicron subvariant BA.2 makes up almost 62% of cases. However, another subvariant, BA.212.1, appears to be even more transmissible.

This latest one is spreading about 24% faster than BA.2.

Is it time to return to masking up?

Just when we thought travel was back in our lives, and sports and other events were safe.

The latest report is that Covid vaccines will most likely be recommended annually, just as the flu shots are.

I’ve also learned that we are contagious from 1–2 days before symptoms appear. No wonder we’re spreading this virus.

We remain contagious for 5–7 days after contracting it. A Covid test may show a positive result for up to two weeks following the end of the contagious period.

However, according to the CDC, “there’s virtually no risk of transmission after seven days.”

Today, doctors are overloaded, and it is so difficult to have a conversation that may help us make a wise decision as should we take an anti-viral medication once tests show we are positive.

I had plans to fly to California to spend Mother’s Day with my son. Now that trip is off. I am very disappointed.

Coronavirus and its subvariants have turned our lives upside down, and it will continue to.

My trip cancellation is minor compared to the tragedies others have endured.

Do not let your guard down. Covid is here, highly contagious, and will be around for a long time.

Are You Up for the Challenge to Practice Conscious Giving for 6 Weeks?

 Giving of yourself is an interesting experiment to try.

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

When I visit my son in San Francisco, we often dine in his neighborhood.

He has a lovely apartment in the theater district — a once cultured area dotted with trendy restaurants. It now has become a haven for the homeless, as many once desirable locations in the city have.

We pass many of these folks who approach asking for money. On every corner, someone with a sign tells their sad story.

We have learned to avoid making eye contact, hoping we’ll get by without communication.

It seems that is the way it has become in large cities nationwide.

Those of us with plenty feel the situation on the streets is way too complicated for us to solve. And too vast for us to make a difference.

Plus, if we give money, we think they may use it to buy alcohol or drugs, and then we’d be contributing to the problem.

As we sat at a table at the window of our restaurant, we wondered how we could help — in our minor way to assist at least one hungry soul.

We purchased more than we knew we could eat. When we finished, we asked for a take-out carton. We placed the untouched meal into it and gave that food to the first homeless person we saw.

The receiver had tears, thanking us and stating how hungry he was. It was the first meal he’d had in days.

Belatedly, it occurred to me why not simply order an extra meal and have it ready to go when we’ve finished our meal.

We will now make this a ritual when dining out in San Francisco.

A Challenge

Rev. Edwene Gaines, a 40-year minister with Unity Church, is one of my spiritual heroines.

I regularly receive uplifting essays and memos from her that inspire and motivate me.

Her latest missive is a challenge to stretch ourselves to give.

She encourages us to not just think of giving monetarily but spiritually, as well.

She writes:

May I challenge you to experiment with the practice of conscious giving for a period of six weeks and note what happens in your life? And I am not just speaking of giving money, but also the generous giving of smiles, kindness, compliments, praise, encouragement, time, appreciation, love, and all the many ways we can give to make this a happier life for others.

When we take the time and use our talent, skills, and energy to lift the spirit of one soul, we change the whole world and make it a more loving and productive space for all creatures.

Gosh, doesn’t this seem like something we should be doing every day anyway? How have we let simple kindness slip away?

Are we that busy? I think not. And it won’t cost us a dime.

I try to do my best to be kind to others, to smile at strangers with whom I’m in contact.

However, I see this challenge as a way to stretch myself to give more and be better.

I plan on finding someone each day to be the recipient of an extra dose of kindness — either by leaving an extra-large tip, carrying packages for one who is having difficulty, or whatever may cross my path that day.

If I pay attention, I'm sure this person will be easy to find and a joy to give to.

I Know You Will Love These 5 Books to Inspire and Nurture Your Creativity

 I love reading about fashioning a creative life — these books fill that want and more.

Photo by Héctor J. Rivas on Unsplash

We are all creative beings. Yes, even you. Don’t deny it. You were born that way.

Right now, my creative outlet is writing on Medium and publishing almost daily. I also have this blog where I write and publish a weekly post.

I’ve had my blog since the end of December 2018 and began writing for Medium in January 2021.

Without further chatter, here are my all-time favorite books on creativity:

1. The Artist’s Way — by Julia Cameron
2. Big Magic — by Elizabeth Gilbert
3. Bird by Bird — by Anne Lamott
4. The War of Art — by Steven Pressfield
5. The Sound of Paper — by Julia Cameron

The Artist’s Way

Twenty-plus years ago, I finally decided to ignore that my father told me I had no artistic talent and find out if I did.

Based on the book, I signed up for the Artist’s Way course at the local community college. This was a 12-week dig into uncovering our creativity.

That book and those 12 weeks changed my artistic life.

I did indeed discover that I am creative.

By the end of the twelve weeks, I signed up for watercolor classes, which led to additional acrylic painting and sketching courses, and my heart opened up to the joy of art.

This book is a pure delight, and I have reread it several times — completing the required exercises each time.

Buy the book; you can do it without a facilitator — no need to take a class. However, community education classes and local colleges offer it nationwide if you prefer guidance.

Big Magic

This book reminds us to have Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust, and Divinity. There is a chapter on each of these attitudes and qualities as they are the cornerstone of our creativity.

Elizabeth Gilbert is a gifted writer and teacher — you will learn to embrace your fears and creativity.

I love this book and have read it twice, and each time, I was newly inspired and motivated to continue on my creative path.

Bird by Bird

Anne Lamott is one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite people. Her book is primarily about writing but can be adapted to fit whatever genre is your thing.

Anne is one of the funniest people I know, and her book does not disappoint. It is filled with personal anecdotes and stories and is highly motivating and encouraging.

The War of Art

Procrastination, resistance, fear? Who me? Yes, me and maybe you?

Steven Pressfield knows all about what stops us from being creative. He shows us how to blast through all of it and come out the other side full of commitment, inspiration, and, yes, even courage.

I will reread this book as soon as I finish another Julia Cameron work.

The Sound of Paper

The same author that gave us The Artist’s Way brings us this work. Julia Cameron is a teacher, writer, musician, playwright, and composer. This book fits all those modalities.

However, I see her primarily as a writer, and this book has inspired me to be a better one.

Julia helps push us through our artistic struggles and reminds us to take gentle care of ourselves.

She has been inspiring and guiding artistic folks for over 50 years and is still creating into her 70s.

Whether you are a seasoned artist or hoping to discover that you may have a creative side — these books will help you uncover what may be hidden underneath your timidity. Be ready to find a treasure within.

We are never too old to create magic and thank goodness for that.

This Moment In Time Will Not Be Repeated — Pay Attention to It Now

We don’t know what the next instant will bring, don’t waste this one.

Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash

In the 70s, a revered spiritual leader, Ram Dass, made a statement that became the buzzword for New Agers: “Be here now.”

People are still using it today whenever someone may not be paying attention to what is happening in front of them.

Also, that reprimand is a great reminder to be mindful of where you are right now.

Stay in the present

I’m guilty, at times, of longing to be back in my beloved Marin County, CA, where I lived for over 40 years.

This county is surrounded on three sides by water and is across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I’m prejudiced, of course.

When my high school sweetheart and I reunited nine years ago, we decided Arizona would be our primary home.

Yes, I left my heart in Marin, not San Francisco!

However, I have made dear friends in Arizona that I adore, and I have grown accustomed to the extreme difference from Marin in terrain and weather.

Marin has cool sunny days yet foggy evenings and early mornings delivering our natural air conditioning.

Arizona is cool in the winter but excessively hot in the summers. Often the temperature is over 110 degrees.

Lots of water, wildflowers, and various trees, from eucalyptus, manzanita, oaks to firs, reside in Marin.

Arizona has cactus. And more cactus.

I woke up

However, yesterday as my Golden Retriever, Merlin, and I took our morning walk, I suddenly realized I wasn’t paying any mind to my surroundings.

I forced myself to pay attention, and thank goodness, for a wake-up call it was.

I passed Sahuro cactus blooming with bubblegum pink blossoms and Palo Verde trees filled to capacity with gorgeous yellow flowers.

The mountains in the distance were greenish-brown against the blue cloudless morning sky.

Our famous Camelback Mountain loomed on the horizon — a fantastic scene.

We stopped to watch a group of ants paired off, and each miniature couple carried a tiny stick or piece of feather jostling it between them. Perhaps to construct their home?

Nature at work. All around me was Mother Earth creating her masterpiece, and I was preoccupied with thoughts that could wait till it was time to deal with them.

Thank goodness I woke up.

How about you? Do you go about your day taking your surroundings for granted?

Each moment is lost if we do not respect and enjoy the now.

After all, we only have this moment as tomorrow is not promised.