Any time we might feel put upon and slightly irritated by changes in our lifestyle occasioned by the entry of a threateningly malignant virus and the fear of contagion, we should just shift our thoughts over to the tragedy of human death on an unimaginable scale caused by the effect of this coronavirus and be properly grateful that we've been able, through the courtesy of merciful fortune to have avoided contracting it.

We can, after all, live with inconveniences in our lives. Some of which are painful for everyone; that in the present era of uncertainty generations in a family must take exceptional care not to transmit the virus to the most vulnerable among them; the health-impaired, the elderly, the young. It's an understatement to say that I feel hugely relieved and grateful that I'm long past the time of being mother to a young brood.

That our children weren't young at such a time in history nor grandchild, is a bonus beyond valuation, saving us from the aching concern over their welfare, both mental and physical, under prevailing conditions of ongoing virus transmission threat with school re-openings looming in a matter of days. Parents of children having to make painful decisions, whether to home school their children, one of the parents -- if an intact two-parent family-- having to remain at home, foregoing career or work thus diminishing the family's income and depriving one parent of normalcy. Much worse in one-parent families.

Or making the difficult decision to return their children to a school setting and hope for the best. It's a type of Solomonic decision that calls for a careful study of all sides of a problem, and this problem has many sides to it. This problem doesn't call for wisdom of choice, because there is no choice, simply a decision to go one way or the other and hope against hope that all will be well.

If matters fail to develop well, then all of society will suffer for it, since community transmission will increase and the chances for contracting the virus will increase with greater exposure in the general public. On the other hand, we're moving steadily toward a time when vaccine trials of candidates for a researched solution will pass their third trials, seek government approval and begin producing medications for inoculating the public. And that may result in a massive diminution of the threat.

No threats were on our minds early this morning when we set off under rain-threatening clouds, high atmospheric winds and cool temperatures, albeit with high humidity levels for our usual hike through the ravine before breakfast with Jackie and Jillie. It's always a relief to get out there. A feeling of freedom of movement, relaxation, fresh air and expectations for a good day ahead.

 Today was one of those days when we came across a number of peculiar fungi growing at the base of, or on decaying tree trunks that took our attention because of their oddities of appearance. From a large yellow 'splotch' that appeared at the base of an old dead Ash to a number of colonies of fungi marching up the trunk of other trees that had succumbed to age or disease, and other peculiar-shaped fungi here and there in the woods. 

The overcast light, though making the forest interior appear dusky-dim seems somehow to illuminate these strange growths so they stand out from the surrounding landscape. And notice them we do for their peculiarities in presentation, part of nature's complex scheme in the finality of discrete life forms and the continuation of life as it renews itself.

And then home, to dawdle briefly in the garden, admiring form and colour that overcast conditions never fail to highlight, flattering the garden in a way that a full sunlit day never seems to.