Pandemic Truth

This is my father when he was a young reporter. Dad always sought the truth and checked his sources. Read more about him at https://rawdatafalloutfromthecoronavirus.blogspot.com/2020/05/pandemic-truth-marzec.html

My Memorial Day Wish

It amazes me that the human race has made it this far. Earth is not a stable environment with all the tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, mudslides, sinkholes, and fires. Our precarious situation is made even worse by war. Currently, we are at war with COVID-19. The nurses, doctors, and scientists are doing their best to save lives as well as figure out how to save everyone on the planet. They aren't using guns. They are taking the risk on the frontlines in an effort to beat this dreadful disease.

Meanwhile, the rest of us continue to argue with each other--despising each other and worse yet, blaming each other. It's the Democrats' fault. It's the Republicans' fault. It's the Liberals' fault. It's the Conservatives' fault.

"Wear masks," recommends the CDC. But there are those who won't wear a mask. There are those who believe wearing a mask is taking away their freedom.

Please. Why can't we get along? Why can't we have peace?

Patience

I saw this fisherman one day at the beach. He stood there for a long time. While I was there, he didn't catch anything, but he sure had a lot of patience.

I haven't gone fishing in a long time. When I was a youngster, I fished in the lake behind our house. My brother put the worm on the hook for me. It was exciting when I caught a fish, but most of the time fishing required quiet. I had to sit and wait, and wait. I was never fond of fishing.

Writing requires patience, too. Unlike fishing, writing is a nice, clean activity. However, it requires hours and hours of time. In addition, the odds of becoming rich are rather low. Then there are the rejections, the rewrites, and the marketing.

Marketing is the most annoying thing about writing for me. It's almost equivalent to putting a slimy worm on a hook, but to catch readers that's what a writer has to do. A writer has to be patient in marketing. It's an ongoing activity and the rewards aren't always immediately obvious. But just like that fisherman, you reel in the line, cast off again, and wait.

But in the meantime, you can write another book and that's the fun part. 😊

No Time for Books?

I know a lot of people who don't read books. Some are friends, some are relatives, and some are coworkers. Many of them have college degrees. I could list their names here but that would be mean and it still wouldn't make them pick up a book and read it. They all have a reason for not reading. They tell me they are too busy. They often read magazines, or the newspaper. But they never sit down with a book in their hands and read it from the beginning to the end. Never.

I think this is very sad. Those who don't read are missing out on some amazing adventures. But more importantly, they are wrong about the time needed to read a book. Reading does not have to take much time at all. There are millions of audio books--and you can borrow them at the library for nothing. You don't even have to visit the library, you can download them from the library's website and then add them to your iPod. You can listen to them while driving to work, exercising, or folding the laundry. Seriously, what else are you going to do while folding laundry? Listen to Lady Gaga?

For those who own a Kindle, there are books that are speech enabled. The Kindle can read the books to you. You can dust the living room or crochet an afghan while listening to the latest Janet Evanovich novel. Better yet, you can listen one of my novels.

Books are special. Every book allows the reader to enter into someone else's mind. Please get into a book soon. It really doesn't take any time at all.