Self-renewing apology

I should probably issue a self-renewing apology, given all the times I’ve had to post one in recent months, saying how sorry I was for my prolonged absences. I know many of you are aware that I’ve been having some health problems for a while. It doesn’t feel right to be complaining of any ailment that isn’t Covid-19 or poor Baldwin’s leprosy, but the cumulative effect of these “problems” was enough to keep me off the computer. And I really missed you guys! I’ve been worrying about you, too, for this is a very stressful time for the entire world. Every day seems to bring fresh heartbreak, doesn’t it? I hope that you all are coping as well as we can expect in the midst of a pandemic and that you have found the support systems you need among your families and friends and, yes, your pets. Writers tend to live like hermits even in normal times for ours is such a solitary profession. But as the months drag by, living in our imaginations gets old fast. Luckily, I have a support spaniel who is also a love sponge.
I am relieved to report that my BP problems seems to have stabilized; it had begun to plunge to truly dramatic depths. The scoliosis that I share with Richard III is under control now that I’ve been able to get regular adjustments again. Richard had enough problems with the Lancastrians and Tudor and those vile Stanleys without also living in an age without chiropractors. Best of all, I am finally able to treat acute and chronic sinus infections, and will be having surgery in September. After that, not only can I start spending time again on my Facebook pages, I might even be able to resume my blogs!
I want to share with you all a truly amazing map that a friend sent to me recently. Unfortunately, it only covers the US, but we probably need it more because cases are still surging here. It allows us to calculate the odds of coming in contact with someone infected with Covid-19. You simply choose your location, list the number of people you’ll be mingling with, and then find out how dangerous it may be. For example, you live in Sacramento, CAL and have been invited to attend a wedding with one hundred guests. Enter that information and you get the bad news that there is an 80% likelihood that at least one of the guests will have the coronavirus. https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/
I wanted to end on a more cheerful note, though, and I happened upon this “warning” by the National Parks Service, telling us the best way to react if you encounter a bear in the woods. Here is a sample. “Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees. Do NOT push down a slower friend (even if you think the friendship has run its course). Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Don’t we all? Identify yourself by making noise so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Help the bear recognize you as a human. We recommend using your voice. Waving and showing off your opposable thumb means nothing to the bear.” There is a sort of crazy comfort in knowing that we can cross at least one danger off our high-risk lists. Thanks to the National Parks Service, we ought to be able to avoid being eaten by a bear.