Sometimes it can be very difficult to focus the mind. Sometimes the mind is fuzzy and all-abuzz about nothing at all, and alternately is attempting to focus on too much. We've so suddenly been plunged into this world-wide dilemma. Who might have foreseen such an event, a swiftly-enfolding health cataclysm that has created a huge air of uncertainty in science and medicine. Apart from which while doctors and other health-care professionals man the barricades and in the process place themselves in great danger, governments in hindsight realize they should have been prepared.

If governments don't recognize that, then their citizens slowly come to that realization -- that the purse strings elected officials neglected to unleash for the potential of a mass health pandemic to support research and preparedness, hospitals and medical equipment of necessity, in favour of funding pet ideological projects and corporate supporters -- to remind their governments.

So, sticking under our skin and needling our thoughts is just a tad of resentment that few governments have seen fit to prepare their countries to fend off a hugely destabilizing and deadly disease threatening life as we know it. It has already done so, needless to say, in ways we might never have wanted to imagine. Our progressively tight little world in this unimaginably extended universe has become, suddenly tighter. The ease of mass communication and travel has informed us that travel is no longer advised.

We are to remain in situ; where we are, and to stay there. To prevent contamination through a hugely infectious zoonotic, a hybrid virus related to a previous one communicated from animals to humans; SARS/coVid-2. One that even while scientists are struggling to understand the genetic code behind the virus, is mutating steadily, with eight versions so far identified as it rips around the globe.

So this is what has highjacked our minds, as we attempt to focus a little more clearly and find ourselves trapped, both in returning to dread thoughts of the novel coronavirus and fears of those we love becoming infected and tabulating to ourselves all the steps we must take to provide as much protection as we can to ourselves and our families. We know, as well, that staying healthy, if we can, means we will also not become a vector, carrying the virus ourselves and unwittingly helping it leap to invade others.

Routine and familiarity help to wrench ourselves away from that laser focus. And for us two elderly people, it means doing all the familiar things that give us comfort. Alas, today is yet another cool, windy, rainy day, just as yesterday was. Which forced us to remain indoors rather than take our two little pups out for a leisure, mind-stabilizing stroll through forest trails in the ravine nearby our home. And today, just the same.  But it's also habitually cleaning day, so that's what my husband and I attended to. While our little Jackie and Jillie followed us about trying to make sense of routine plus the stress they can sense.

So after all the work is done and we relax, out come the books and newspapers. On with the fireplace as the puppies settle beside us. And for dinner tonight, one of my husband's favourites; a small corned beef roast, which we seldom have because it's not the most healthful of eating; too much salt and nitrites in its preparation.  We'll also have mashed yam to accompany it, along with broccoli, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, with fresh green grapes for dessert. Comfort food for uncomfortable times.