To Ken

9/12/2020:

I miss saying "Hi" to you!

Keep fighting!

Update 9/15/2020:

This morning, Florida reported 139 deaths due to COVID-19. One of those was Ken. He took his last breath as his wife listened over the phone yesterday evening. We get caught up in the numbers and the bias, but we so easily forget that behind those numbers are moms, dads, workers, and retirees like Ken.

I still miss saying "Hi" to you!

Update 9/26/2020:

We held the memorial for Ken over Zoom today. His wife was strong, but I think that she has cried her eyes out over the past month. Now, when I hear or see the COVID-19 numbers, I think of Ken. The statistics are very different when they are humanized.

I still miss saying "Hi", Ken!

To Dorth

To Dorth

At nineteen, 

we walked hand-in-hand to an uncertain future that was about to be.

It was the last time that I'd pass that candy store,

and I cried terribly that day.

At twenty-nine,

I smiled as I walked from the car. I waved and said, "I'll be okay."

After the hugs, and kisses, handshakes, and reminders,

It was the time that college began, 

and I waved to your babies that day.

At thirty-nine,

you decorated the maple tree with yellow ribbons for me.

The Navy was my life and I said goodbye yet again,

and I held back tears as I boarded that plane.

At forty-nine,

I couldn't recall that ten years had passed, my life was moving very fast.

You saw your children married and start their lives,

and between the moments we cried.

At fifty-nine,

My wife and I came to visit, brought you "Fluff" and later we sent a train

that you said that you once had had. It had a special story

and I cried just knowing what it meant to you.

At sixty-nine,

we all had gathered, enjoyed a meal and shared some drinks

because we had come from the graveyard where we had laid you to rest.

I cry every time I think of that day, because in every conceivable way, 

you were my mom.

- Steve Scheider, September 2020

Sorry that I didn't come up with this sooner, Dorth.

20200905 - twenty-five/fourteen

Howdy and greetings from our little tin can by the sea. We are both doing very well and happy labor day weekend to all. I've decided that following the news has made me become bitter, so I'm not posting my usual recap this week. Here's the numbers.

Scope	Cases	% Inc.	Deaths	% Inc.
Worldwide	26,941,620	8.0	881,285	4.7
United States	6,404,456	5.0	192,358	3.4
Florida	643,867	4.6	11,815	7.8
Pinellas County	20,355	3.1	671	4.0

Meanwhile, in LA...

Today is a David Gilmour day...