We have been at the virus battle for so long, that there is indeed a new normal. The Barometer watches Hallmark Christmas movies whilst on the treadmill this time of year. The movies are good clean fun. No one swears. Folks fall in love. Romance blooms. Not to mention tree-decorating, flour battles whilst cookie-baking, carnivals, festivals, parades, really lovely houses, and small town charm. About 45 minutes into the first movie of the season, the Barometer was taken with one dominating thought: These lovely people had no masks. They were giving hugs and kisses, eating together, having parties, and, oh, were they happy. The Barometer was very sad. Hallmark always provided a joyous escape from pressure. Now, Hallmark was sparking feelings of jealousy, resentment, and just a smidgen of anger.
The Barometer thought about increasing restrictions and realized that PETA would be in court seeking injunctions if chickens were confined in the manner we have experienced and are facing once again. How the Barometer longs for the liberties of a free-range chicken. No mask. Ability to interact. To walk about. To eat together. The free-range human is extinct.
And it feels as if those doing the confining do not really know what they are doing. Elon Musk was tested four times for the virus using the same machine. Mr. Musk got two positives and two negatives. Singer Erykah Badu tested positive in a swab test from her left nostril and negative in a swab test from her right nostril. We have been wearing masks since March, social distancing, and closing down for a good part of that time. Physicians and scientists assured us that those were the solutions. However, we do have a virus surge once again. Mr. Musk may have a point when he concluded, “Something extremely bogus is going on.”
The virus is real and can be deadly. But the science may not be real and is proving deadly. The Barometer hopes PETA steps in for the ethical treatment of humans.