Ninety-nine days after it started, Spain has finally ended its state of emergency. As of now, summer solstice day, there have been 293,018 Covid-19 cases and 28,322 deaths here in Spain. Those of us who survived this ordeal are glad it is over, of course, but we now wonder what will happen once the tourists … Continue reading Spain’s State of Emergency Ends
Finding Comfort in Times of Turmoil
The United States is unraveling right now: riots, fires, violence, police brutality and unemployment levels unequaled since the Great Depression, along with an out-of-control pandemic. And on top of that, a president who relishes the violence and disruption. Reading the news about my country takes nerves of steel these days. At the same time, I … Continue reading Finding Comfort in Times of Turmoil
Covid-19 Musings
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if Covid-19 never goes away? No vaccine was ever found to prevent HIV. What if it is the same with Covid-19? At least the earth will be cleaner with so few people traveling. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have already dropped markedly since the … Continue reading Covid-19 Musings
Day 52 of Spain’s Lockdown
This weekend was the first time people in Spain were allowed out to walk around. It was a joyful sight to see others when I walked our dog Tess along the nearby canal on Saturday morning. Some couples were strolling along, other people were running and still others flew by on bikes. It almost felt … Continue reading Day 52 of Spain’s Lockdown
The US is Falling Apart
It feels like the United States has been unraveling since the coronovirus traveled there from Europe. Things aren't great in Europe but the countries here seem to have a better handle on how to deal with a public health crisis. For one thing, there are national health systems here, where people are insured through their … Continue reading The US is Falling Apart
Life Lesson 16: Attitude is Everything!
"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."--Khalil Gibran One month into the lockdown in Spain, I saw my English neighbor Ray walking his … Continue reading Life Lesson 16: Attitude is Everything!
Enriching Your Spiritual Life
Has this covid-19 pandemic made you more spiritually hungry? I know it has done that for me. I want and need to spend more time connecting with others spiritually. For example, I have been attending Sunday services via Zoom back at our Countryside Unitarian-Universalist Church in Palatine, Illinois, where we attended services for 19 years. … Continue reading Enriching Your Spiritual Life
U.S. Supreme Court Undermines Democracy
Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said the U.S. Supreme Court is "undermining our democracy" in its ruling requiring voting to go ahead today in Wisconsin, despite Wisconsin's Democratic Governor Tony Evers' issuance of an executive order Monday postponing the election to June 9, citing the public health risk. According to … Continue reading U.S. Supreme Court Undermines Democracy
Covid-19 Economic Catastrophe
Almost 10 million people have filled claims for unemployment compensation in the last two weeks in the United States. As reported by the New York Times today, "the speed and scale of the job losses is without precedent. Until last month, the worst week for unemployment filings was 695,000 in 1982." First people fell ill with covid-19 … Continue reading Covid-19 Economic Catastrophe
Day 16 of Spain’s Lockdown
Spain now has 85,195 cases of covid-19, with 7,340 deaths. On March 1, there were only 84 cases here. That wasn't even a month ago. I think this month, March 2020, will be remembered as the longest one we have ever experienced. Each day has passed so slowly, with dramatic increases in deaths reported in … Continue reading Day 16 of Spain’s Lockdown
US Author Nancy Klein in Spain 