Yes, I know Marie Antoinette never uttered those words. But she lost her head anyway. And it seems to me that lots of folks are losing their heads lately over the Wuhan virus outbreak. Well, not their heads as much as their minds, but you know what I mean.

The latest example here in the Philippines is this outrage:

I’m reading similar measures are being taken across the USA as well, but this is the Philippines and that makes a big difference. Okay, I get the whole “social distancing” thing as part of the effort to slow the spread of the Chinese coronavirus. But a what point does the “cure” do more damage than the disease?

Here in the Philippines, the minimum wage is 350 pesos ($7) a day. Not everyone makes that much though. So as you might imagine, many people are living day-to-day, bringing home just enough to put some rice on the table. So, you shut down the bars and send the girls out on the street to sell their bodies. You shut down the old Navy base with its restaurants, hotels, and a shopping mall all closing down. That’s hundreds of jobs and oh, by the way, things like unemployment benefits and other social welfare programs don’t exist in this country. What are these folks supposed to do now? A lot of the expats here are talking about the real possibility of a surge in crime. Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but there are bound to be unforeseen circumstances when you pull the rug out from people who are already living desperate lives.

Anyway, this too shall pass. I hope. In the meantime, nothing for me to do but walk on. Yesterday’s hike took me over the mountain on the familiar ground of My Bitch. There’s a family living an isolated existence in a shack up on top. The trail leads through their “yard” and sets the dogs barking and roosters crowing when I walk past. I feel guilty about creating a disturbance so I always apologize and sometimes I bring along some cookies or candies for the kids. Of late they’ve been greeting me by name and I admit that makes me feel good. It’s the little things I guess.

I found this “interesting” sight yesterday. As has been said, blogs are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree:

Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone I suppose. Like this morning at Sit-n-Bull I tried something completely different:

Honestly, it was just okay. I could only eat about half of it. Oh well, that’s the nature of adventure, right?

On my morning walk today I noticed that God has been busy:

Trees
BY JOYCE KILMER

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.