March 10th, 2020

I write to you 4 Miles from New Rochelle where the National Guard has been deployed for containment. Please note, that whatever your attitude is towards the situation the world is in, your thinking will shift quickly when it pops up in your backyard. I am grateful that everyone at home is healthy.

Westchester County, my home for 20 years is now leading the country in Covid19 cases. I know dozens who are having symptoms, are isolating themselves, and cannot get tested. NYS is not yet testing anyone unless they can prove they have had direct contact with a person who is known to the DOH as a tested-positive person. I have loved ones, over the age of 60 in the containment zone. My son goes to school in the one mile radius. I kept him home, before Cuomo issued the order to his school to close for two weeks because of his history of asthma.

I call the Department of Health (both local and state) every morning. They contradict each other, seem disorganized, and have yet to issue a clear directive to small business owners in the area, other than wash your hands.

Our way of life has already shifted. As a family we have voluntarily cut out all unnecessary activities that involve more than just a couple of people. I have canceled travel. We have purchased a lot essentials to keep in the house.
I have had to make changes to my business to rapidly be able to offer virtual classes. I have decided to reduce max #s of in person classes even though that is a hit to my business financially, because I believe it is the ethical thing to do. My livelihood and my health both feel very much at stake.

It's interesting to compare the things that I was concerned with two weeks ago to what my mind is on now. Things can turn on a dime, huh? All of a sudden I am thinking ahead, trying to anticipate what needs and challenges we may have in the next few days and how to mitigate impact.

The other thing my mind is constantly on is how dire the need is for people to become more community-minded. And start thinking about the vulnerable groups in society. if we are going to make it out of this, we have to stop our obsession with ourselves and we must make difficult choices that are inconvenient for us in order to help everyone.

My medicine has been service and working with the expecting mamas in my community.

It is difficult to watch the divisiveness that has been sown for so many years in this country rear its ugly head in this situation, even though human lives are at stake. I foolishly believed that this would inspire people to come together, like the days after 9/11.

Instead what I am seeing is classic us versus them. People accusing each other of panic. One camp is concerned, the other in utter denial.

Yesterday, I approached a person affiliated with my business to speak about actions I thought we could partner on and he told me I was hysterical, and that this issue is manufactured by the media and the liberal left for Trump's third impeachment. Right. It's the left that shut the entire country of Italy down. Of course there's no real threat. SMH.

So life may get a whole lot more complicated and more uncomfortable before it gets better.

I included a pic of me panicking in case the panic police are roaming around my page today.
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Before you comment, ask yourself is it true? necessary?useful? kind?
If yes, go for it.
xoxox