keeping moving during a national lock down
fiction
edward w pritchard
Currently I am seeking to keep moving during a national lock down over the corona 19 virus because I must walk daily to strengthen and exercise a damaged heart. Yet moving about outside is dangerous because contact within six feet of others causes transmission of the virus resulting in possible death.
As solution to the problem I have opened the book "a farewell to arms" by Earnest Hemingway and am currently walking in spirit across the Italian countryside during World war one with Frederick Henry the ambulance driver non hero of the novel to escape the Austrians and approaching Germans
who have just overrun the Italian army who are in desperate retreat and most anxious not to practice war any longer.
The roads in Hemingway's novel are crowded with refugees, it is always dark and rainy and all rivers are at the flood stage. Moving trains may be jumped onto in the dark but lurking invisible soldiers from all sides await to execute stragglers from the second army.
Pushing the nurse Catherine Barkley from his thoughts Hemingway's Tenente, that's lieutenant [Henry] in English, pushes on towards Milan and safety across the Swiss border. Alas poor Catherine dies during childbirth journeying into Nada, Spanish for nothingness, which is what happens to us all after death be it from too much warfare, existential angst, a virus or darkness and non stop rain while traveling on life's road.
It's an ordeal to travel with Hemingway's non hero the ambulance driver lieutenant Henry but I always enjoy his company because he has no sustaining values or beliefs and always is exiting life's hospital to take a nice walk in the rain. Rain being a symbol for impending disaster and misery.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Thursday, March 26, 2020
free education
free education
fiction
edward w pritchard
Currently the State in America where I live, Ohio is under a recommended stay at home lock down to seek to control a virus currently spreading rapidly throughout the World. Bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos and most businesses are temporarily shutdown.
Having more time for reflection and reading recently I have discovered a problem that I was not aware of that is troubling me. Browsing the internet I read more or less in passing that more than 200 million children throughout the World do not have an opportunity to attend school. Reasons vary for no schooling for children but I am saddened never the less, whatever the rationale.
What can we do when find ourselves blessed to live in the World's wealthiest country and learn that everyone does not share in the Earth's bounty equally. I have no answer but I am troubled tonight reflecting on the matter.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Currently the State in America where I live, Ohio is under a recommended stay at home lock down to seek to control a virus currently spreading rapidly throughout the World. Bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos and most businesses are temporarily shutdown.
Having more time for reflection and reading recently I have discovered a problem that I was not aware of that is troubling me. Browsing the internet I read more or less in passing that more than 200 million children throughout the World do not have an opportunity to attend school. Reasons vary for no schooling for children but I am saddened never the less, whatever the rationale.
What can we do when find ourselves blessed to live in the World's wealthiest country and learn that everyone does not share in the Earth's bounty equally. I have no answer but I am troubled tonight reflecting on the matter.
the ninth Beatle
the ninth Beatle
fiction
edward w pritchard
The ninth Beatle just passed away.
From the old neighborhood he played baseball and football with us and lip synced Beatles records as a Paul McCartney impersonator pretending to air guitar for screaming female fans in our grade school gym after school when we were 12 years old.
Once we dated the same girl at different times I recall. He was one of the dishwashers with us at Young's restaurant to earn extra money. When we were ten he came with a few other guys to play tackle basketball in my basement; throwing a basketball through a bicycle tire hung from the rafters of our basement until my Dad came home to complain about the dust.
Then he was an integral part of the defense on our high school championship football team. Achieving a scholarship he went on to Hiram college to play football as a defensive back. Later I heard he had a career as a teacher and coach.
Growing up on the Ohio canal from a large family in Castle Homes Mike Knepp was a fixture in the old neighborhood who became to me one of those friends that one sadly loses touch with later in life.
I heard today Mike passed away. He will be missed by me as a dear friend.
fiction
edward w pritchard
The ninth Beatle just passed away.
From the old neighborhood he played baseball and football with us and lip synced Beatles records as a Paul McCartney impersonator pretending to air guitar for screaming female fans in our grade school gym after school when we were 12 years old.
Once we dated the same girl at different times I recall. He was one of the dishwashers with us at Young's restaurant to earn extra money. When we were ten he came with a few other guys to play tackle basketball in my basement; throwing a basketball through a bicycle tire hung from the rafters of our basement until my Dad came home to complain about the dust.
Then he was an integral part of the defense on our high school championship football team. Achieving a scholarship he went on to Hiram college to play football as a defensive back. Later I heard he had a career as a teacher and coach.
Growing up on the Ohio canal from a large family in Castle Homes Mike Knepp was a fixture in the old neighborhood who became to me one of those friends that one sadly loses touch with later in life.
I heard today Mike passed away. He will be missed by me as a dear friend.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
a visit from the opera singer
a visit from the opera singer
fiction
edward w pritchard
As a carrier of the virus who couldn't die from the affliction I was often called by the elderly opera singer to formally introduce her to her latest group of victims living high in the luxury hotel where we all stayed. Despite mutual disdain of the elderly Diva I was forced over and over to knock on the
security doors of the wealthy residents and individually introduce each victim to the pancake makeup faced lady who would be their divine reaper of death. Entering a room the ancient opera singer of death stunk of musky spoiled perfumes and ages long past. As she entered a crowded room the opera singer instantly ruined the party. In time despite my neutral non complicity in the opera singers work and results the younger residents of our hotel began to call me a pimp and to shun me should we meet in the hallways or the lunch room.
Sometimes at night in my hotel room waking late in the middle of a dark night I would hear the creaky old voice of the opera singer practicing her scales and crescendos and grieve for those who passed before us.
fiction
edward w pritchard
As a carrier of the virus who couldn't die from the affliction I was often called by the elderly opera singer to formally introduce her to her latest group of victims living high in the luxury hotel where we all stayed. Despite mutual disdain of the elderly Diva I was forced over and over to knock on the
security doors of the wealthy residents and individually introduce each victim to the pancake makeup faced lady who would be their divine reaper of death. Entering a room the ancient opera singer of death stunk of musky spoiled perfumes and ages long past. As she entered a crowded room the opera singer instantly ruined the party. In time despite my neutral non complicity in the opera singers work and results the younger residents of our hotel began to call me a pimp and to shun me should we meet in the hallways or the lunch room.
Sometimes at night in my hotel room waking late in the middle of a dark night I would hear the creaky old voice of the opera singer practicing her scales and crescendos and grieve for those who passed before us.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
lost in the airport
lost in the airport
fiction
edward w pritchard
It's a few months into the future and everyone in America has suddenly become lost in the airports
of our Country during bouts of travel and because of mutations of the covid 19 virus no longer have the mental facilities, stamina and will or organizational skills to return to their own lives.
In desperation drunken fratboys, wicked sorority girls and children under five have been deputized by the authorities to help confused passengers match their tickets with the flashing tote boards in a wishful gamble to return to their native States.
It's pathetic really. Somehow I stand aside trying desperately not to Judge this latest tragedy. I sit on the floor of the tarmac and read the good book and watch confused desperate strangers methodically picking up canceled ticket stubs from the ground of earlier good times trying to find the way.
The blaring loudspeakers advise constantly for normalcy, order and optimism. There is no cause for panic. Those in charge nearly have concocted a potion that's a cure or at least will soon have a vaccine. It's only few months and things will be like they used to be. But as the children move about leading the fearful confused citizens I hear them mumbling over and over with a strange smile "things ain't what they used to be. "
Outside in the parking decks everyone's new automobile has electronically self started and is idling patiently waiting for the owners so they can zoom zoom about. Gas is chief and interest rates have been cut again. Return to your homes- it's a very good time to buy more things.
fiction
edward w pritchard
It's a few months into the future and everyone in America has suddenly become lost in the airports
of our Country during bouts of travel and because of mutations of the covid 19 virus no longer have the mental facilities, stamina and will or organizational skills to return to their own lives.
In desperation drunken fratboys, wicked sorority girls and children under five have been deputized by the authorities to help confused passengers match their tickets with the flashing tote boards in a wishful gamble to return to their native States.
It's pathetic really. Somehow I stand aside trying desperately not to Judge this latest tragedy. I sit on the floor of the tarmac and read the good book and watch confused desperate strangers methodically picking up canceled ticket stubs from the ground of earlier good times trying to find the way.
The blaring loudspeakers advise constantly for normalcy, order and optimism. There is no cause for panic. Those in charge nearly have concocted a potion that's a cure or at least will soon have a vaccine. It's only few months and things will be like they used to be. But as the children move about leading the fearful confused citizens I hear them mumbling over and over with a strange smile "things ain't what they used to be. "
Outside in the parking decks everyone's new automobile has electronically self started and is idling patiently waiting for the owners so they can zoom zoom about. Gas is chief and interest rates have been cut again. Return to your homes- it's a very good time to buy more things.
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