How is it October?
Happy Friday,
Remember when we were so happy to kick 2020 to the curb? How was that nine months ago? Where did summer go, and how is it October already?
It’s been the hottest summer on record, here. More than 30 days over 30 degrees. In a drought. That’s 90* F and higher for those of you in America.
I’m taking the garden out. Last year, I was wearing a fleece jacket and my hands were freezing. This year, I’ve been wearing a tank top.
I’m digging potatoes and grateful that they’re normal. People in the gardening group I follow are sharing photos. One lady has potatoes that look like cinnamon buns. lol. They have a weird spiral pattern. Heat damage, apparently.
It’s been a strange month on Medium, too. Usually I gain about 300-400 readers per month but it’s double that in September. Yet, strangely, readers aren’t commenting as much. Like silent hill. Then again, neither am I. I’m not even sure why.
Maybe we’re all just in mental shutdown. Lost for words.
Our hospitals just shut down the organ donor program and cancer treatments are on hold. Because of Delta. The news tells us that most of the people in the hospital are the “unvaccinated” — but the part they aren’t saying are how many are kids that are too young to get vaccinated. Here, around 25% of the Covid wards are kids.
It just aches my heart.
Schools here have a mask mandate, but kids can take their mask off for gym and I don’t understand the logic behind that. I don’t think there is any.
One day, they’ll call these historical times. I’m not sure I like living through historical times. Most days I feel like of like Sisyphus. Eternally rolling the rock up the hill only to watch it roll right back down.
Sometimes, the human contact we’re avoiding is what we need most.
Talk to me. How are you doing out there?
How are you coping and what’s new in your world?
Is everyone you love okay?
I really want to know.
Here’s what I wrote this week…
5 Reasons I Reject Stories. Don’t Do These To Any Editor, Okay?
It Took 173 Years To Eradicate Smallpox Because, Anti-Vaxxers
“How did it get so late so soon?”
― Dr. Seuss
I appreciate those of you who click the ❤ to say thanks. You keep me writing.
Fyi, if you’re reading in email, click the title to be able to leave a comment. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!
xo,
Linda
First, I wanted to say that I really enjoyed your article on smallpox and anti-vaxxers. It is somehow comforting to know that there is historical precedent for the stupidity we are seeing now. Although science has come a long way since then, so I think there is even less of an excuse for not being on board.
I can say that anxiety and stress are at all times highs in our household, even among our teenagers. The anti-vaxxers and evil being done by certain political groups and political parties are definitely contributing factors. We are working on proactively finding fun activities to improve our lives.
Thanks for your writing. I am a fan! I am also a writer and I know it is important to sometimes hear that people like what I do. Keep doing it!
I’m doing okay. It’s going to be a summer and fall of healing between two hip surgeries. I’m in the seventh edit of my book. Maybe it’s the eighth— at this point, who knows. I’m keeping my head down and working hard between growing my platform and editing. I’m so ready for the next stage. I haven’t been on Medium these days. My email list has been growing faster on TikTok. The lead magnet works very well over there. Who knew? So overall, I’m good as can be expected in a long pandemic. Thanks so much for asking. —Kerry