Monday, March 9, 2020

Truly Rambling


May and Michael will have been married four years on Thursday and are leaving tomorrow to go to St. Augustine for a sweet little get-away. St. Augustine is one of the most romantic places in the world. Lon wrote a song about that called "Meet Me in St. Augustine." It is a beautiful song, of course.
Anyway, May wanted to borrow a pair of my red shoes and I wanted to see their new apartment so I took the shoes into town today and checked out the new place.
Oh, how I love it! It's upstairs in an old brick four-plex with light everywhere and nice wooden floors and the quintessential Tallahassee apartment kitchen with a tile counter. May is making it her own, of course, with her treasures and books and Michael gets his very own room for all of his electrical...things? Not sure what all of those things are but they definitely have something to do with electricity.
As I told May, I would happily move into that apartment tomorrow. It's that sweet. And because it's upstairs, they are at bird-level and to make everything even better, it's within walking distance of a lot of places, including shopping, restaurants, a huge park where they have entertainment, and even best perhaps- Jessie and Vergil's house.

As I am writing this I am also listening to the live press conference with the members of the Coronavirus task force. It would seem to me that they didn't let Mr. I-Don't-Need-No-Education talk very long. This was wise. I was so reassured to hear that our economy is strong. Which is basically what he said. That and how brilliant he was to close the borders. Now other people who appear to truly have some medical training, with the exception of Mike I-Don't-Believe-In-Science Pence who probably couldn't apply a bandaid if he had to, are talking. Now there's a guy talking about the economy again. He says we are doing very well. Did he hear that they had to shut down the stock market this morning because it was crashing so fast?

This damn virus is truly raising the anxiety level in this country and I feel pretty sure that it was already red-lining. Or maybe that's just me. But hell- I went to Publix today and yes, the toilet paper aisle was half empty and ALMOST ALL OF THE BLEACH WAS GONE!
Y'all, I just want my whites to be white.
What in hell are people going to bleach in order to protect themselves from this virus? The beds in hotels? I think not. Your counter tops? Why? Has it spontaneously generated in your own home?
I just don't understand. And I am completely aware that I don't understand. What's just common sense and what's panic-induced behavior?
All I know was that I was embarrassed to buy toilet paper although it was on my list because we need it. Well, whatever. We have plenty now.
And I did actually buy extra cat food today because the thought of pissed off cats is not a pleasant one.
So that was my form of panic-buying.

Besides going to May and Michael's and Publix today I also went to lunch with Lily and Lauren and Maggie and Hank and Rachel. That's where I got the picture of Magnolia above. She was in a mood. She didn't like anything until I told her she could have my yuca fries. We were in a Venezuelan place. I didn't tell her the fries were yuca and she had ketchup to dip them in so that made her happy. At one point she had the metal stand you put your order number in so that the staff can find you and was waving it about like a magic wand.
"What do you want to be when you grow up, MerMer?" she asked me.
I pondered this because that's a very good question. Finally I said, "An anthropologist."
She thought a minute and then she said, "No, that's full. What else?"
"What do you think I should be when I grow up?" I asked her.
"Mmmm...a FAIRY!"
"Okay. A fairy."
She waved her magic number-holder stand and said a magical incantation and declared me a fairy.
"A bit odd that anthropology was all filled up but that there are still fairy opportunities," I said to the other adults at the table.
I won't tell you what Hank said because it was probably not PC but we all laughed. And since we are a group which represents quite a few of the LGBTQ initials, it's okay.
So now I'm a fairy and also a queen because a few moments later Magnolia waved her magic wand over me again and deemed it so and there you go.
Just call me Queen Mary Fairy. Or Queen Fairy Mary. Up to you.
Thank you very much.

The press conference is over. The most definitive thing I heard was that if you're old you definitely shouldn't go on a cruise. As I said yesterday that won't be a problem for me.

I'm going to go make some Samurai soup. It's a very, very simple soup and we call it that because of an episode we watched of Samurai Gourmet which you've probably never heard of but which was a little work of art. A jewel of simplicity and joy. It's one of those series that while you're watching it you're not sure why you're watching it but then later, even much later, you think about it and the memories that come back are almost visceral.

That's enough.

Love...Ms. Moon



35 comments:

  1. Wouldn't it be such a terrible shame if the 45th President contracted the coronavirus and dropped down dead? Then he really would have his coveted place in History.

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    1. Such a shame. Such a damn shame.

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    2. A cofeved place.

      I'm scared to say such things out loud in case the karma rebounds on me, but it would honestly be good for the world.

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    3. I don't really believe in karma so you can say that here.

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  2. I've been thinking it would only be suitable.
    BTW Ms. Moon, what's this tantalizing us with Samurai soup and not giving us the recipe? Do we have to watch the whole series to deserve it?

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    1. Ha! I'll discuss it more fully soon. It is very good.

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  3. The poor baby is in a state. I hope she rapidly found her magic wand.
    I think about my friend Ann's born again high school friend who told her last summer how much she and her husband loved their 401K under Trump. I think I added something about how nice it would be if the stock market crashed. From my lips to the great orange stock guardian...

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    1. She was cracking up laughing in that picture.
      People who base their entire judgement of Trump on the economy get no respect from me.

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  4. I truly hope you don't lose anyone you care about to the virus...believe me, it is heartbreaking.

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    1. I truly hope I don't either although in my family, I would be the most likely candidate to die. I hope you didn't think that I am taking this lightly. I am not. I am just confused as to what will actually be helpful and what is panic-behavior and I don't think that our government is adequately providing the information to know. If you've lost someone to the Coronavirus, I offer my deepest sympathy.

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  5. Gosh, Queen Fairy, quite a title to carry , the crown must be expensive and fancy. I love Magnolia child. Did you hear the part about the "leadership " of the
    rump, squeezed in that briefing? I heard it on radio so I could not see the thumb screws but pretty sure they were there. Anyway, we are in a state of emergency here, so, I am staying in. I would be dead in a nano second. One guy, a father, was in quarantine but his daughter wanted to go to a dance so he broke quarantine and took her to the dance, and
    stayed!! What a jerk- all of those children are exposed and we know how that will spread...

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    1. The crown is heavy!
      I did hear the repeated mention of the leadership. One of the reporters actually asked if Trump's tweets were getting in the way of the message that health officials were trying to send. Even then, it somehow segued to leadership.
      People just don't seem to understand what quarantine is. I think perhaps that should be defined more carefully. It surely doesn't include going to a dance.
      You be careful!

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  6. A lot of people are being hurt by the stock market drop. Not just Trump supporters. People with modest retirement funds are very anxious about their future. And they don't have the luxury of time for the stock market to recover.

    This virus is changing a lot of plans.

    About St Augustine -- it's beautiful, historic, a really interesting place. We stayed there on a long ago trip around Florida. But I couldn't tolerate the foliage! Had the worst asthma attack in years, too bad, because I wanted to explore. As soon as we were a few miles away, all fine again. So my memories are brief but good. Great choice for a little getaway.

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    1. Oh absolutely! The stock market ends up affecting everyone. You're right about that. And about the plan-changing.
      I'm so sorry that you were allergic to St. Augustine! I had to laugh today reading on a site about historic Florida how doctors used to send their asthma patients to Florida, believing that something here would help them. I'm not sure how that would work.
      Not well, I'm afraid.

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  7. I forgot to say Maggie is an enchanting little girl. I love your Maggie stories.

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  8. I love this post so much. I miss May's writing. Will she ever write for us again? And yes, that Maggie is enchanting.

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    1. I miss it too! Her writing is funny and so good. It's just tasty! I'll give her a little encouragement and tell her what you said.
      Yes. Maggie definitely has the powers of enchantment! I mean- look at me! Now a fairy queen.

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  9. I just love Maggie and her wonderful imagination! What a blessing an imagination is for a child - or anyone for that matter. Now that you are Queen Mary Fairy you should be able to do anything you desire to do!

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  10. Another lovely post......especially the bit about Queen Mary Fairy!
    Re corona......I have got to go to do my shift in the Oxfam bookshop this afternoon, and am worried as I have had an evil head cold, and am still coughing every so often. That should send the customers rushing out the door ! ( I had last week off as I was permanently sneezing/coughing!! )
    I am hoping that our government doesn't decide to close schools......How many people would have to be off work to look after them? The economy would collapse !

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    1. I think a lot of economies are going to go through some very, very hard times. I can't even imagine all of the ways that people are going to be affected by this virus whether they get it or not. I suppose I should say, "whether WE get it or not."
      May your cold cease scaring people soon!

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  11. I do wish he would let the scientists and doctors be in control of this as there is so much misinformation out there. the people he put in control are there to downplay it so he doesn't look bad. and this constant drum banging about the economy is so misplaced even it it was true. fact is the economy is only good for the very rich. most of us are teetering on the edge of disaster. and the toilet paper hoarding! how ridiculous.

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    1. He just can't help sticking his ugly mouth into every situation and bragging about something. He's such a terrifying narcissist. And the scariest thing about that is that he truly believes that he's a fucking genius.
      Well.
      I don't understand the toilet paper. It seems ridiculous to me. So does the bleach.

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  12. I like what Mr. Pudding said, in fact, I've thought the very same thing.

    I've been catching up on blog reading. Queen Mary Fairy seems like an awesome title. Perhaps a t-shirt with the logo?

    I think the virus will be worse that we think, not because of the illness itself but because of the disruptions it will cause. The majority of people will get the virus and be fine and will have immunity to it but the immune compromised will suffer greatly. Our health care system, and I'm guessing the US health care system too, doesn't have the capacity to deal with a lot of critically ill people at the same time. It will be a shit show in most places and of course the US has the added bonus of a crazy ringleader. That's not going to help. I'm sorry.

    Wash your hands and enjoy your garden.

    My yard is still buried under snow and it's supposed to get cold again later this week. Yay.

    Take care Mary.

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    1. Shitshow, clusterfuck, FUBAR, SNAFU- all of that. Yeah, especially with our talking yam as leader. (I stole that from an article in Esquire.)
      I can't imagine snow. I'm on the porch wearing a sleeveless dress and no shoes and am completely comfortable. Do we even live on the same planet?

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    2. I like talking yam, although that's very disrespectful of yams:)

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  13. For every downside there is a upside. If one wished to invest for the long run, now would be an excellent time. Planning for the future is sometimes a matter of timing.

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    1. I agree but a lot of people have neither the money or the time for that plan. But for those who do- it might well be a smart thing to invest right now.

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  14. I had the same experience getting bleach this weekend. I get that it can be dangerous, but the panic is getting ridiculous.

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    1. I repeat- WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE BLEACHING?

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  15. May's apartment sounds fantastic. I hope she and Michael love it, and we need pictures! (If possible.)

    I feel like everyone has lost his or her mind over this virus thing. It's just one of about a bazillion things that could kill us tomorrow. How's that for positive thinking?! LOL

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    1. I should have taken pictures. I know it.
      I love your positive thinking. It fits right in with my own philosophies and outlook.

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  16. Gosh I hadn't heard about problems getting bleach. I'll have to look out for that at my next shop! And hearing all about the entire Trump speech (on the UK news they only played the usual "just call me God" bit) now I want to listen to it all just for the laugh!

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    1. Yes, but then you'd have to hear his voice which makes me ill.

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