My excuse for having not blogged in awhile is varied and
strange. AND this is a long one so go ahead and get a cup of coffee. January: Spent some time hiking in the woods and then the beginning stages of the Coronavirus led to more people in Japan wearing masks to provide a barrier to this virus and also the onset of flu season. Coldish, rainish and windish January in Sasebo; even a little snow.
February: Took a couple of road trips, spent more time
walking and running as the weather slowly got nicer. Paid a little closer attention as Coronavirus
began to spread at first from China to Japan and South Korea and then to the
USA by the end of the month. 
March: Plum blossoms popping out everywhere and my
allergies kicked into gear. Then as the month moved along, the Cherry blossoms
began to bloom. Road trip to Nagasaki by way of the sea coast. Coronavirus started
spreading fast worldwide. The USA went
crazy with massive breakouts of the virus, and some people bought up all supplies
of Toilet Paper, Rubbing Alcohol, Hand Sanitizer, Masks and all manner of
things to fight off the germ (Although I still don’t understand the toilet
paper freak out). By mid-month the whole
country was in Lockdown-ish situations but Japan seemed to be getting over the
hump. The base was getting much stricter
with daily new prohibitions and Japan schools, gyms and libraries were closed,
but the malls were abuzz with activity.
I learned that dating during a pandemic can be very challenging especially wearing a mask and not being allowed to go to restaurants or other
places where people gather, so that gradually went the way of the dodo. Then also there was my employer which freaked
out and shouted, “go home, now!” within the next few days. I packed what I
could and gave away what I couldn’t, then the company said “…Never mind.
Youcan stay but if things go bad, you’re on your own.” Fine. I decided
that Japan was probably safer anyway. So I unpacked, and watch as restrictions
grew tighter and people lots their minds. Normal doctors told people to wash
hands and wear masks and avoid crowded spaces while the media doctors screamed
that millions would die. Fear was the
new meat for the media. Panic was gripping the planet although most people eyed
this situation with a distrustful eye. Life continued pretty normally for me in
Japan until April.
April: Dramatic increase of restrictions on the base.
America in free fall, stock market disintegrating; millions of people furloughed,
laid off or forced to stop working. As usual, the media goaded panic. On Friday
the 3rd, I decided that this was a good time to go ahead and make
sure I had enough food and everything I would need for the next month until my
contract ended, so I did. Then on the 4th
my employer, suddenly said, “Your position does not exist as of yesterday.
Pack, get your affairs in order and leave asap. This is non-negotiable.” So for
the second time in a month I packed and gave away everything I could. I took a
couple of days to end relationships, clean house, and make arrangements for my
trip home. Then I flew through 5
different and almost abandoned airports, on 4 different jets with very spacious
and socially distanced seating, rode on one intercity express bus, all
supposedly placing myself at great risk even amid the precautions I was taking,
then sat in relative blissful isolation at home for 14 days in quarantine.
May: Since I have been home, I pulled a muscle in my back
while doing my morning stretches making isolation that much easier. Finally
managed to get a haircut after a month, tripped while running and fractured my
thumb, managed to land a new job in Sicily when the travel restrictions are
lifted and I have the cleanest apartment in the world.
So while I wait for the next thing, I prep for the next
pandemic outbreak which the media and “experts” says is inevitable and that
millions will die in the Fall this year.
So, now my blog is current. See ya!
