Here we are celebrating Labor Day during a coronavirus shutdown. A day to honor those who made and are making contributions to the well-being of the country.

At first blush, one thinks of those paid for their labor as the recipients of the honor. It should cause one to blush, for many who contribute to the country’s well-being earn little, if any, salary or hourly pay.

Those who support

They are homemakers—women and men who remain at home caring for children or elderly relatives to allow their life-mate to bring the paycheck. We cannot measure their contribution in dollars and cents, though some have tried. The Washington Post at https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-parenting/post/a-homemakers-real-salary/2012/02/01/gIQAh7czhQ_blog.html once estimated their value at over $96,000 a year. Let’s not undervalue those who support by maintaining the home.

The holiday includes those who worked but not working today, whether retired or out-of-work because of the virus or other reasons. I am thankful for all of those who have worked, are working, or support workers. Our country is great because of you.

Another Peeve

You know me. Here is a peeve. I am disappointed in my County Executive. He never follows Maryland’s Governor’s recommendations regarding reopenings. Does he think people less capable of adhering to state guidelines run Anne Arundel County businesses? It appears so.

He should honor country workers on this Labor Day by helping them to get back to work.

I would enjoy hearing how your Labor Day goes. I provide a comment form for your use.

“Septuagenarian versus the coronavirus” might make a movie title for life today. Perhaps it should be “Coronavirus against the earth.”

Life normal

I am a septuagenarian plus and my wife in her mid-sixties. The first news stories brought few cares, and our lives remained unaffected. We shopped per usual, bowled in our leagues, and went out to eat with friends without care. Our lives continued as usual even after the first fatalities in Washington State.

Seniors against coronavirus

Stories online noted that seniors, those in our age group, were not demonstrating fear commensurate with the danger the virus presented to our age group. Proven by the number of seniors, over sixty, who showed every Monday morning to bowl in the league my wife manages. Over one hundred seniors bowled each week until this morning.  I will never know how many would have shown today, but the military base shut down leagues for fourteen days. I suspect many would have.

Homebound

Here we are almost homebound. Homebound, not because of an inability to leave, but because there is a lack of places to go. Maryland’s governor announced the closing of many facilities, including restaurants. He also has placed restrictions on the group size to fifty. More restrictions may come. Between league cancellations and all of the mandated closings, we have no place we want to visit, homebound.

We are currently healthy and not in need of testing for the virus. I am hopeful that as we spend less time out, we will never need a test.

How is the current state of emergency affecting you? Share!