A fine kettle of fish

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Report from New Orleans. 

Heard a piece on the radio (actually, a “podcast”) about things that might help us as we try and figure out what to do with coronavirus.  There was a reading from Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, about thinking each other’s thoughts and speaking what the other was just about to speak.  About being with those we know so well, actually being with them rather than having to rush out the door.  Love in the Time of Facebook certainly tempers drastically the potential for connection in a time of coronavirus. 

We are worried about musicians, service staff at bars and restaurants, bathroom attendants, street performers of all kinds, and their families and circle of supported people.  Many of these workers, like our trombonist Jon, get paid not a salary or wage, but by tips.  If no one comes, they get nothing. I have googled things like “support for service workers” or “musicians and coronavirus in New Orleans” and so far have found nothing.  I do plan to discuss this with our son, and hopefully we can get some coordinated effort together to leverage our effectiveness.  This is just an idea now but the motivation and energy around it is high.  I think it will come together. 

There was a piece in the New York Times shaming people who continue to go to live shows or to bars, while at the same time they may be working from home or on leave from work due to the social distancing recommendations.  Here in New Orleans, the annual Saturday St. Patrick’s Day parade in the part of NOLA known as the Irish Channel was canceled, but unofficial parading continued, with large crowds seemingly flipping the bird at Mayor Cantrell for recommending “social distancing” and staying away from large gatherings altogether.  Despite charges of brazen disregard for the health of others with such activities, participants reported some responsible actions: the line for the sink in the bathroom at bars along the “pub crawl” was twice as long as the one for the toilet, a condition never before seen.

 All we can do at this point I think is get our acts together with plans to support those with special challenges such as those who work in the live entertainment/ service industry, while we do our best.  The number of cases of coronavirus per day in Louisiana dropped yesterday, even as the second death in the state was reported.  We still have big problems in our ability to gauge the threat, due to lack of test availability. 

We will have 3 friends visit us tonight in our home, and I will cook dinner while Carol provides the general planning for presentation and logistics.  I had favored sitting around the table, but at our place here in New Orleans, affectionately and ironically referred to by the moniker “The Palace”, once your guest list tops 2, the table is too small.  Carol pointed out that we should “social distance in place”, so we will eat with our plates on our laps, and keep our voices up.  Should work out!

I really enjoyed exploring the cookbook Skillet Love by Anne Byrn, and tonight will find me making skillet eggplant parmesan for the second time.  Carol and I will watch more movies at home together, recently it was The Two Popes.  We learned about Vatican rituals and some personal history, especially of the current Pope Francis, and witnessed an amazing (as usual) acting performance by Anthony Hopkins in his role as Pope Benedict.

My wish is for all of us to find a way to respond to the needs we see, creatively and confidently.  Figure out how you can feel as confident as possible about keeping yourself and others safe. 

 Apropos: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/books/21book.html
The new book by Solnit: https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/rebecca-solnits-memoir-is-much-more-than-a-feminist-manifesto

Web sites:
Johns Hopkins: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

And in keeping with the rule that all blogposts need photos, here’s one:

Last weekend, Carol and I joined a group of 12 other riders and a support group of 3 people with a car and an RV equipped with an espresso machine and baristo. We started in Ocean Springs near Biloxi, and in 2 days covered the 100 miles. Here, we are returning to New Orleans (you can see the city-scape in the distance on the right), crossing a usually busy bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway on Paris Road from New Orleans East (the 9th ward) to Chalmette.  The car with the bike on the roof is Mike's, one of our supporters who very happily performed non-riding duties; when he did ride he rode Judy's  electric assist while she took a break.  


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