The world changed in 20 days...

Twenty days ago I turned 50 years old, and in the 20 days that followed Covid-19 has swept the United States, I lost my job, and major cities are on some kind of "stay at home" lock down.

Some people I know still believe that this is all "the media" doing for hyping the situation or not hyping it enough. That countries outside the US are slaughtering it's citizens to keep the virus in check, or that this has all be a conspiracy against the US that went horribly wrong. To which I say... even the people that you know who are smart will fall for some bullshit.

We are living in strange times. These are the days when conspiracy theories may not be very far off from the truth... but FACTS and TRUTH must prevail! We must not panic. We must not succumb to our lesser natures. When our lives return to something akin to normal, we must be able to look our neighbors, our friends, our families in the eye and know that we did what we could to maintain. We didn't take everything for ourselves. We lended a hand when possible. And that we didn't sacrifice those who couldn't defend themselves, in order to survive.

When this is all over the world will be different. You will be different. I will be different. Our roles in life, at work, with friends, with family will be different. We will need to make better choices and decisions that make a difference in both the short and long term. But who am I to say that's what's going to happen. Many people will go back to their normal way of thinking as though the previous 3-6 months hadn't happened or that it was good that it did because only the old and poor were the ones affected. The world will be different... or at least it should be.

To those who find this blog, thank you for your time.
And though you may not be physically close to those you love, do your best to let them know that they are not alone during this time. If we all keep our wits about us we'll make it through.

PEace.

What do I know at the Half-Century Point or WTF does 50 mean these days?

In less than 24hrs I will be 50 years old.

I could make this a post remembering what has brought me here, the good the bad the ugly of the past 50 years (at least what I can remember).

I could lament the things I haven't done, the lost loves, the people who deserved better from me.

I could focus on the wrongs in my life, done to me, done by me.

But what I will say is that, I'm surprised I've survived this long. I've recently had a self realization that I haven't planned this life. I've barely thought past a few months in advance since I've reached my mid-20's. I've tried to do the right thing, but not always. I've tried to recognize where I could be a better person, where I could be a better man, but relapses happen.

And yet somehow I've reached the age of 50.

I hope I'm a better person than I was 25 years ago.

I hope I can make it to another 25 years and can tell my story. I've even thought of a title:
A life more ordinary (aka I was born a rich white child).

I'm grateful to have made it this far. There are even people that are glad that I'm in their lives.

So, that's all I have to say on the eve of my 50th birthday.
To those who find this blog, thank you for taking the time to read it.

Be good to the ones you love, let them know you love them.
PEace.

p.s. Happy Birthday to me (you blind luck bastard!)