RANDOM THOUGHTS DURING “LOCKDOWN – PARIS”

For those who don’t know, I am in Paris, France, under lockdown.  What does that mean?  For me, it means that I need to stay home and “self-quarantine” as much as possible.  Why? Because I don’t want to die just yet.  I still have some things that I really want to do in this area of the world, and someone could give me the virus without knowing it, and I could have it without knowing it.  AND, as I just said, I want to live a while longer because I have things I want to do in this area of the world.  For those who believe in “past lives”, I have a strong affinity to this area.  To those who need another reason for my wanting to stay here, I like it.  I always have.  Why?  I don’t know.  I have a history here. I made a life-altering decision here.  IN PARIS.  On the Left Bank.  What?  Maybe I will write about it one day. 

And, to those who think I was “running away from something in the USA”, I was NOT. I was not in trouble of any kind.  Au contraire, I was happily living in Encino.  I loved LA.  My law practice was booming, and I had a back-up profession in the Entertainment Industry.  Steve want to move.  He did not like LA at ALL  He wanted out and to move to Sarasota, Florida.  I did not want to move ANYWHERE in Florida.   It was as simple as that. We were retiring to do something that we both were willing to do before we couldn’t.  At the time we moved (October 2015), we were happily married and looking forward to the new adventure ahead.  He had duel citizenship.  USA and Italy.  A true Formula I fan.  And, my health was not so hot from the intensity of practicing law.  There, more than you ever wanted to know. 

We moved to Nice, on the Riviera.  He died.  I stayed for three more years.  I moved to Paris in January 2020 and went into Lockdown.  Who knew???  Who knows what lies ahead?  I surely don’t.  This move has been full of complications (long story for another time).  NEVER did I think I would be living in Paris at a time of a world-wide pandemic. More on that as time goes by.  So, today, I am sharing some thoughts with you. 

While I was in Nice, I subscribed to getting a daily email with local news – Riviera Radio News.  It is an English-speaking radio station in Monaco.  I tried to listen to it for a long time, but most of the time, I could not get a clear signal.  But I still get the daily email.  I am interested in news from my former home.  Today’s email had some interesting news that you may be interested in.

Riviera Radio Daily News Wednesday 18 March……

“Nice canon – If you heard the familiar midday canon on Tuesday in Nice, then it was the last time for a while. As the city took measures to confine its population in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, the tradition has been interrupted. The firing of the canon is a tradition which dates back to 1885, but that it marked something rather different to what it meant then, marking on Tuesday at midday, the introduction of new confinement measures.

Fired in the 1860s by a Scottish Lord Sir Thomas Coventry, the canon was used to remind a too-talkative wife that it was lunchtime. The  canon has since become a true symbol of Nice. To the point that at the time of Coventry’s departure, the population demanded that the tradition remain. In recent years, only the commemorations of July 14 [the Nice Terror Attack] have silenced it.

Meanwhile, in Cagnes sur mer, it’s 16-year-old Maxime Willebien-Pessina who has launched a group on Facebook: “The Cagnois at the windows”.  In this group, he launches a daily meeting – everyone on their balcony, at their window, every evening at 6 p.m. “For a minute, we applaud – to thank the health staff, the firefighters, the police, and all those who keep us safe.”  And in Nice, the mayor has called for a similar action to take place in Nice at 8pm on Thursday. 

Following the new measures with the clear message to “stay at home” during the 15-day lockdown introduced at midday on Tuesday, Riviera Radio reminds you that the following are allowed: 

• Travelling to work is permitted so long as the work is essential, cannot be postponed, and cannot be done from home.
• Shopping for groceries and other essential items is allowed; there is no need for panic-buying as supermarkets and bakers can remain open throughout the lockdown.
• Exceptions are also made for “imperative family reasons”, such as looking after children and the elderly. In practice, parents with shared custody can travel between each other’s homes; shopping for an elderly relative is also allowed (as long as people keep to a safe distance when visiting vulnerable relatives).
• Brief outings to get some exercise or take pets for a walk are allowed, albeit “with parsimony”; Castaner stressed that all group activities, such as playing a football match, are strictly banned. 
• All health-related appointments are permitted, including trips to the pharmacy. For all information on the coronavirus outbreak in France, dial 08 00 130 000, free of charge. 

All people leaving their homes must carry a signed form, or attestation, explaining where they are headed and why. A different form is needed for each outing. Failure to produce one will result in a fine. The form details the five motives listed above; tick the relevant box when filling it in.

In France, the Economy Minster Bruno le Maire was warned of a coming recession and announced a 45 billion euro aid package to help businesses and employees cope with the crisis. He also said that the government was ready to nationalise firms if necessary to protect the economy from the fallout.

Next – Thank you to my Facebook Friends (Tanya is a former client):  Tanya Moore and Karen Furno.    There is much fear about COVID-19, and much to gain.

“What if…
we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work.

That all are interconnected.

What if…
the virus and it’s demands of social distancing actually help us?

What if..
We reset as individuals, taking time to recall all that is truly important, as we reconnect with family, loved ones and community- in giving.

What if..
By reducing travel? Our environment, the skies, the air and our even lungs get a break for a bit.

What if…
Our cities see blue skies and less smog for the first time in a long time, with factories being shut down.

What if..
Many get to work from home, during this time, as oppose to commuting which lessens pollution and provides more personal time.

What if..
Families reconnect; having more time at home. Lovers reengage and remember the gratitude they have for one another.

What if..
It’s an open invitation to turn inwards in deep thought, as oppose to the pressured social gatherings, with self-soothing drinks involved.

What if..
It’s a time to reconnect with self and ask, what is really important to me?

What if..
It’s a economical and social reset, balancing and reevaluating both our minds and business structures.

What if..
It’s a time to understand the working poor, with a lack of healthcare access for the over 30 million in the U.S. alone. Giving a greater understanding of the importance for paid sick leave.

What if..
It’s a time to revalue spending habits, retirement, college funds, IRA and savings, along with 3-6 month rainy day, or in this case- pandemic, funds.

**How hard does one need to work to be able to LIVE, to HAVE A LIFE… outside of work? Let us contemplate our career, home and extracurricular time we allot for ourselves.

What if..
Washing our hands properly and proper hygiene was something many needed as a reminder. Yes, one irresponsible person effects many. Yes, we are all interconnected.

What if…
It resets our gratitude and a provided a presence of peace we haven’t felt in long while.

What if…
There is a favorable shift underway in our society?

What if…
this virus is an ally in our evolution?

What if..
We needed a reminder to be and stay connected, humane, to live a simpler life, with more joy.

What if..
We needed a kick to be less impactful to our environment and more giving to each other.

What if..
It triggered more offerings of the heart.

What if..
We give these uneasy times an offering to another perspective, another way to impact and unfold our evolution in a positive manner.

What if…
We remembered the gifts we are receiving by this virus and continue on with some of the simplicities this has provided.

What if…
We are better tomorrow, for what we were given today.

What if…—”

Also, another Facebook post  that I like very much, with a shout-out and thank you to my daughter-in-law:  Joy Trascey Bertolli Macintosh ….

“How about some good news? 🏼🏼🏼

-China has closed down its last coronavirus hospital. Not enough new cases to support them.

– Doctors in India have been successful in treating Coronavirus. Combination of drugs used: Lopinavir, Retonovir, Oseltamivir along with Chlorphenamine. They are going to suggest same medicine, globally.

– Researchers of the Erasmus Medical Center claim to have found an antibody against coronavirus.

– A 103-year-old Chinese grandmother has made a full recovery from COVID-19 after being treated for 6 days in Wuhan, China.

– Apple reopens all 42 china stores,

– Cleveland Clinic developed a COVID-19 test that gives results in hours, not days.

– Good news from South Korea, where the number of new cases is declining.

– Italy is hit hard, experts say, only because they have the oldest population in Europe.

– Scientists in Israel likely to announce the development of a coronavirus vaccine.

– 3 Maryland coronavirus patients fully recovered; able to return to everyday life.

– A network of Canadian scientists are making excellent progress in Covid-19 research.

– A San Diego biotech company is developing a Covid-19 vaccine in collaboration with Duke University and National University of Singapore.

– Tulsa County’s first positive COVID-19 case has recovered. This individual has had two negative tests, which is the indicator of recovery.

– All 7 patients who were getting treated for at Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi have recovered.

– Plasma from newly recovered patients from Covid -19 can treat others infected by Covid-19.”

So it’s not all bad news. Let’s care for each other and stay focused on safety of those most vulnerable.

Finally, – a quote from my niece, Debby Prince Kroll, quoting Kitty O’Meara.  Thank you, Debby.

“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.And listened more deeply.Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.Some met their shadows.And the people began to think differently.And the people healed.And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.  And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.”  — Kitty O’Meara 

I need some yellow today.  So, here are some pretty shots I took over the years. Bonne chance, Everyone!!

Best JAY