CoronaVirus Reality IS CRAZY.

i have been trying really hard to NOT be scared, or freaking out....

But to be honest, i think i now am OFFICIALLY in some level of shock, and disbelief!

today is march 12, they announced they're shutting down schools for 3 weeks- THAT'S CRAZY.

i just looked at a website showing maps of how far it has reached, and KILLED. THAT'S CRAZY.

I haven't gonne down the rabbithole too much, and i don't want to... of 'what could happen to me, and my kids'. THAT'S CRAZY.

all ontario public schools. ALL of ITALY. ALL air travel in and out of MANY countries. cancellations left right and centre of EVERYTHING.

it's shocking, it's crazy.

...

March 13th

Nothing has ever happened like this before.... major city everything shut down.... major province, country, COUNTRIES, WORLD.... GLOBAL.

I really am shocked.... and i'm surpised i am. but it's crazy.....

schools done, FOR 3 WEEKS. no libraries, no museum, no science centre, no activities of any kind....

im imagining there will be food.... but will it all buckle down in a week. it's talked about like march break, plus 2 weeks... are those 2 weeks really going to tigten  up for everyone? starting with families, and major arteries and supports for ground level humans.... who have nowhere else to go.... nothing to do....we're all feeling trapped....i am.... i probably need to go to sleep, to wake up with fresh energy.... this is fucking stressful... it takes it's toll.... wow.

i am thankful i got to do yoga today....and now the community ecntre will be closed.... i give thanks for that....

but 3 weeks.... 23 days with us all contained in our home..

i am nervous....

Emily's House: death, dying, and the care that's needed.

everyone who dies deserved to be taken care of till the end, and beyond.

it's humyn decency.

there's a lot of suffering that occurs in the dying process, sometimes.

we use lots of medication these years/this developed/priveledged culture, to appease this suffering. it often works, though there are periods of time when the medication is not quite figured out, and they feel the pain.

i remember seeing someone in pain when i did a placement at a palliative care unit at a hospital, they were in pain and suffering, and there was no one there with them by their side through this. it was hard to listen to/see, but I was compelled to, and had to sit with them for a period of time, because honestly, it's right to do so.

do good, do not do bad, keep your mind clean.... the hardest lessons i ever learned, and will forever struggle with in practicing their true full meaning. words spoken to me by my first buddhist teachers. buddhist monks from burma/myanmar, living in India.  They befriended me, and took me on beautiful and the most challenging trek up snowy mountains, all the while smiling and laughing.

being with people, being present with them while they are dying, is 'doing good'.

caring for them, actively, as they are actively dying... is very good work.

some days, at my job, where i do mostly administration.... i am truly floored by the good work the clinical staff do. i know that in me being there, i am supporting them. this floors me too- that here i am, and i get to proudly say, i work for a hospice. what a gift.

they care for people, who are dying. Emily's House was designed as a children's hospice. everything about it was designed to support children and their families, who are dying, or are 'living with a life-limiting illness'.

there have been a LOT of deaths there as of late, as they courageously made the decision to accept adult palliative patients, in the midst of COVID.  Kids with life-limiting illnesses- were just staying at home, and dying adults stuck in hospitals were suddenly prohibited from having visitors, and families were prevented from being with their loved one.  EH grew and expanded in a multitude of ways, and opened it's doors to humans across the life span.

In Emily's House, these recently dying folks were now cared for and a loved one able to be with them, and furthermore, it's lovely in EH.  It's peaceful and calm, and surrounded by so much sunlight and blue skies and blooming springtime flowers. It's beautiful.

today was a day i was in awe of the work that's done there, with humility, and genuine human kindness and care.

i am thankful it exists, to support the lucky ones that made it there, to die a more peaceful intimate family-led, and -supported death.