Easter

April 12, 2020

Easter

DAY 30 since school closed.

DAY 20 of “stay at home” order.

He is Risen! Happy Easter! I love waking up on Easter morning and belting out, “Christ the Lord is risen today.” It’s a great day to be alive. The girls loved searching for all the eggs this morning. There were three different kind of eggs hidden: the paper eggs they made, the salt dough eggs they painted, and the surprise plastic eggs I found in a closet. Then we watched/listened to church.

All three kids had fun at the Easter Store. They worked hard over the last few days to earn Bunny Money (see the Bunny Money blog for more info). Some how I came up with quite a few items for the store. The rest of the day was spent outside.

Easter dinner is a bit different this year. We do have ham. Cheddar/broccoli rice and carrots were the sides. Tomorrow we’ll make a yummy ham and bean soup.

Very blessed.

And now a few words about all us “white” people bitching up a storm about no motorized boating, or gardening, or golfing, or being able to go up north to the cabin. There it is! I am calling it what it is. White privilege, middle class whiners. Myself included. I don’t understand the boating thing at all. Or the buying of gardening supplies but whatever. I debated about writing on this subject, but this is for historical purposes.

Cumulative data for Michigan as of today reports 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths are African American, Caucasians account for 36 percent. A four percent difference between the two is not super alarming when you take in consideration the majority of cases and deaths are in Wayne County. It’s not surprising to have the most cases where the highest amount of population resides. It’s all in the numbers.

Is COVID-19 a racially charged subject up for debate? You have to factor in housing units, family unit-structures within a home, education levels, overall health, income levels, access to food and healthcare and so much more. I can’t really have an opinion on the matter because I have no clue what it’s like to be an African American, living near or under the poverty level in the City of Detroit. I have no right to judge or have an opinion. I can’t relate. All I can do is pray for those who have been touched by this uncontrollable virus. I feel very helpless.

Listen, we are not going through something like the Holocaust or the Black Death of the 1300’s or even the ten plagues of Egypt. For the most part, middle class whites in Michigan are comfortable in a single-family home with a yard and plenty of things to occupy their time with. Some people don’t. I know I bitch and complain over the stresses of working from home and with children at home but at least I still have a job. Some people don’t. Easter dinner wasn’t as spectacular in the past, but some people aren’t having dinner at all today.

We are all adjusting to a new “normal” and no matter what your situation is, it is mentally draining. BUT THIS IS ALL TEMPORARY. So, here’s some tough love (to me as well):  Suck it up buttercup and hunker down. Be thankful for what you have. Be present and cast your troubles to God.

Wow! I really got to preaching on this Easter Sunday. So, to lighten the mood here’s the Easter Bunny dancing down the street:

Today’s summary report:
• A glass or can of alcohol mid-afternoon really helps.
• Totally addicted to the app Township.
• Wondering how the world will be when this is over. Will we hug again?
• Can I drive to Toledo (OH) to get mulch?
• Virtual school starts tomorrow. YIKES!

The below numbers are according to news source WDIV:
• Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan: 24,638
• Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oakland County: 4,915
• Total deaths due to COVID-19 in Michigan: 1,487