Report of 27 Sept 2020

 Good evening!

8 people have tested positive at the B after 1 patient developed fever and tested positive; the Corporation (City) authorities tested our residents and staff, and lo and behold.  

1 patient had low blood pressure, the first (index) case was quite ill and both these patients have been hospitalised.  I feel for them, as it must be unsettling to be mentally ill and be in an environment completely different from what you are used to.  It is my fervent hope that these patients recover and come back to the B quickly.  The other patients have been quarantined at the Banyan.  

I was at the B on Tuesday, a couple of days before the first case was tested, and had close contact with some of the COVID-positive patients.  So I am at risk, also, and will get tested.  The American College of Physicians (ACP) has sent a very nice COVID-19 guide for physicians; it and other readings detail the after-effects of the virus, among other things.  This virus can be a benign entity, or can leave severe after-effects, or cause death.  

Scott turned 59 last week and we got a cake from the Banyan's Vocational Training unit.  It was delicious.  The next day, we spoke to both children (it was still the previous day for them) and they wished their father.  Then Scott and I went out to eat; he mailed his ballot at the U.S. Consulate, we dropped off a birthday present for a friend and got lunch at a nice restaurant near there.

Voting is such a powerful right and privilege, isn't it.  In some countries, it does not exist and the Government is chosen by less democratic means.  I have voted once here; subsequently, trying to change the address on my voter ID to our current address required 3-4 lengthy trips to various bureaucratic venues and all of it was futile.  It makes me sad.  Imagine what the poor go through when they try to vote, and how all of this conspires to keep certain parties in power.

This evening featured what I call "PRC" - Precious Relatives' Calls.  I spoke to my father and both living sisters of my mother; all of it was lovely.  I simply abhor speaking on the phone, but it was nice to chat with these older relatives and get some chuckles in.  

The children are well, touch wood.  Naren has to be physically present at his middle school now, Nat continues from home.  We hope for the best for all as we collectively traverse this pandemic.

Unw -

R 

  

Report of 20 Sept 2020

 Good evening!

It is dusk and I was sitting outside, but the mosquitoes decided to feast.  So I am inside and looking at the pretty lights outside.  The Muttukadu bridge is full of traffic again; that part I don't necessarily enjoy as I liked the peace and quiet of the lockdown.  As an Internet meme pointed out, the lockdown was not a joy for everyone and we felt bad for those who financially struggled.  We donated some money and supplies where we could, but I don't feel I did enough.    

I have resigned from the Banyan.  It had long been urged by Naren, who felt that 16 years in 1 place could lead to some taking-for-granted.  I mulled it over and quit, last date 15-11-2020.  It feels liberating and my spirit is happy.  As all know, I don't think it will be a complete severing of ties as the B has been my life for 16 years; however, the connection will be of a different flavor and I will do other things.  

Tuesday found me at the Banyan and one of my favorite patients looked listless.  We sent off a blood test to check the electrolytes in her blood and found that the sodium was an alarming 116 or 119 (I can't remember the exact number, but less than 120) - normal is 135.  The lab called with an oral report as it was that alarming.  So we have started to give her salted beverages; correcting sodium has to be a very slow process.  Medications can cause decreased sodium, as can reduced oral intake.  She appears to be better, and we will recheck her electrolytes this week to see their levels.  

We spoke to the children after a 2-week hiatus and that was nice.  Lots of laughter.  Nat is safely back in NJ.  Naren sent us a funny link featuring Chadwick Boseman in "Black Jeopardy" and I enjoyed it, simultaneously rueing the young man's untimely death.  

Scott and I went out to run errands yesterday, and had lunch at a restaurant that stated it was LGBTQ friendly.  The manager was gay, he said, and his family had accepted his decision, which we found pretty darn heartwarming.  We had a good meal and dessert was a 24-layer chocolate cake called "Death by chocolate."  We've seen this name at other restaurants, but not accompanied by this wonder.  It was tasty and Scott had to use a tablespoon to tackle it.  

I talked to my Dad this evening and that was nice.  

We hope all of you stay well and safe! 

Unw -

R

Report of 14 Sept 2020

 Good evening!

Hope all are well.  I could not blog yesterday - it was a busy Sunday.  

The Banyan is great.  Today was my portion of a training session for Sri Lankan personnel involved in their mental health project.  I had to speak on vital signs and first aid, and the audience was receptive and attentive.  After my droning, several of my colleagues - nurses and health care workers - presented case studies, based on actual patients and they did so masterfully.  I was impressed at how much they had learnt and how much they wanted to convey; the Internet connection from our Tiruchi site was not great, but all spoke well and I was proud.  Bit by bit, the Banyan model is likely to spread to many countries - Sri Lanka is only the tip of the iceberg.  

We did not speak to our children last week as one was travelling and the last thing a young adult wants when catching up with old and dear friends is a forced conversation with one's parents.  So we will wait for this week.  I hope both had a good week.  

I spoke to my Father yesterday and that was the laugh-fest it usually is.  My sister had phoned him on the smartphone.  Ordinarily, he does not know how to answer it and this time was no different; when I said, "Oh, a call on the smartphone, I thought you did not know how to answer it," he said, "I don't!  When I see it ring, I yell for someone and they answer it."  It was hilarious.  The mission was accomplished, any which way it could be, and my sister and Father conversed.  My younger brother's birthday was last week and he and my Father had spoken, also, all of which made my Father quite happy.  

On Tuesday, I was at the Banyan and saw many patients and staff.  When staff work hard, they sometimes need medical attention, too, and I was happy to provide it.  

On Saturday, Scott and I went to a restaurant recommended by a friend.  Soy Soi has Pan-Asian food and it was excellent.  We ate, chatted, lingered and even had dessert.  It was slightly upmarket, but well worth the price: I have 2 meals' worth of leftovers in our fridge.  

Netflix keeps me occupied when I am not working and I am loving the plethora of movies to choose from.  2 weeks ago saw the resumption of public transport in Chennai and the lady who helps clean our apartment has resumed coming.  While Scott and I cleaned during the lockdown, this lady has the special knack of getting the apartment to sparkle and I am grateful.  

One of the patients at the Banyan has tested positive for COVID and is in isolation.  We will continue to hope and work for the best.  

Unw -

R

Report of 6 September 2020

 Good evening!

Guess what I did today.  Cleaned monkey p**p.  Not at the zoo, from our balcony.  I am actually full of admiration for Simian; when folks say the wildlife is in our territory, that is so not true - we are in their territory.  Simian has been in our complex and when we were speaking with the children on Friday, we heard a noise in the back area.  It sounded like our washing machine was speaking up, or there were pigeons in the area, or something.  Scott went to see, and there was Simian sitting on the back wall, eating the eggs that I had set out to get to room temperature before frying them.  Apparently, Sim snarled at Scott, who went in and got a stick, which he subsequently rattled at Sim and Sim left.  Sim then came on to our front balcony - we think - at some point this weekend and did the deed.  I think he wanted to make a statement, and he did.  

Nat suggested we leave some spicy chillies/food outside to deter Sim, based on our experience a few years ago.  We were walking in a famous garden in Bangalore, carrying lunch leftovers with us when a monkey came down and nonchalantly grabbed 1 of the 2 bags from Nat.  Nat tugged, the monkey pulled and the monkey won.  The packet contained my lunch leftovers - spicy noodles, which the monkey tasted and absolutely did not care for.  

We are otherwise well.  It was nice to see the children.  They were relaxed and happy.  I read a letter in "The Open Page" of our newspaper today from a reader who stated that the pandemic was helping folks find a work-life balance.  Scott has always been appreciative of our children finding that balance early in their careers.  They don't make pots of $, but they are as happy as clams, and are making a difference in the world.  "What God intended," said my father today.  

The Banyan is great.  I was at Adaikalam last week - barring being on the phone every day - and it was nice.  Our Medical Care Unit (MCU) is clean and airy, and the patients are happy.  One of the patients particularly likes having jewellery - it is costume jewellery and she likes it.  She asks me when I enter if I like all that she has on, and I unfailingly say yes.  She has a necklace and 2 armloads of bangles + anklets, and sometimes earrings.  The health care worker (hcw) says she has so many bangles on that there is no place on her arm for the hcw to place her own hand when escorting the patient to the restroom.  I saw evidence of that a little later when the patient had to go to the restroom - she went fully decked up and the lack of bare arm space was truly funny + lovely.  We are women, wanting a little accessorization and pretty, dangly things.  When the women get lice, I instantly ask for tonsuring and Vandana has demurred, wanting us to preserve the women's identity, which the average Indian woman can get from long hair.  We try, but I am often regretfully merciless.  

Our model is being replicated in Sri Lanka and online teaching of the personnel has begun.  My first class is on 14 September and is on First Aid plus vital signs.  I will likely start preparing tomorrow.  I have a bedraggled notebook somewhere with some of this info, but it is wise to prepare a fresh class.  

Our state's lockdown restrictions have been eased and I expect the case numbers to increase.  Scott and I ran some quick errands yesterday, and had a nice meal at a near-empty restaurant.  Service was excellent and we got some takeaway, too, which is tasty.   

I spoke to my Father today and he was cheerful.  He wanted to know about our jobs, and was very concerned about Scott's pay cut.  I don't imagine a parent ever stops worrying about her/his children.  I assured my Father we were okay, and he was content.  

I have been watching movies on OTT platforms and enjoying them.  Today, both Scott and I watched "C U soon," featuring Naren's friend, Darshana.  It was good.  It was filmed on a mobile phone - in keeping with social distancing and other precautions - and was very well-done.  

It has been a good life.  I am - actually - enjoying all that I am learning of the pandemic, too.  

Unw -

R