Monday, March 8th, 2021
Today was a lovely day, sadly I did not get to spend much time outside, beyond commuting to my pool lane. My day has largely been filled with calls, so I did not get any thinking work done and it looks like I may not have time for deep thinking for the rest of the week. This is sad. Hopefully next week will be better.
Despite the lack of brain time it was a very good day. 363is a wonderful number, mathematically speaking. And maybe the beauty of this number translates into th ebeauty of the day.
I have realized I have options as does EM, so things are looking much brighter than a year ago. I hope I will make the right choices so as to avail the best of opportunities for me. The same applies to EM of course. It dawned on me today that after all the moves we have done together our next move will be two moves to different places. For the first time each of us will need to settle into a new environment alone, which is daunting.
I am less concerned for myself than I am for her. She will move to a different country all by herself, not knowing anyone. Will need to settle into university life, initially with no friends or social attachments. This of course has me worried. As far as my move is concerned the biggest issue is Max and how to best transition him. I may very well take him to Germany and have him stay with mum for a few months so he will not have to deal with the move but can come to a home. 2021 will be a year of big changes for all of us and I am beginning to understand just how big these changes will be.
If I manage to get EM settled in a happy space all will be well. I am finding the universe provides if you have faith that it will. Magically things fall into place. In early July we will head to Hamburg before spending two weeks on a boat. Some of EM’s move will come with us. Then we shall return to the US before I take her to university, wherever that may be; but very likely somewhere in Europe and would it not be fun to make a road trip out of it?
Thereafter I will worry about selling the house and my own relocation which I expect to occur sometime between October and December. I would like to be here long enough for the dojo to reopen and for me to take the 4th Kyu test, which will mean finding a practice partner to prepare. I have said this many times, but in anticipation I should probably revert to doing regular stretches and basic Aikido moves like the rowing exercise, tenkans and ikkiyo. Now that we are headed into spring, I feel I may have the energy to do so. It is as if I am coming out of hibernation and my energy is returning. The fact that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel definitely helps.
Numbers continue to decline with “only” 44k new infections reported for the USA over the past twenty-four hours to bring the total to 19.7 million. A few weeks ago, 4% of all infections were caused by the UK variant. Currently 30-40% of new infections are with the UK mutation (B1.1.7). When 50% were reached in the UK infections increased dramatically and the country had to go I to full lock down. Scientist fear this will happen in the US as people get complacent with news of dropping infection rates. In light of this burning masks publicly is simply ignorant. All of us need to remain vigilant so as not to ruin it in what feels like the home stretch.
As long as I get a shot (or two), I do not care much about people who do not want one. No problem if the heartland will not want to be vaccinated, the rest of us are happy to take use their allocated shots. In light of voter suppression maybe this will become a natural selection mechanism seeing all the do not wants are Trumpsters.
The US is set to have a shot available for every resident by the end of May. The FDA has given emergency use authorization for a new test which can detect past infections, specifically the presence of T-cells, which is amazing. Also the CDC has issued guidelines today on what vaccinated people are going to be able to do. Gathering in small groups inside and unmasked seems to be okay.
A good news day, a happy day.