Somehow, it's almost like no other run-of-the-mill sicknesses or bugs or viruses or ailments exist right now, save this blankety-blank 'rona. And I don't mean the heavy-hitters; I know some people are deep in the throes of family members (or themselves) suffering from any number of horrible things- I don't intend to trivialize.
What I'm saying, though, is that if I cough or sneeze, or if my kid barfs or has a runny nose, or if Aaron is sore or has major poo, or if the temp of anyone in my house rises above what's considered normal, our first reaction is to have a 12" mascara wand shoved into our nasal cavity and roto-rootered around in our brainspace.
We are living in a time where we don't say "welp, my kid has bronchitis," or "Susie has a summer cold" or "Uncle Bob shore is allergic!" leading to suggested remedies such as "shake it off," or "take some -a- them- powders" or "drink some whiskey and honey"... and MAYBE a trip to the dr and some antibiotics, if you're in more of a bacterial state than viral, don't ya know.
No, no.
Today,
in this sensational and ever-fun-inducing timestamp, 2020 (clear vision, my buns), our go-to thoughts/ comments/ reactions/ paranoia yield a response something like: "HEAVENS TO MERGATROYD!!! Billy's done got hisself the RONA!"
We're in an election year.
Politics are an absolute cluster.
We're in a time of news and media BOMBARDMENT, most of which is inaccurate.
People. Lie. (sniff, sniff*)
Still,
We are called love our neighbors.
We are called to wisdom.
We are called to utilize discernment.
We want to do what's right.
The thing is: NO ONE KNOWS.
No one-
hear me-
NO ONE
has any clue.
No one- in my opinion- has true FACTS that aren't in some way swayed by some sort of financial/ social/ political agenda in any way.
Someone that's in charge is always in someone else's bed or pocket or wallet or bank account.
ALWAYS.
So again, I say:
We are called love our neighbors.
We are called to wisdom.
We are called to utilize discernment.
We want to do what's right.
. 
So when I'm back in the classroom (and listen to me when I say this)... in a school that is innovative, godly, loving, kind, and oh-so-rigorous... and one of my kiddos at home is throwing up and has a low temp and some coughing:
Do I think it's the 'rona?
Nah.
Do I think we're all gonna die?
Fat chance.
Do I want to be at work?
Yup.
Is it over-react-y or paranoid for my brain to have our family on lockdown and life suspended for 14 days?
GuarUHNNteed. (but that's where my brain makes its first stop, y'all. Paranoidtown, I'm the mayor.)
Do I need to be transparent, respectful, honest, and up-front with my co-workers?
You better believe it.
Do I have the slightest clue what to do in this situation?
Not one tiny bit.
Does ANYone?
The answer is no.
We are all trying to do the right thing.
I am trying to teach from home (with as much integrity and fidelity as I can muster, guys, and that's way more work than you can imagine), make sure Bonham has his lessons done and material absorbed, do the home things, and monitor KJ.
Aaron is trying to work from home and work from work, trying to be Mr. Mom and Mr. Dad.
Neither of us is Mr. or Mrs. Gotourcraptogether.
Symptoms? No symptoms? Work/ don't work? Stay home? Go to church? Go to the store but don't go to the sweaty gross gym unless you have a medical *wink wink* reason...
Read the stuff, y'all- there is DATA supporting both sides- you can be asymptomatic, you HAVE to have symptoms, go to school, don't go to school, send your kids, don't send your kids, you're a terrible mom if you have to work, testing is reliable; in 75% of the time, testing only works 32% of the time; how can you possibly NOT do the right thing and work to support your family; and my personal favorite from right here in Lee County: "teachers have to teach virtually from their classrooms but they MAY NOT BRING THEIR KIDS FROM HOME". I have friends who are spending mortgage equivalents in daycare fees to make sure they're doing the right thing, but are they lauded at ALL? Are they supported? Heard?
Again, and sadly, the answer is no.
No matter what it looks like, the "right thing" may- no, it WILL- differ from situation to situation. In my case? Sure, I mean I'm worried, but more than that, I want to be respectful and defer to my employer regarding what the "right thing" is for my workplace and for my family. In this case, it means "teach virtually from home until you get the paper that says she's negative."
It matters none what I think about the testing or if I agree with policies that are in place or if I believe aliens exist or if water is on Mars.
What matters is that I am respectful, wise, and that I do the right thing.
My students know that is the mantra for this year- and, as much as humanly possible- we're going to live by that- whether at home, in a classroom, on a computer, on a boat, or in a spaceship.
Even if we do not like it, Sam I am.
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