Day 50 Of Coronavirus Shutdown

Hey everyone. Can you believe that today officially marks the 50th day of shutdown because of Coronavirus. I mean... wow. I never actually thought when I started this daily blog of shutdown that we would actually reach 50 days. And not just 50 days, but 50 days and counting!

I have to tell you. It hasn't always been easy writing everyday for the past 50 days. But I think it's been very necessary.  Trying to bring you all some basic information on what is going on with Covid-19 and also trying to sprinkle in some good news and show how great the human spirit can be during these tough times.

I have been keeping myself busy over the past 50 days with a lot of different things.

This collage above pretty much sums it up. I've been picking around on the old 6 string. I've been podcasting a lot with my buddy Mark. CLICK HERE FOR THE PODCAST Him and I have both been running a lot this year. Doing phone call runs with each other from over 600 miles apart. We have ran over 200 miles already this year. We have both already ran two socially distanced half marathons. With another half marathon coming up in about a week. (Virtual Half Marathons). 

I've also been reading a lot! Getting through five books over the past 50 days. All of this is in addition to caring for the home as much as possible to make life easier on my working wife. And also keeping up on this blog to try and spread facts and good news.

So needless to say, even though I have been on lock down, I have been able to stay fairly productive!

Now for many of us, one of the few good things to have come out of this Coronavirus pandemic was a return special of Parks And Recreation! 

My wife and I are both BIG fans of this show and we were both thrilled to hear that they were going to return to do a special to help raise money for Covid-19 relief. It has been five years since Parks and Recreation aired what we all thought to be their last episode. But this week, the show’s original cast came together again for a half hour reunion episode to raise money for COVID-19 relief.

The episode, which welcomed back almost the whole cast, explored how the characters have been coping with the current pandemic since the show ended in 2015. The episode reportedly raised more than $3 million for Feeding America’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, and donations are still pouring in, according to NBC.

The first $500,000 worth of donations generated by “A Parks and Recreation Special” was matched by the show’s producers, network, and cast members.

I mean this is just awesome! We all got to see our favorite characters once again which was so nice, and it also raised a bunch of money in the process. It's a win win win. And this made my wife and I so happy!

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It is also National Nurses Day! The start of National Nurses Week.

At the end of the 19th century, “The Lady With the Lamp” or as she is more widely known, Florence Nightingale, founded modern nursing. Thanks to her strict use of hand washing and hygiene practices while caring for wounded soldiers in the Crimean War, Nightingale and her helpers reduced the death rate from 42% to 2%  ushering in nursing as we know it today. On May 6, we recognize the important role nurses play in our lives by celebrating National Nurses Day.

National Nurses Day is the first day of National Nursing Week, which concludes on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Yet the week was first observed in the US in October 1954 to mark the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s pioneering work in Crimea.

Nurses are always important! And even more so now! So please take the time if you haven't already, to thank our healthcare hero's. We are all forever in their debt. I say THANK YOU! and I APPRECIATE YOU!

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And to keep with the theme of appreciation and thanks. I wanted to share one more image and story.

To honor those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge was lit up by more than 1,300 luminaries carefully placed by volunteers to spell out "THANK YOU!"

The display of light spanned more than 200 feet, transforming the New York landmark in Hudson Valley into an illuminated message of gratitude. The Walkway Over the Hudson has been deemed an essential park to keep open by Gov, Andrew Cuomo, and several nonprofit organizations mobilized volunteers to work on the inspiring project, placing 1,300 illuminated bags that were marked with ‘Honor. Remember. Celebrate.’

The article says -  "In the coming days, prints of this photograph will be presented to places where essential workers are serving in the community—like emergency rooms, grocery stores, police stations, and fire departments."

Once again I want to thank everyone for reading this blog every day. Like I said, writing this daily hasn't always been easy. But it has been worth it. 

50 days and counting! Lets all stay strong and get through this.

Please continue to use your mask while out and about. And please continue to practice your social distancing.