Upon and Beyond Getting Vaccinated
I’ve gotten my shots, like an obedient dog that’s gone off to the vet. Where’s my treat?
As mentioned last month, I’m very pro-vaccination. I get a flu shot every year. No ill effects ever. I’ve had some bad stuff for which there are no vaccines, but otherwise, I’ve been “fluless.” And despite this winter of our discontent—snow and ice in all the wrong places—and vaccination taken care of, after another week of waiting
for it to kick in at its maximum strength, I’m good to go. But where?
For one thing, we are told that despite two shots of this elixir, the Pfizer version (Johnson & Johnson, makers of cancerous baby powder has just released theirs), we should continue to wear a mask. For another, various venues of escape and entertainment, are either still closed or open in a very limited capacity. No sitting at a retro bar sipping a dry gin martini pretending to be F. Scott Fitzgerald. Not to mention confronting the threat of the new strains and refrains on another Covid theme, heretofore in absentia. And it could be much worse. It’s like dropping a house on the wicked witch of the East, only to learn there’s an eviler sister in the West. (How far West was never divulged in the movie).
At 75, my partner and I were among the early groups eligible for vaccination. Finally, a benefit of being at this nose-bleed age. Though the bar was soon lowered to those 65 or older. Mere kids infringing on my crabby turf. Though this didn’t crowd the field to any degree at my expense. In fact, I was shocked at how smoothly the whole process went.
There were no long lines, nor four hour waits, ala what was going on in the Dodger Stadium parking lot. Which is a vast wasteland of asphalt, through which I used to wander aimlessly after a game, in search of where I had parked my car. Through process of elimination, it got easier once 50,000 cars or so had left.
I was notified by email that I could book at an NYU Medical Center on 55th and Madison Avenue. I could pick a day and time at my convenience. And it was within an easy ten minute walk from our apartment.
Contrast this with the 90 year-old woman in the Seattle area, who walked 6 miles in the snow---from her home to the hospital and back—to get her first Covid shot. With the hassle of securing an appointment time—endless phone calls and fruitless visits to various websites—she wasn’t going to let a snowstorm stop her from keeping it. The hilly unplowed roads made any attempt to drive there, extremely hazardous. Yes, she still drives. And will drive to get her second shot. Weather permitting.
We waited a short time in a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing waiting room, sprinkled with a few elders, as if sent over from Central Casting to add to the homey atmosphere. This was white male privilege ---or any white gender privilege really--- on parade! We were in a favorable zip code with a high penetration of “needles in arms” (I hate that phrase). A lesser zip code in Brooklyn, for example, had barely gotten off the ground. Not surprising as lower socio-economic groups have been suffering the most during the pandemic.
There was however, a small snafu while checking in. I was unable to scan one of those code box configurations into my phone to fill out a questionnaire for clearance. Why? A staff member who helped me gain access otherwise, said it was because I didn’t have an iPhone, but rather a Galaxy. What? Was she right? Can it be? “Cellular Cancel Culture”?
Soon enough, we went in and got our shot. I’m surprised it was not captured on camera to be shown later on the evening news. As of 2/28/2021, nearly 75 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the U.S.; predominantly at this point, "one-shotters." If you’re a heavy viewer of news and commentary programming, it seems as if you've seen them all! I sense an almost perverse glee in their doing this. It’s voyeuristic. “Vaxxxy" porn?
How many needles going into how many arms—many up close— do we need to see to prove vaccines are actually being given? I believe you! Cut it out. (Quick quiz: who was the first person in the U.S. to get one, along with a Warholian stint of fame?).*
Yes, I’m squeamish when it comes to needles. But really, imagine the expense and waste of time TV stations incur getting a camera crew, their equipment and a reporter over to capture the climax of a procedure that lasts all of two seconds? If they insist, at least keep repeating the same footage. Even borrow some from another city. Or country. Use the same pool of arms that have been used before. Who is going to notice? “Whoa, wait a minute. I saw that same arm just yesterday. Maybe they really haven’t given 75,000,000 shots”? And a conspiracy theory would be born.
After we were done, we had to wait in another well-appointed room for 15 minutes. A precaution, lest we come down with any side effects. Like hubris. Those folks getting a shot while in their car don’t have this sort of option. Keep the line moving. If you go into convulsions on the road, that’s not our fault.
These cursory observations within a seemingly benign experience were for me, a thumbnail course in sociology, technology, medical science and gerontology all rolled into one. In particular, what stood out was that senior citizens were getting the attention that was their due. Unspoken but often implied, was that of the 510,000 Americas who've died thus far, most were old and often ill anyway (and well, expendable?). According to AARP almost 60% of fatalities are people 75 and older. Thus by deduction, one can assume that the other 40%, are not yet in field goal range on the annuity gridiron, and not decrepit and awaiting the Grim Reaper. Who luckily, like the cable guy, is usually late. Which might then translate to “only” 200,000+ deaths of still productive people, if you want to get crude about it. (And who could most likely, pass the reading-a-MuseLetter test).
The only time seniors are courted really, is when someone like a Tom Sellick, patronizing and reeking of faux folksiness, promises in a TV ad, that he would never lie to you about reverse mortgages. Or a one-time sports legend, Joe Namath (say it ain’t so, Joe), all hyper smiley and enthused, full of all sorts of good news about Medicare, fills the screen for the umpteenth time that day.
As of this writing, the speculation is that everyone who wants a shot, will have gotten one by the end of July. Though at the moment, we're ahead of that pace. It will be interesting to see how that number shakes out. The last estimate I saw put anti-vaxxers at 16%. Prominent among them is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who was “booted off Instagram for false COVID claims.” I wonder what dad would have thought about all of this.
* Sandra Lindsey, a nurse and director of patient services in the Long Island Jewish Medical Center's ICU. After receiving the historic shot, she told CNN: "I trust science. What I don't trust is getting Covid-19, because I don't know how it will affect me and the people around me."
Quote of the Month
Of Like Minds on Snowfall
1.
Snow
we need to have snow
to see silence in the making
each flake falling
a hush
on city drums
2.
There is Nothing Quieter
Than softly falling snow
Fussing over every flake
And making sure
It won’t wake someone.
Ron Vazzano 2004 / Charles Simic 2021
finito
Featuring...
pre November 2018
muse-letter \’myüz-‘le-tər noun
1: a personal message, inspired by a muse of one's own creation, addressed to a person or organization, in the course of which, the sender becomes absorbed in thought; especially turning something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively.
2: a letter from a poet, or one who envisions oneself as such, in which he or she “muses” on that which is perceived to be news, or newsworthy, usually in some ironic or absurd way.
Sidebar: Even in the conviction of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, the words terrorist or terrorism are not used. Rather, under statues 18 U.S.C. § 2332a the language reads, "A person who uses, or attempts or conspires to use, a weapon of mass destruction." And he was also charged with "the malicious destruction of federal property by means of an explosive," in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 844(f) and 2(a) & (b).
Thus far, no charges related to terrorism, attempted coup, treason, seditious conspiracy, or rebellion have been laid out in the aftermath of January 6th.
“I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue…”
…and it came to pass. He got away with murder. Oh, come on, he didn’t really shoot someone. No. He did worse. Resulting in five dead, including D.C. Police Officer Brian Sicknick, and the hunt for Mike Pence.
The man to whom Pence had given his undying loyalty, had no compunction in leaving
him at the mercy of a murderous crowd. The toxic power of cultism can be deadly.
Despite that noose and a calling for his hanging, Pence could not stop listening to...
Some have said, including Fox (of course) and members of Congress (Lindsay Graham,
of course) let’s move on! Get over it. Forget how close members of our government came to being captured and God knows what, in this very Senate chamber that 800 rioters entered. Eight times the size of the Senate.
I know that in our warp-speed news cycle world it seems eons ago. But as of this March 1st posting, it is just a whole two weeks since the acquittal.
To move on, is like saying forget about that throbbing toothache. Just learn to eat on the other side of your mouth. It’s all water under the bridge, in a manner of speaking. Merrick Garland, who is no dentist, but the likely new Attorney General, has made this riot his number one priority. He asserted that an ongoing investigation would center not just on the rioters, but on those who aided them. So maybe it was a blessing in disguise that he was blocked by political gamesmanship from serving on the Supreme Court?
Which brings us back to Trump, who channeling Nixon, declared in June of 2020 in the Rose Garden: “I am a law and order president." He might have added, "but I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden (with apologies to Lynn Anderson and her 1970 hit song).
And now, enter Mitch McConnell (stage right). In no uncertain terms, in his 20 minute speech following Impeachment 2.0, he stated in a voice that cannot be out-gravelly grumbled...
“There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day."
"American citizens attacked their own government. They used terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of democratic business they did not like.”
He even used the “T” word, which is never applied to domestic people doing nefarious anti-American deeds. Especially white guys. All that was missing from Mitch was, “Off with his head!” (eliminating the ! as he always maintains a near-death experience persona, even when lively passion is called for).
A scene right out of Malice in Blunderland, as only a half hour prior, he had voted to acquit. Irony has never been a strong suite for those who have kissed the ring (and other places) of Donald Trump. Beg pardon once again for the mixed metaphors that this madness inspires.
Yes, there were reasons of blah blah blah blah. There always are where Donald is concerned. He’s never had to account for anything in his life. So this verdict came as no surprise. But then there’s this, which Mitch left dangling:
"President Trump is still liable for everything he did while in office "He didn't get away with anything yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation."
character, or own up to the facts surrounding his wrongdoings. Maybe I was in the
Two impeachment trials, and not once, as in ONCE, did anyone vouch for his
An artist rendering of a Senate in inaction with some Senators not even pretending to be listening to lead House manager Jaimie Raskin.
(Addendum: "Absolutely." When asked on February 25th, if Trump were the party nominee in 2024, would he support him.)
shower and missed “Donald Trump would never do something like that. He’s an honorable man.” This wasn’t lost on a man who knew him well, Michael Cohen. Once a Trump lackey who saw what he was lacking, he made this point in his testimony before Congress in February of 2019. But how can you believe a convicted felon? Well, for one thing, Congressman Adam Schiff, a rather upstanding citizen who did due diligence in tracking the proclivities of Trump, would echo Cohen’s words and sentiments in his concluding arguments at Impeachment I on January 24, 2020.
MICHAEL COHEN ADAM SCHIFF
“I find it interesting that not one question from you today has been about Mr. Trump, that's why I thought I was coming today.
I fear that if he loses the election in 2020, that there will never be a peaceful transition of power. And this is why I agreed to appear before you today.”
"We must say enough — enough! He has betrayed our national security, and he will do so again. He has compromised our elections, and he will do so again.
You will not change him. You cannot constrain him. He is who he is. Truth matters little to him. What's right matters even less, and decency matters not at all. You are decent. "He is not who you are.”
And here we were again, as foretold by both saints and sinners. Not even a year later. Though the go-to strategy in Donald’s defense this time, was even more outrageous. As in…You didn’t see what you saw. You didn’t hear what you heard. Accompanied by that siren song played on the lute of False Equivalency. Every politician uses the word “fight.” Right? You just saw 11 minutes of that. Even Kuh’-molluh said it. Context be damned.
After five outrageous years of Trump, where up was down, black was white and lost was won, it’s impossible to forecast where this will go from here. But it seems pretty obvious that we can expect to see future presidential elections, certifications and inaugurations, heavily guarded by armed forces. Like in those “shithole countries.” Talk about “bad optics.” Perhaps reenforced by that further line of defense, at least temporarily, the chain link fence with its curlicues of razor wire.
Dare we not take such measures going forward? How do we ever allow ourselves to have the possibility of another January 6th? Stab me once with an American-flagged flagpole, shame on you. Stab me twice with it, shame on me.
The impact of that disgraceful day has reverberated throughout the world. In actually, our stature on the global stage, has been crumbling for the last four years to begin with. But I have a feeling that a group like this... cares squat about that.
They are focused at the moment on more domestic goals, as they await their next orders to “stand back and
stand by.”
In concluding, this is not about unadulterated partisanship. I can promise that if Joe Biden were ever to be "practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day"—to quote Mitch once more (it's irresistible)— I would equally voice my contempt. Though breathes there a person of sound mind and body, right, left and center, who can imagine that down such a rabbit hole our 46th President would ever go?
Word of the Month
coddiwomple (verb)
To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.
Used in a sentence
I’ve never seen anybody who can coddiewomple like this guy.
What’s with the tattoos and piercing?
Why can’t they just wear their hair
long and unkempt as we did?
Put on a pair of bells
dangle beads and peace signs
on their chests
wear tie-dye T-shirts
and second-hand shop vests.
OK, forgo the Nehru jacket.
Instead flash some flesh
in the zoo that was Central Park;
gathering beneath the Angel of Waters
to smoke some weed
diving headlong into
the mud of Woodstock
yes, the times were achangin’.
Uncountable are the places and ways
the gems and jewels show up today,
the three-ring circus
you see in an ear or nose
the nose to us
was meant for smelling the flowers
we placed in the barrels
of National Guard guns
till they didn’t get the joke
and gunned us down at Kent State,
but today they use so called rubber bullets
to scatter the crowd
but as a Jewish mother might admonish:
“Be careful. They can poke an eye out.”
Yes… flowers
were also worn in our hair
Hair: a Broadway Musical smash
hair today? Abstract art
styled as if by a lawn mower
that had run amuck,
our Starbucks barista
who takes her own sweet time
chatting with co-workers while serving
favors a short crop of lavender fuzz
with a Mohawk in iridescent green
and she speaks of song-streaming
The Weeknd, this weekend
every day for us was a weekend
and our groups had more poetic names
metaphors, allegory, everything in between
Iron Butterfly, The Grateful Dead,
The Velvet Underground…
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs.
Then we’d sit and savor
Ravi Shankar making love to his sitar
cross-legged, communing in a way
that had meaningful implications
which took a few tokes to decipher
(did you know his daughter is Nora Jones?)
but how heavy were the light years
we’d travel in our minds…
you Gen X,Y and Zer's
should at least contemplate
your precocious navels
instead of plugging them up
with some sort of sexual adornment?
we needed no cues for stimulation
we had sex on a whim
like dogs in heat
gender be damned---
you wanna talk race?
Before Black Lives Matter
we had Black Panthers who mattered...
Leonard Bernstein even invited them
up to his Upper
East Side penthouse apartment
so that he could dig it,
know where they were coming from
know where they were at
how cool was that?
though only the trés chic were invited
but we were too busy anyway
what with being at war
with the Greatest Generation
ours vs theirs
the unjust one vs “the good one”
fathers chastising sons
Uncle Sam, man
was breathing down our necks
it was a bummer
“Hell no, we won’t go!”
what were apartments going for
in Toronto or Montreal anyway?
but maybe you’d get a high number
in the draft lottery
in a plastic blue capsule
three hundred sixty-six of them—
they didn’t forget leap year—
pulled out of a deep glass jar
life and death
like that Shirley Jackson short story.
You had to be there.
Baby Boomer Blues
"Ok, Boomer"
Ron Vazzano
This Just In, and the Winners are...
In "The Queen's Gambit: On and Beyond the Board" last month, I went bonkers over this limited TV series and its lead actress Anya Taylor-Joy. Last night at the Golden Globe Awards, both were winners in their respective categories. Obviously, I highly recommend it. It is unique in a number of ways, which I go into at some length, complete with pictures, as to why I think that is so.
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