15320, up 3000 cases in the past 24 hours...and you get to know who your friends are

I try to just come to peace. I settle down and just adjust to this new normal. But the reality is, there is still earth moving beneath my feet. And I need to help my kids. 3 days ago Nicole's insurance was canceled. She was given 14 days to come home or she would have no health insurance. Nicole tried hard all day to get new insurance. But you can only get 90 days worth of short term insurance. And she is not a Washington resident so she does not qualify for any local program. And Coronavirus is a pre-existing condition. No one will cover her. The writing was on the wall, but it's hard to let go of a dream. I cried for her. But I am relieved she will be home. I'm a mom. I want her close by. I know she has been in the excellent hands of my brother and his family. I am sure she would have been fine. But I am relieved to have her near. They told her she could return to do another internship. So perhaps she will try it again in a year. I feel like our plans are only delayed. We are privileged. We have options. This situation is tragic for so many others. I am not complaining. I would like to get back into some kind of routine. I think it will take a week or two more to settle down. I hope it will. Yesterday an old friend showed up at our door. Someone with mental health issues. Juergen was talking with me about going to get tested for Coronavirus. He had a fever. And then this person shows up so unraveled. Apart from trying to keep our distance because we could be sick, we listened to them. But we can not carry them. I think the world will see the weakness of disconnectedness. There are so many people who have no one. They routinely push people out of their lives. And during a time of crisis, you see who your friends really are. It must be so hard when the report card is out, and you are standing alone. But I know my limits. And I have compassion, but I can not carry this mentally ill person. We will call professionals to look in on this person. It is tragic. But I have my family to care for, and Uganda to consider. I may have Coronavirus myself. I know I have real limits. And I can not do anything for this person. They need much more than I have. I was 2 hours on hold trying to change my flight to September. I was to fly on Saturday. How sad I will not be in Oregon for my mom's 80th birthday party. That has also been postponed. I was on the phone for 2 hours, and then they hung up on me. So frustrating. So I will try again today. And if I can not get it changed, I will have to go to Frankfurt to try at the airport. I realize they have to deal with literally millions of people. I am going to just try again, and try not to get too upset. I read in Seattle the medical staff is running out of facemasks. They are using office supplies to try to make protection for themselves. I am posting a video on how to make a mask. It is best that we give any masks we may have to the medical community. I personally bought 50 masks in February before Nicole flew to America. It was very early before anyone thought there would be a shortage. I will donate them. I think maybe anyone who can sew and has fabric can make masks to give to the general public. It might free up the professional masks. That is actually a service to us all. Here is the very best design I have found. You can insert a coffee filter, or paper towel in this mask, and change it often. It is good design. Due to a nationwide shortage in supplies, Samaritan Health Services is asking local and regional businesses for Personal Protective Equipment and testing supplies to help care for coronavirus patients. To make a donation, please call 541-768-6924 or email SHSFoundations@samhealth.org. https://qoo.ly/34z6hu