Day Three: Be Peaceful, Choose Love

I had to go to a doctor's office today for a scheduled visit. This is not for an illness and nothing urgent but was a necessary check-in visit. A 15-minute visit that could have been done by telephone.

The receptionist did the check-in without having me sign anything or touch anything. I wiped my credit card down with Purell when she finished swiping it. We chatted about this shared experience.

I'm not telling you this story because my medical visit is particularly compelling. Nope, the reason I'm telling you this is because my doctor couldn't do a teleconference with me because private insurance does not pay for teleconferences, so she has to be in the office, seeing her patients face to face, so that she will get reimbursed. She is furious. She has masks, but not a ton. She has gloves, but only what she has on hand.

While a U.S senator with insider knowledge cashes in $1.6 million of his stock after basically lying to us, my doctor cannot delay face to face visits because health insurance companies are not being mandated to pay out for teleconferencing. The exception here are Medicare patients, who she can video conference, but who rarely have the technology to do so.

Harkening back to my Day One post about toilet paper hoarders needing medical intervention. Well, I stand corrected. Diarrhea is a symptom of this virus, but this was only made known yesterday and hardly anyone I know has even heard this. So maybe some extra toilet paper is a good idea, because....

It is now speculated that 50% of Californians could become infected with this thing, and the only way we can slow the spread (because we sure are not going to stop it) is by staying the hell away from each other and maintaining exemplary hygiene.

What was today here at confinement in Casa de Eva?

Forgot to mention yesterday that my former lawyer (who is really just my friend at this point but I like saying "my lawyer" like Hunter S. Thompson) dropped by. Dropping by these days means yelling people my name LOUDLY from the sidewalk and us chatting for a few minutes. Something about these conditions is bringing us together and it warms my heart. 

 My roommate gave the super stinky dog, Lola, a bath. She smells and feels better and we can live with her now.

As I said before, I went to the doctor. The first time I've been in my car since Friday and it felt otherworldly. While there was more traffic than I expected, it was still a fraction of the usual.

Sather Gate, famous for Mario Savo's famous speech, and Telegraph Avenue, where people have turned on and tuned out for generations, was virtually deserted. Only a few stray homeless people wrapped in blankets and a couple of wobbly bicycle riders were in evidence.

I guess the last word tonight has to be that Governor Newsome just put the entire state on a  Shelter in Place order and I don't know what's next to maintain order, but right now it's  feels kind of scary but mostly I just want people to be peaceful and continue living, even in the confines of this currently reality.'

And now I am going to watch Disney's Fantasia, because that is right where I need to be.

Be Peaceful. Choose Love.

I'm gonna put this here, because I want it to be available to everyone.

Tina Turner sings us a Peace Mantra





Heather Hanai'ali'i Wood