A few rules to keep in mind

[jiminbartow]

I believe there is a Model T get together coming up soon at Chickasha? During this “Pandemic”, there are a few common sense rules to keep in mind. Keep your hands washed with soap and water, or disinfected with anti-bacterial hand wash. Avoid crowded places like theatres, planes and cruise ships, try and stay at least 3 feet away from other people, don’t shake hands (fist bumps are safer), don’t touch your face before disinfecting your hands and don’t panic. Chances are, if you are healthy and get it, you will survive it. The death rate of those that get it and succumb to it appears to be around 1%. That is a little more than the common flu which kills thousands every year. This virus appears to have the most affect on the elderly, in their 80’s that have existing respiratory conditions. One of the most dangerous things is the fear mongering that is being exhibited by some irresponsible politicians that are hoping to benefit politically from the virus by fanning the flames and placing blame. If there is one thing the Marine Corp taught me, it is not to worry about things you have little control over. Do the best you can to deal with the situation, be proactive, live life as normal and hope for the best. Fear has a way of incapacitating people that is worse than the source of the fear, itself. You can’t make effective decisions if you are incapacitated by fear. All you can do is curl up and wait to die. As FDR said in 1932 at his inauguration, in regards to the Depression, “All we have to fear is fear itself”.

You must also be resilient and adaptable. When something is not available, look around for something else that will work as well. I went to Walmart to get some anti-bacterial hand wash and, of course they were out, so, I when I got home, I found a couple of small squeeze bottles, emptied out the contents and filled the bottles with alcohol. I keep one in my pocket and the other in my truck. Whenever I am in public, I squirt the alcohol on my hands after touching surfaces that could possibly be infected, such as door knobs, door handles, restaurant condiments such as salt shakers, ketchup bottles, etc. stay safe. We can weather this. Take care of yourselves. Jim Patrick