The second year of the COVID-19 pandemic started off with a bang for those of us in Texas. The news coverage kept us informed -- that is, if we had electricity. Many lost both power and water during the "arctic blast" that lasted nearly a week and broke many records here, with temperatures dropping into the single digits. I spent a lot of time on my computer checking on family and friends. The ones I could reach. Fortunately, most of my family were lucky enough not to lose electricity or water. We did have to boil water for three or four days. Some suffered rolling blackouts, but said they didn't last very long.
So many were without power that freezing pipes have created nightmares for hundreds, if not thousands, of residents here in Austin. Videos of broken water pipes flooding homes and even causing ceilings to collapse while doing so make me count my blessings again and again.
(WFAA)
The lack of enough plumbers to make the repairs to the myriad of burst pipes has created long lines of people at sites that are providing drinking water. Being without potable water for nearly two weeks or longer presents great hardships for those affected. Thankfully, many volunteers and organizations have stepped up to assist with repairs and providing necessary food and water. FEMA is now helping victims and businesses as well.
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I don't always hear much from you guys, but there are a few I can count on for a little (or a lot) of news. The following are some of the communications I extracted during the past few weeks.
Somewhere I let it be known that it has been over a year since I visited my hair stylist. My hair has since grown more than the thirteen inches I had cut off at that time. Denny had a clever solution for his own hair.
DENNY HILL: (Feb. 4) "It has been a year since I have had a
haircut, but it grows rather slowly. I trimmed it a bit myself around the ears, looking in the mirror with scissors." (Of course, you could always wear a pony tail and that great beret!) (Feb. 16) "Looks like not very much snow around my house. The snow around my house has melted down somewhat, but is still from 1 to 1-1/2 feet deep. At the end of my driveway there is a snow hill formed by the snowplow that is as high as my waist. That is why I am snowbound for 2 or 3 weeks. But otherwise the weather is nice, the air is very clean, all roads are clear, which means that is you have managed to dig your car out, or get it out of the garage, then there is no problem to drive around. But I prefer to just leave my cars in my garage and relax and be snowbound."
TRUMAN CONNER: (Feb. 19) "It was tough going until yesterday morning when we finally got water and electricity. We had one 24-hour stretch with no water or electricity. HEB has been a mob scene though."
TRUMAN gets his second COVID vaccination March 13th.
JUNE HASH CURRY: (Feb. 4) "I did manage to get my first COVID shot, and the second one scheduled. (Feb. 16) It was -17 (degrees) last night but we have not lost power, thank God. Chris finally got to work today without incident, so all is good."
MARTHA NORTHINGTON: (Feb. 19) "Ok now. No power or water until yesterday. Whole family went to hotel. Water flowing but still has to be boiled. Heat working. Anne (her daughter) just stood in line at grocery and got a few things for me. Had to toss everything in refrigerator."
NANCY THOMPSON BAKER is usually up-to-date on Ballinger news. On February 12 I sent her an article about the San Angelo water being toxic, and asked her how she was holding up. This was her reply, "Wow! wow! I am okay for now but not looking forward to ice, sleet and snow being alone. My dog is too little to keep me warm...nearly all my heat is connected to electricity, so concerned...very concerned, about the duration of cold weather." She told me about VIRGINIA EGAN and Mike losing power. She didn't lose power or water, but later told me, "I had someone call to check on me as there were no tire tracks (in the snow) leaving my driveway. I have everything I need. I learned to survive when Jake was traveling!" At one time she stuck a yardstick into the snow off her back steps and said there was at least 5 inches.
VIRGINIA HARRAL EGAN: (Feb. 19)
"Finally got a dialysis treatment for Mike yesterday. The dialysis center had lots of problems such as broken generator and the contaminated water situation in San Angelo, which has been ongoing for 2-weeks. The machines use a lot of water. He went back for another treatment today because he had gone 6-days without one. We had the rolling blackouts, but have managed to survive and our water supply has been good. If it hadn't been for the worry about Mike's health I could have dealt with it better. Family has been checking on us constantly. My daughter, Carolyn came and stayed with us for 3-days. I am looking forward to normal, if there is a normal anymore."
I later heard from NANCY that some dialysis patients had to be airlifted via helicopter to treatment centers. VIRGINIA didn't mention this and I forgot to ask.
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Mallie Sue Vessel, sister of BARBARA CAMPBELL WITTE. (March 31, 1940 - February 15, 2021) I am sorry I missed this when BARBARA'S brother Grady's obituary was mentioned on the last blog post. I think their memorial was held on the same day. You may read her obituary and leave your condolences at Lange Funeral Home.
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I'm pretty sure many of you either had recent experiences as scary as ours or have had a good laugh at the predicament we here in Texas found ourselves in during the recent wicked weather we suffered. This on top of the COVID pandemic seemed almost too much to bear. At least in this part of Texas. We definitely are not used to it. Can you imagine that Del Rio recorded a record-breaking 11.2 inches of snowfall?
My front porch.
My back deck.
The bad weather? Well, Considering what we have been through in recent years, I think we all must admit that climate change is upon us. Hopefully, the Texas leaders will do whatever is necessary to prepare us for any future events such as the one we just went through. It was sad to think that so many of the Board members of ERCOT that nearly completely failed our electricity needs don't even live in Texas. They all received salaries of six figures. (Needless to say, they have since resigned.) Even though they were advised that our grid needed to be upgraded, they ignored doing anything, which left us at a point we were less than five minutes away from the whole state losing power and shutting down completely.
I do hope most of you have been escaping the coronavirus and perhaps have one or more of the vaccinations under your belt by now. I would love to hear from you. Let me know how you are coping with the isolation the pandemic has forced upon us. Share some of the "good stuff" you have experienced as well.
This will be the fourth post I've written since March 6th that mentions the Coronavirus and the C0VID-19 cases that might affect the members of our class. The city of Austin as well as many of the areas where you all live has gone on a lockdown since then. Personally, I am going into my third month of isolation. It has now been three weeks since any of my children have visited. Not that they have neglected me, but all think it wiser not to have physical contact with me. They are all sheltering in place, working and studying from home, but some still are shopping for groceries. They take turns coming to my house to take my trash to the dumpster down the road, and to bring me my mail. They talk to me briefly from the porch or front yard. I miss the hugs and occasional games we used to play.
(Foggy morning view from porch.)
There are seven people staying with my daughter Carajean for whom she shops. They all pitch in and share the cooking and chores while staying there. Since the virus is known to be asymptomatic in some cases, no one wants to inadvertently pass it on to me. Carajean says she orders groceries online now about every other day at different stores. Then she drives to pick them up. I am still ordering online, but now to be delivered. I ordered a fairly large amount last week only to have them say the soonest they could deliver is April 9th! Since HEB is overwhelmed with orders they said many of the items on my list will not be available, but they will substitute if I wish.
That started a small pity party I held for myself when the thought that now I likely must do without my favorite coffee and creamer. And eggs! How many recipes call for eggs? My "brunch" most often consists of eggs and toast. That made me immediately feel guilty and ashamed. I feel inordinately grateful that I have a cozy cottage to live in, children nearby to assist me when I need help, plentiful food (if not my favorite), internet, TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Roku (gifts from my son Matthew), and electricity to run them all as well as my oxygen concentrator. Even here in affluent Austin, poverty is plentiful, and the homeless are in danger of becoming the next victims of the pandemic. And then there are the third world countries..
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I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear from one of you or my other friends during this stressful time. Most of us are in the "vulnerable" stage. And some of you live in the hardest hit areas. I fear that Texas is going to be the next Number One center for the outbreak. Our Republican Governor has dragged his heels issuing stay-in-place orders. He still doesn't see the necessity of a full state lockdown. At the current time there are twelve (12) states that have yet to issue them... all with Republican Governors. They all seem to be following Trump's lead, and more concerned with leaving businesses open than saving lives.
I received the following from a few of you this past week:
Since the last time I heard from him, Garden Grove, CA, where BOB HOLLIS lives, has had a stay-at-home order issued. He wrote: "Margaret is cooped up at home.. in lockdown mode. I am avoiding people left and right, but still going to work. There are only two of us in the office and our offices are 30 feet apart. The Hollises are all ok. Thanks for asking. I hope you and yours are well also." Bob
DOTTIE BISHOP ROGERS sent an update as well: "I'm doing well. We only have 4-cases in Cochise County. Yes, our church is closed, but we are blessed with a pastor who is a pro with technology and he preaches online and teaches a class later. Our little Dollar General store is open. The only cafe has set up tables outside and gives our coffee clatches a place to eat. We have no gas station or grocery store. I'm so blessed to have my children close when so many have no one. I hope you are doing well." Isn't technology wonderful, DOTTIE? For years I have watched church services on TV. I'm happy to see so many are now offering online church as well. If we ever needed spirituality, we need it now.
GENE ROUTH always sends such beautiful photographs of their snowy landscape. Here's what he has to say currently: "We are doing well so far. Close to 400 cases of Covid-19 in our county and some deaths. I haven’t left home since Monday and don’t plan to for a few more days. About 5-inches of snow overnight, looks beautiful but things are not so great outside our gates. Our kids and grands are okay, all are still working so we worry about them. They check in daily, we are well looked after. I hope you are all safe and well. Best wishes and prayers." Gene
JERRI PIEL STEEL didn't mention the virus, but she has had another difficulty to deal with. She sent the following to me this week. "Am in isolation but for other reasons ~ 2-weeks ago my dog knocked me down, broke my hip - surgery, rehab, now at my son’s house in Weatherford for therapy ~ hope to be home soon. Love you."
Love you, too, JERRI. As I wrote this now, I realized that Weatherford is close to Fort Worth and located in Parker County. I noticed that Weatherford has instituted some lockdown features, too, but don't know if the city itself has any cases of COVID-19. In any case, JERRI, I hope you are careful before you venture out to go home. And watch out for your dog. It will probably be excited to see you up and around as usual.
Everyone please take good care of yourselves. Why not share some of your experiences with isolation. What you do to pass the time. Your memories of past "disasters".
