An Escape

Written on 4-25-2020.

We are up at the cabin on a Saturday, and the Edgertons are getting ready to leave.  It’s close to 1:00.  Eric has to fly for CAP later tonight, but B, Kody, and I are staying through Sunday.

We decided to escape the shut-down in New Mexico and come here.  It’s so peaceful.  We have made the right choice.

The coronavirus continues to affect the way we live.  With stay-at-home orders/requests echoing throughout the media and the news, we are constantly being reminded of the dangers, but we aren’t doing anything illegal by coming here.  

Wash your hands.  Stay at home.  Practice social distancing.  Unprecedented.  This is the mantra for this pandemic, and this disease will leave a scar and a stain on this period of history in our lives.

However, this too shall pass.

On to golf…

Well, I don’t have much to write about.  Can’t play.  Can practice.  I have done a lot of putting with that new putter, but that was all I’ve done this past week.  I have also continued to work out, so I can be stronger, have more balance and core strength, and hopefully that will make a positive difference when I go back outside to play.  I’ve heard Hillcrest is open for play, so I am going to investigate and possibly go play this week.  If it’s safe.  If it really is open.  

Pinon Hills remains closed, and they won’t open again until May 15th now.  Our governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has extended our shut-down from April 26th to May 15th.  I think that’s a good idea.  I’m just bummed for our economy.  I want to get things going again quickly, so the longer we are asked to stay at home, the greater the risk of not being able to bounce back.  I’m no expert, though.  It’s hard to predict what will happen in the next few months, and then there is this fall, too.  Will there be a second wave?  More than likely, yes.

I checked the website for Hillcrest, and they are open.  They have a bunch of rules to be able to play there, but they are allowing play.  I should go play this week.

Until next time…

Happy Easter!

Written on 4-12-2020.

It’s Easter Sunday!  Hooray!  With the coronavirus and the stay at home order from our governor, this Lent felt longer than usual.  We have made it, though, and it feels glorious.  

However, Matt left for Santa Fe today, and we will miss him.  It was a weird goodbye.  He feels like family, so it was sad to say farewell, and it didn’t help that we weren’t sure when we would be seeing him again.  Fire season is looming.  Uncertainty is in the air.  Danielle is getting set to leave us in about a week.

I attended Easter service in my computer room.  I’ve “attended” church online for the past three weeks.  I am thankful I can still receive a spiritual communion.  A sense of community is still present even in a digital realm, and I need that sense of fellowship.

I thought it was funny that you could see how many were participating, and just like in a face-to-face church service, some people come in later.  It was 183 participants when it started, and then it jumped up to 205 after the readings.  Maybe they were doing their hair.

A Sunday During the Shutdown

Written on 4-5-2020.

It’s another Sunday during the shut-down, and I am relaxing at home on my bed while watching 2019’s Texas Valero Open.  The 2020 one has been cancelled, of course.

I’ve wanted to write about what I’ve learned during all of this.  First, I realized that for most of my life, I have been using way too much toilet paper.  What an epiphany!  From here on out, I will continue to use less.

Second, I see plenty of blame going around on the national news.  We don’t need that.  Remember, this is unprecedented stuff, so to say there have been mixed messages really does no good.  People are doing their best with the information we have been given.  For example, we were told not to use or hoard masks, especially the N95, because we needed to save those for our healthcare workers.  Now, we are being asked to start wearing masks in public, because coronavirus has been found to be much more contagious than originally thought.  That’s not a mixed message; it’s a changing message.  Wearing a mask is still voluntary anyway, so don’t be upset with people who don’t.  Maybe just stay far away for those people?

Third, a slower routine is healthier for all of us.  I get plenty of sleep each night.  I read more.  I do my mental workouts with my Lumosity App every day.

On to golf…

Basically, I’ve done the same things.  I’ve worked out with routines that Matt has texted me two Fridays in a row now. I know I have not done everything on there the way he would expect me to, but they have challenged me, and I have broken a sweat multiple times…during the same workout.  I feel myself getting stronger, especially in my legs and my core.

I’ve continued to putt indoors.  I am pretty accurate.  I know it is different outdoors, but all of this practice indoors will help me when I get back out there again.

Finally, I have worked on my chipping down at the park.  I bring a target of some sort, like a cooler, a towel, or I once used the silver insulation from a cooler.  Anything will do.  I’ve brought four golf balls with me, and I have tried to hit whatever target I’ve brought, and I’ve hit three out of four, but I haven’t been able to get all four.  Maybe before the economy opens up again.

Until next time…

Mom's Birthday and Flattening the Curve

Written on 3-28-2020.

It’s my mom’s 79th birthday today!  Wow, my mom is nearly 80.  How did that happen?  We got to talk to her this morning on a FaceTime chat, and it was wonderful.  She was so appreciative.  I wanted to hug her.  I wished I could be there with her to hold her and kiss her, but with the coronavirus, that’s not possible.  Happy birthday anyway, Mom!  At least we could still see her and be able to visit with her, so it wasn’t a total sacrifice.  

Speaking of sacrifices, I didn’t get to play this past week at all, and that’s because our state has chosen to shut down until at least April 10th, but that could be extended.  Pinon Hills had to close down, as did all of the other golf courses in our state.  A stay-at-home order was put into effect for New Mexico, and that means no golf.  No boondocking either.  Basically, don’t go anywhere unless it’s absolutely necessary.  It’s a bummer, but I get it.  We need to flatten the curve.  Hope this does the trick.  From what I have seen from the areas that are saturated with cases (Italy, California, and New York to name three), I understand.  Thankfully, I can still to work from home, but it’s very limited.

Belinda and I finished our...