QUARANTINE BLOG # 24

April 23, 2020

Now that virtually all cruising has ceased and ships are either docked in ports around the world or idling at sea, each night at 7:30 p.m. ET, all of the ships anchored around Grand Bahama Island are sounding their horns at the same time https://twitter.com/halcruises/status/1241518971804946433 in solidarity.

Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Kate McCue said, “We sound our horns, to let our crew and the world know that while we are strong, safe, and healthy on board (currently over 250,000 crew members are onboard around the world), we are thinking of those at home and hoping the same for them. Until our safe returns to our home ports, we wish them fair winds and following seas.”

👉 The Alaskan cruise season has been suspended until July 1, according to current plans.  Approximately 1.5 million cruise passengers were expected to arrive in our 49th state this year, bringing nearly $800 million in local spending with them, aboard a total of 43 different vessels making over 600 sailings.

Ports of embarkation and disembarkation – where most vessels are provisioned, bunkered with fuel, and made ready for the voyage ahead – will also see an economic impact.  A port call generates hundreds of thousands of dollars; a turnaround port call generates millions.  Each ship that turns around in the Port of Vancouver provides $3 million to the local economy. The Port of Seattle receives $4.2 million in economic benefits from each vessel turning around at its cruise terminals.

👉 While watching Jeopardy the other night (Answer!) I learned that I suffer from a disease called “tsundoku” – a Japanese term used to describe a person who owns a lot of unread literature. 

The term can be found in print [ironic, I think] as early as 1879, meaning it was likely in use before that.  The word “doku” can be used as a verb to mean “reading.”  The “tsun” in “tsundoku” originates in “tsumu” – a word meaning “to pile up.”  So when put together, “tsundoku” has the meaning of buying reading material and piling it up.

I don’t think I am the only person connected with 233 Woodland Drive who is afflicted with this disease.

Professor Andrew Gerstle, who teaches pre-modern Japanese texts at the University of London, says while this might sound like tsundoku is being used as an insult, the word does not carry any stigma in Japan.  Nor at 233.

Now, what is the term for Lego Star Wars ships, Jedi, clones, and droids which are laying, unplayed with, since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Augusta?  See the above picture.

👉 In case you don’t have enough to worry about, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Robert Redfield said a second wave of coronavirus cases would likely coincide with the flu season, and this second wave could be even worse than the first.  Mr. Redfield stressed getting flu shots as soon as they are available.

👉 I don’t know if this is sarcasm or not, but at least one good thing has come out of this pandemic.  Vladimir Putin, Russia’s dictator-in-chief, had planned to try to push a bill through the Duma (their legislative branch) to deconstruct the Russian constitution (I guess the polite term is “amend,” but where Rootin’ Tootin’ Putin is concerned “deconstruct” is closer to the truth).  If successful, the measure would have allowed him to remain in power for two more terms.  Because of the coronavirus, the ballot was postponed.  May it never reappear!  Both that ballot issue and coronavirus!

👉 I am usually a patient man, a very gentle man.  May I borrow from Professor Henry Higgins?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQGH9zereFc “I’m a very gentle man, even-tempered and good-natured who you never hear complain. Who has the milk of human kindness by the quart in every vein. A patient man am I, down to my fingertips. The sort who never would, never could let an insulting remark escape his lips. A very gentle man.”

But some folks make it hard. 

The CDC has issued guidelines for the public to wear masks when outside one’s home and to practice social distancing.  But these guidelines are not laws, which allows some people to think they can ignore them with impunity. The level to which people follow the guidelines has varied.  New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy, calls the people that don’t or won’t police themselves “knuckleheads.”  Maybe he should call out Henry McMaster and Brian Kemp.

But what about the people you meet at the grocery store or other places where you venture these days?  During World War II citizens were cautioned not to talk about military matters because “loose lips sink ships.”  Here in the 21st century, loose lips may not sink ships, but they could get you a poke in the nose. 

The writer of Proverbs offers wise counsel for those difficult times.

“A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, but harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger” (15:1 Amplified).  

“Wise people use knowledge when they speak, but fools pour out foolishness” (15:2 New Century Version).

Sometimes a rebuke is necessary: “A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool” (17:10 The Message).

Some people will respond angrily or defensively, no matter what: “Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself” (Proverbs 26:4 The Message).

To the person standing maskless and too close in the checkout line, perhaps a gentle, “Would you mind taking a few steps back.  I want to be sure I am protecting both of us” will be effective.

There have already been outbreaks of unsocial distance violence, fist fights and name calling.  How about a blessing instead an unkindness?  “Here’s hoping you and yours remain healthy and stay safe.”

Stay safe.  Or as Sgt. Phil Esterhaus used to say, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkbBfqA6-4Y “Let’s be careful out there.”

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