The Parks Are Back

Seven weeks into quarantine and there is still no sign of it ending. The governor is supposed to make a decision about schools on May 15th, or maybe on May 4th. Seems about half of the states already decided schools are done for the year, but New Jersey closes later than most so there is still hope. Many people are fearful of us reopening too soon. On the one hand, I get it, on the other hand we have less than 200 cases in a town of 33,000. On any given day we get between 0 and 5 new cases. Hardly the feared numbers worthy of shutting down the entire world.

In the good news department Governor Murphy (D) decided to reopen state and county parks, plus golf courses. The funny thing about the golf courses is a few days before the announcement I made the comment to Don I was surprised golf courses were closed, after all golf is a wealthy white man's sport. Barely 48 hours later the announcement came that the golf courses will be reopened.

Hair salons are still shut, and if a stylist violates that edict there will be stiff fines.

On a 70 degree day in May Don and I happily returned to Mercer Meadows. We saw many people enjoying the trails, including my sister and her family, and Lea, a local reporter. We also caught up with neighbors while they were doing yard work.

Seems everyone is starved for conversation. Enough with only talking to those in your immediate household, time to talk to others.

The governor said we can keep our parks as long as "knuckleheads" don't congregate for picnics and sports. Knuckleheads. Yup, the governor is calling his constituents names.

So ready for quarantine to be over.