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Letter from a Town of 50 ~ No.6

4/19/2020

Celebrations

I’ve had several projects going and couldn’t attend to my Letter writing. But I continue to be so moved by human gestures of all kinds among the community of world-wide coronavirus shut-ins! My current favorite is the 99-year-old UK World War II veteran, Capt. Tom Moore, who set himself a goal to raise money for Britain’s underfunded National Health Service during the deadly Covid-19 outbreak. He set up a fundraising page and decided to walk the 82-foot length of his garden back and forth 100 times, using his walker for support.

As he crossed the finish line six days after his effort began, “balloons could be seen in the distance, and soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment formed a guard of honor and saluted him. Strained health-care workers thanked him across the country….The donations have not stopped. As of Friday morning, Moore had raised $23 million for Britain’s health-care system as workers risked their lives to save others.” If you would like to see that moment (along with two and a half million others who watched), here it is.

At the other end of the spectrum from Capt. Moore’s humble walk in his garden is the world-wide event featuring 100 of the best-known musical artists: One World: Together At Home, organized in part by Lady Gaga and hosted, in the TV version, by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert on all three major networks. It was dedicated to health workers and other people on the front line from food deliverers to mail workers, to scientists working around the clock on a vaccine, including scenes of them at work around the globe. Lang Lang, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and dozens of musicians and celebrities joined in expressions of gratitude in this 8-hour marathon, first on the web and then as a two-hour television special carried on all the networks in prime time. It raised $127,000,000 for local and international aid organizations. It was also, I thought, a rare celebration of our common humanity, as if something inside of us was just waiting to burst forth into this spontaneous generosity, creativity and gratitude that normal life seems to inhibit. You can tune in to bits of this full version, the two hour TV show or watch the finale here, with Lang Lang, Celine Dionne, Lady Gaga, Andre Bocelli and John Legend. Once again, it is the wonder of technology that makes possible this performance by artists in distant locations.

Living-room concerts continue to be shared virtually and I have also enjoyed the widespread camaraderie (and humor!) of art lovers worldwide! My friend Clara Igonda in Pasadena shared an invitation from the Getty Museum.

Here are some of their offerings!

You can see more entries or enter yourself on the Getty Twitter Site.

From Spain comes the spunk and humor of La Mare in RESISTIRÉ (versión cuarentena), "I Will Endure, (quarantine version)" sent to me by my Comadre in Mexico City. You don’t need to understand Spanish to appreciate this spoof on the efforts to survive “sheltering in place,” as she walks the dog so much the dog refuses to go out and she gets to the end of her recipe book with nothing new to cook. She washes her curtains, her sofa pillows. She studies new languages, new dances, and has group chats on zoom. It will definitely lift your spirits just to watch her recreating scenes that are all too familiar to us in ways that make us smile.

Easter in our town was not the usual Spring celebration. Here is the tree in the center of town. I found myself singing “O Easter Tree, O Easter Tree, how snowy are Thy branches.”

Being shut off from friends and family, without traditional church services, may have been the greatest hardship of all for many people. Most virtually attended online services but for Christians that meant the absence of communion. It was also Passover and traditionally families would gather for their Seder meal. This family proved that in the right spirit, it can be done: Together at a distance for Passover.

Never again in our lifetimes (we hope and pray) will we ever see St. Peter’s square in Rome on Easter nearly empty.

On most Easter Sundays

Easter 2020 during coronavirus

Services were still performed and broadcast from an empty St. Peter's Basilica. In some places, outdoor services were performed and people attended in their cars.

The Stray Bullet Cafe is still making take-and-bake casseroles and Trixi's Antler Saloon is offering take-out pizzas for the weekends. Fred has kindly appeared on my porch with groceries. Howie is making up spray sanitizers and Peggy has been making masks.

I had a new bird at my feeder! One I never knew existed: A Hepburn's finch, also called grey-crowned rosy finch. A handsome bird and I am ever-so-happy to see it.

Overhead, Venus continues to shine brightly in the west as the Evening Star and below to the left is the bright star, Aldebaran, in the horn of Taurus. Arcturus is the brightest star in the east in the evening, with bright Spica shining to the lower right.

I will close with the peacefulness and patience of nature, AND of nature photographers. This was sent to me by friends in New York, created in neighboring Pennsylvania.

Be well,
Sheri

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Letter from a Town of 50 ~ No.5

4/7/2020

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Making Music Together

April 7, 2020

Small towns have their own challenges during these difficult times. Our town of 50 has dutifully remained in lockdown since the early days of March, although there has been a steady arrival of customers for Colleen’s take-out lasagna and necessities at the Blackfoot Store. Always 6 feet apart of course. Trixi’s Antler Saloon has worked out a system where folks can call in orders and indicate the time they will come. When they arrive, their food is put out on a picnic table with a box where they can deposit cash.

We want our few businesses to survive! They mean a lot to us and make our community what it is. Soon, residents who winter in warmer climes will return and we look forward to that. Nevertheless, the arrival of people from various places can put us at risk, so our town herald (Kathy Schoendoerfer) put out this message:

A plea to the Ovando and surrounding Communities
from the Health Departments of Montana and your fellow residents.

Let's do this folks, because we can!
Our biggest fear of a partial shut down or full closure of the Blackfoot Commercial Company, Trixi's or the Stray Bullet should those folks get exposed, is easily remedied with these simple rules of engagement. Same goes for those essential businesses surrounding us.
And we all Thank you!

We will all carry different impressions of this time, but the one that will stay with me the most is this rare sense of social intimacy that has come with social distancing!

Never before have we been able to share a common experience with people around the globe, all from their living rooms, balconies or front doors! I am moved by the sight of people in small towns and city neighborhoods joining together to applaud their tired first responders returning home from their shifts. It is as if we are all discovering who we really are and what we care about.

In Becca Nolan-Olsen's neighborhood in California, "neighbors are putting teddy bears and rainbows in their windows for little kids to walk around and look for as a distraction from the current situation."

There are so many creative ways that people have found to cheer their other home-bound neighbors, near and far. Often it is through that universal language, music! Here is a favorite of mine from France, as members of l'Orchestre National de France perform together from their homes. Quite a feat! Notice that the kettle drum player has to improvise with ladle and spoon! Ravel would be smiling.
(Watch the video full screen by clicking here. Or click on the image below.)

This reminded me of a similar feat of virtual music from Eric Whitacre. Here he performs a work he composed, with 147 singers from 12 countries, all from their homes via Skype: E ric Whitacre's LUX AURUMQUE

This was followed by an even more amazing feat: The 2011 Virtual Choir video features 2052 performances of 'Sleep' from 1752 singers in 58 countries, individually recorded and uploaded to YouTube between September 2010 and January 2011. The special effects in this video really bring home the global nature of the event. (Click here to watch full screen.)

Even before hearing of Eric Whitacre, Tiffany Goodrick of San Diego put together a virtual performance of the spiritual “Down to the River” with her 36 singers. “The 36 voices you hear were all recorded separately at different times and in different locations. Each woman had only the melody playing in her ear and then sang the part that she wanted, no music was written out. All videos were recorded using cell phones.”

Now, with school closures during the pandemic, Spring Concerts have been canceled and some high school choir directors are turning to virtual performances so their music can still be performed.

For those of you who missed March Madness and the NBA games, here is a slight variation on March Madness, which you might enjoy!
https://youtu.be/J4_tB9p8T0U

Another testimony to human ingenuity and imagination is the International Marblympics (Marble Olympics). I kid you not! Here is the teaser to prove it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFK7M0UkTVY

Lastly, I’ve forgotten to mention that this blog sits on my website, which is a “curated collection” (i.e. my favorites) of videos on a variety of subjects; audio of lectures, poetry and even some complete works of literature; comedy favorites and old radio shows. You can click on links at the top of this page or go to the main page here and scroll down to enter: Sheri Ritchlin's Indranet

Be well,
Sheri

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Letter from a Town of 50 ~ No.4

3/31/2020

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Snow!

March 31, 2020

Snow! That was the forecast. Friends in southern latitudes will be aghast at the thought of snow in Spring (or perhaps anytime), but Howie Fly tells me it once snowed on the 4th of July. Sheltering in place can be a way of life in the winter here. Thank goodness our town has a sense of humor, on display the minute you enter the town from the west and are greeted by this sign.

The winters are long, snowy and cold so the town came up with an antidote to February cabin fever: a winter luau. Obvious right? Everyone puts on some form of colorful tropical garb (over their long underwear of course) and gathers around a bonfire to share a potluck meal. If the temperatures are precipitously low or the snow precipitously high, we can take refuge in the fire hall. At my first luau, Packer’s Roost was set up and we gathered food there to take outside by the fire. It is also an annual, imprecise, census event. A picture is always taken as a record. It really is a cheering occasion!

Right now it is calving season in the valley. All hands on deck. The other day, Howie Fly drove a camper out to their son-in-law’s ranch for him to stay in while overseeing calf deliveries. Jake’s family ranch covers 8,000 acres in Helmville, which is a sister community to Ovando. Last year I met a fellow who had hired out on a local ranch as a spotter—helping locate cows going into labor and notifying the ranchers. That meant spending long cold nights of watching in harsh conditions. He had worked some hard jobs in Alaska, but he found this job the toughest he’d ever done and vowed NOT to return next year. Maybe that’s how you develop a sense of humor.

To give you an idea of the vast wild expanses of Montana, consider that it is the fourth largest state, including Alaska, and yet the population stays steady at around one million. Grizzly bears have wandered into town and elk are familiar sights on the hills and in meadows. But that small population is devoted to their state and many ranchers here are also conservationists. The Two Creek Monture ranch owned by Wayne and Karalee Slaght and their family recently won an Environmental Stewardship Award. You can appreciate the land and the thought that goes into preserving it here. (Watch it full screen here. )

Another antidote to cabin fever was created by Montana Covid-19 Couch Concerts. https://www.mtpr.org/post/live-music-now-playing-quarantined-couch-near-you "Bars and music venues across the country have shuttered their doors to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, but many musicians are still finding ways to perform during the pandemic through livestream shows being called "COVID-19 Couch Concerts." With gigs and tours postponed or canceled, performers have turned to impromptu live shows on the internet.”

On a larger scale but with similar intention, is cellist Yoyo Ma’s #SongsofComfort. “The idea for #SongsOfComfort sparked from asking what he could do for others. So now, he’s using his music as an act of servitude — and is inviting others to join him.” (WBUR) The response has ranged from professional performers like Carol King and James Taylor to grandparents and children, all sharing their music from their living rooms. Such an intimate sharing—living room to living room!

Here are two of my favorites: The first is two Mayo Clinic doctors--NOT in their living room alas, but on a break offering up a song. Bless them all!
Two Mayo Clinic Doctors on a Break

The second is a grandfather entertaining his grand-daughters as they all shelter in place.

“I wrote this little song for my granddaughters to make them feel good about themselves. As you’ll see they seem to like it. I hope it brings a little joy to you and your children, as well. T. A. Kuepper” https://twitter.com/i/status/1244024932259913728

Watching these little girls dance reminded me of the pleasures of seeing the natural expression of music in young children. If you have ever seen Zubin Mehta conduct (or even if you haven’t), this video of his grandson will knock your socks off!

zubin_mehtas_grandson.mp4
File Size:	4397 kb
File Type:	mp4

Download File

This reminded me of a favorite video of mine, which I have on my website: 3 year old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony

I will end on a musical note that ties all of this together. Carole King offered this earlier recording up to #SongsOfComfort and it is so reminiscent of where I live. I hope it will soothe your stress and make your home feel a little larger.
Way Over Yonder

From our valley to yours, even if it is only inside of you...

Stay well.
Sheri

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Letter from a Town of 50 ~ No.3

3/28/2020

2 Comments

Some perspective

Yersinia Pestis is on the move, traveling more invisibly than ships or caravans. It rises out of the steppes of Central Asia with the Mongol hordes who are among its bearers. It travels first in the lungs of the bobac marmot from places like Issyk Kul in present day Kirgystan. From there it hitches a ride on fleas that find transport on rats and finally humans. It follows the caravan routes east and west along the Silk Road making use, with the Mongol armies and traders, of the opportunities of free passage within the Mongol Empire made possible by the Pax Mongolica. [It] finds transport on merchant ships, which carry it gratuitously and unwittingly throughout the Mediterranean. Following the caravan routes, it reaches the Crimea in Southeastern Europe in 1346… and moves on into Western Europe and North Africa.
--Sheri Ritchlin, A Farm in Marin: Portraits in Time from Pangaea to Point Reyes

March 28, 2020

I spent a lot of time in the 14th century while researching for this book, though it was only one chapter. I focused especially on the Roman poet Petrarch and Boccaccio, who gave us a first-hand portrait of the decimation of his city, Florence. It was hard to imagine that 75,000,000 (up to 200,000,000 by some estimates), would perish from this pandemic. But the worst of times was surely after World War I when 500,000,000 people died of the Spanish Flu; more than had died in that terrible war.

How things have changed since then! There was no television, internet or iphone to spread the word, mobilize first responders, send out warnings and instructions—wash your hands, stay six feet apart!—and keep people who are ordered to shelter in place in communication with their friends and loved ones.

Technology has given so many people a role to play in this growing crisis. Democracies have given individuals a voice and many are using it via social media. Listen to the poignant call to his people of Irish prize-fighter Conor McGregor:

As I write, Howie Fly has just slipped up on my porch to fill the bird feeder, which he and Peggy provided me with a few years ago and keep filled religiously. Looking out on my finches, sparrows, juncos and other feathered visitors, I am filled with their peaceful industry, going about their daily routine without thought of coronavirus or the growing restrictions on human life around the world. I find that I need the digital interconnections to be balanced with the analog quiet of birds and trees and sky. I use analog in a nontechnical way simply to mean nondigital. (Apologies to those who know better.)

Speaking of Sky, here is an update: On clear evenings in the Valley, Venus is bright in the Western sky, not far below the Pleiades—the brilliant cluster in the shoulder of the constellation Taurus. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are low on the southeast horizon as dawn begins, Jupiter the brightest. What can be seen only with a telescope or an astrologer’s eye is Pluto, sitting invisibly between Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn and Jupiter were heraldic combinations in antiquity. Some have joined Kepler in asserting that a conjunction of these planets in 7 BC accounts for the Star of Bethlehem. Other have described the conjunction during that era as denoting a change of Ages from Taurus to Pisces in the precession of the equinoxes. Actually, this conjunction takes place every 20 years, though in different signs of the zodiac. It is that hidden presence of Pluto that makes a difference. Saturn and Pluto were in conjunction in 1914-15, 1947 and 1982. Not the best of times, yet periods that brought global change: a new world order and the birth of international institutions after 1947 and in 1983, the birth of the World Wide Web and the Internet. My friend Sarah Livia Brightwood likes to speak of the Restoring Twenties, as the counterpart to the Roaring Twenties of the last century. Let's hope!

What is important to me here is that as our skies grow clearer with lack of traffic, and as we have more time in our isolation, we can find some analog peace by simply looking upward. Bright Aldebaran is shining just below the Moon and those three bright planets are together at dawn. You can follow the sky events here: https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/sky-at-a-glance/

We received word from our own town herald that Montana’s governor Bullock has extended business and school closures until April 10th and the Court House doors are locked in Powell County, which has extended the closure order on restaurants' and bars' seating areas, gyms, theaters, cigar bars, casinos, salons, parlors and other recreation venues through April 15. I was a little surprised because our town has been closed for a while. I discovered that folks made that decision among themselves to protect people in the community who are vulnerable due to immune-systems issues or other risk factors. I realized that you can do that in a town of 50; consider what the common good is among yourselves.

As of today, March 28, Montana has 129 cases. So far, none in Powell County. Here is a map of counties affected:

My friend Cynthia, in hard hit Chicago, is sheltering in place with her family and making a walking video, though she admits that indoor walking lacks the satisfaction of the outdoors. My cousin Marcia is an artist who does much of her work indoors but finally countered the stir-crazies by going for a drive, ending up at a drive-in place and buying a hot fudge sundae. I bet a hot fudge sundae never tasted so good!

Linda Barry, a film producer living near the hard-hit Los Angeles area, emailed that she is taking advantage of her family's isolation to finish a six-episode series she's been writing. Her daughter Aja is "partaking in the district's distance learning via Google Classroom, keeping up with her classes."

My friend Sally Mahe in Mill Valley has always been a great walker and finds her analog peace by walking nearby trails in a vast network of trails in Marin County. Point Reyes National Seashore alone has 150 miles of trails. (see https://www.visitmarin.org/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/hiking/ )
When the world opens up again, we can see freshly how beautiful it is.

Seeing Sally's photos of her walk filled my heart, as I hope they do yours.

(Photos by Sally Mahe)

Please take care and be well everyone!

Sheri

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LETTER FROM A TOWN OF 50 ~ No.2

3/24/2020

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A Global Hermit

March 24, 2020

As a certified hermit living over the Stray Bullet Café, the local recluse writer, sheltering-in-place is my daily occupation. But it seems that this coronavirus is turning introverts into extroverts and vice versa. C.G. Jung coined those terms: Extroverts mostly orient their energy to, and are in turn energized by, the outer world. Introverts are the reverse, oriented more toward the inner world. This is a tough time for extroverts. And here I am, the hermit sitting Hobbit-like before my fire, receiving communications from as far away as Taiwan in response to this blog. The one contribution I can make to my fellow humans at this time is to provide a bit of news and banter for the shut-ins.

When I sent the first blog link to Kathy Schoendoerfer, our faithful town herald, I asked after her partner Travis. Together they own the Blackfoot Angler, just below me next to the Stray Bullet, which carries everything from fishing flies to local art, which you can also find across the street at the Blackfoot Store. Travis suffered serious back problems last winter and recently had surgery. She replied that he’d had a setback when he fell on the ice. “What on earth was he doing on the ice?” I asked. Here was her answer.

He was being a good Samaritan.
Our neighbor 2 weeks ago had flu like symptoms. On Day 3, I said “that's it! I'm taking you to the ER” as she is 76 and lives by herself with her beloved dog.

Found out she had a twisted intestine so she had to stay in hospital for a few days. While I was with her Travis went to her house to pick up her dog to live with us for as long as she was ill. While getting the dog he slipped....twice. So can't get mad at him for that. LoL.

A friend from high school wrote this from Taiwan.

Many years ago...when the boys were in their teens, we would
spend our summer vacations traveling to really unique and out-of-
the-way places. One summer, we got out a map of the U.S. closed
our eyes and pointed to a place on the map. You would have laughed
to see their faces when we saw that we had picked Montana.

We spent about a month driving and camping our way around the
state in a 'rent-a-wreck' car. Put thousands of miles on it and when
it was time to turn it in, the rental agent was so amazed at the mileage,
the care that we had taken of his car and the fact that it was still 'alive',
he only charged us half-price. Small gifts that mean a lot.

My friend Rorry wrote from St. Martin’s in the Caribbean--

I’ve been amazed at how people are abiding by the stay at home order
We are essentially France and have to follow their rules

There is now a 6 o’clock curfew and beach and water swimming forbidden
This is sad since we love to walk our beach and it’s our main source of exercise
We have been walking twice a day but now will stop as pretty much most people are obeying the ban.
We will walk the road in town which also has its interest

This once bustling town with wonderful restaurants and shops and great mix of tourist and locals whose families have lived here for generations is now a ghost town
My yoga classes are cancelled.
I’m still glad we decided to stay as there have been only 3 cases here.

Perhaps it would have been better if Miami were French. You’ve probably seen a picture of Florida beaches during college Spring break, like this one.

As one student said, "If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I'm not going to let it stop me from partying. I've been waiting, we've been waiting for Miami spring break for a while. About two months we've had this trip planned, two, three months, and we're just out here to have a good time."

You can’t blame officials for getting frustrated. I particularly loved this short bit from mayors in Italy who are “losing it” over their recalcitrant citizens. You’ve got to love the Italians! And say a prayer for them too.

Italian Mayors Losing It At People Violating Quarantine

Today, March 24th, we are almost at 395,000 cases, third place—after China and Italy--in a competition we never wanted to enter. Montana has 46, none in Powell County. Let’s hope we can keep it that way. Here are affected counties.

Becky Beard reports that she has heard but not seen robins at the bottom of MacDonald Pass and I have been enjoying the juncos. I thought I caught a glimpse of a male and female brambler but that remains to be confirmed.

I just read in New Scientist that a small, mysterious site in the Czech Republic’s Šumava mountains could have been a nature retreat for religious hermits 2200 years ago.

Šumava mountains, Czech Republic

I not only feel connections in space but also in time. Like the 2200 year old hermits, I can lift my eyes unto the hills in all directions here and also pick up lasagna from the Stray Bullet Cafe below if I run out of food. Or replenish from the Blackfoot Store. So far, Howie and Peggy have me in good shape.

Ovando, Montana

Surely, in the worst of times, this is the best of places.

Be well!
Sheri Ritchlin

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LETTER FROM A TOWN OF 50

3/22/2020

Community in a time of crisis

Ovando, Montana in the Blackfoot Valley where "a river runs through it"

March 22, 2020

On March 10, I returned from Mexico City, after attending the 100th Birthday Party of my “Madre Mexicana" Yolanda Batiz de Hay. I have been her Gringa Hija since 1978 and I am now Comadre to her daughter Yolanda and godmother to her grand-daughter Jimena. On the day of my flight, there were over 114,000 coronavirus cases worldwide, though only 15 listed in Mexico and none in Montana.

I stayed with a friend in Mill Valley, planning to meet with someone from the East speaking at a conference, but all conferences and events in the Bay Area were cancelled and we were asked to “shelter in place.” I moved up my flight back to Montana to March 18th. San Francisco International Airport was virtually empty. Spooky. There were four people on my plane. It was like flying in my own Lear Jet.

My friends Howie and Peggy Fly met me at the airport in Missoula, an hour from Ovando. Peggy had emailed to ask if I would like them to pick up anything at Walmart or Costco. I sent a list of ten things, apologizing for the quantity. She emailed back: “We checked your larder and you are out of sugar, low on oatmeal, out of fruit-nut bars and chocolate covered almonds…" and more. In my town of 50, people do these things! On this date, March 18, there were over 118,000 cases worldwide. Only eleven in Montana.

I had planned a 14 day quarantine in my hermitage over the Stray Bullet Café. Peggy explained that all businesses were closed down except Fred’s Blackfoot Store across the street. If I needed something, Fred would deliver it to my porch and put it on an account to be paid later.

Then Kathy of the Blackfoot Angler, and the town herald, sent out this email to all residents, very much in keeping with the spirit of the town.

Time to relax and be patient folks. And time to stay together as a community. With that thought:
1. If you are in need of assistance, please reply to this email with what is needed and we can see if someone can assist you. From a distance.
2. If you are NOT in need of assistance, but wish to help others; let folks know via this email how you can be of service [prescription/food/mail PU and delivery etc]. From a distance.
Most of us are use to isolation so it is Just Another Day in the Valley, so we'll get thru this just fine; and this isn't going to last for ever. But for some this isn't normal so reach out to help those. Just a phone call or an email can be uplifting. So hang in there folks! These be interesting times!

And the following Ovando businesses are here to help you thru these times:

Blackfoot Commercial Co: Open 7 days a week from 8 to 5 M-Sat, 10 to 4 Sundays. Subject to change. Shelves are looking good, as they can get their supplies. Call 793-555 for more information.

Trixis Antler Saloon: Closed for dining. Closed Mondays only. Take out available between noon and 6. Call 793-5611 in advance [or 793-5049 in case she ran home for a minute]. All menu items available. Lights will be off to discourage drive up diners but she is there! Or call 793-5049 after hours for more assistance.

Blackfoot Angler: Opening weekends only starting the 28th: 10 to 4. 1 person at a time. Licenses available on line. Supplies arrive first of May. Not a lot in stock but there if you need them. Call 793-0018 for information.

The Stray Bullet Cafe: Available for take and bake casseroles just place your orders... spaghetti casserole, lasagna, chicken enchiladas, tater tot casserole or special requests!
$30 each and serves 8 easily!

Blackfoot Community Bible Church: Will not be having services this week, or any until the restrictions have been lifted. They are going week by week but urge those of you interested to congregate on-line via the Lolo Community Church's FB Live program Sunday at 10:45 am via https://www.facebook.com/Lolo-Community-Church-128712677142175/

It was the first day of Spring. Joe Bradshaw wrote that the bluebirds and meadowlarks had arrived on the Flats. There were now 305,000 cases worldwide.

Last night I read this poignant public Facebook post from Claudio Nardini in Scotland. It is worth sharing with anyone who does not take this seriously or who ignores restrictions:

Today was a real eye opener.
We decided to remain open to provide a takeaway service for what I thought would be a few people grabbing the opportunity to appreciate a walk along Largs prom….
I can't believe how busy the prom was. Crowds of people walking hand in hand, hugging, grandmothers holding babies, teenagers sharing drinks, elderly people galore mingling with others of all ages. Wow! Just Wow!

Now, I have strong links to two other countries in Europe and have witnessed this virus develop by talking regularly to family in both Italy and Spain. This nonchalant attitude was rife in both those countries only a couple of weeks ago. Italy yesterday announced almost 700 deaths in the preceding 24 hours. They can't cope, even after creating thousands of extra spaces in hospitals they are inundated with new cases. I heard the saddest news yesterday that they are letting people over a certain age die as they have to concentrate their efforts and resources keeping younger people alive. They are already calling the older generation 'heroes' as they will now be sacrificed. It now looks like Spain is headed in the same direction even though both countries have been in total lock down for a while now.
Seeing the prom rammed with people and dozens of cars queuing for the ferry today like nothing was out of the ordinary really saddened me. I should have been overjoyed, the till was ringing constantly and coffees and ice creams were flying out the door. I wasn't because it reminded me of the images my family and friends were sending me only a couple of weeks ago and now look where they're at. I sent them a photo of today's packed prom and they couldn't believe it especially when we should be using their recent experience as an example.

Everyone at work today was overcome with a strange feeling of guilt, almost as if we were contributing to this madness. For this reason we have decided to completely close this evening until this whole thing blows over.

An announcement not long ago pointed out it's spreading faster here than it did at this stage in both Italy or Spain. Please please please stay at home if you can, I couldn't bear seeing what is happening to my relatives happen here too. Cxx

Today there are 31 cases in Montana. 337,679 worldwide. If you have been following the arithmetic, that’s over 223,000 new cases in 12 days.

Please take care and be well,
Sheri Ritchlin

SheriRitchlin.com

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Sheri Ritchlin is a free-lance writer living in Ovando, Montana ~ a town of 50 in the Blackfoot Valley.