June 16-30

Time marches on in what some are calling a "new normal" but to me it's nothing but temporary BS. Jenny has a friend with two young daughters, on Saturday the 20th she held a birthday party for her three-year-old at a county park just south of the city. The get-together lasted for about two hours, just long enough for the little one to understand it was all for her. Jenny, her mother and I were among the ten or twelve people there, others were invited but apparently either had plans or were perhaps hesitant over being out and about. For my part I'm long since past any so-called fear because it's been largely disproved, when I'm in public I can give other people their space and not crowd anyone unnecessarily. I'm not around anybody in particular for long enough to be overly concerned, the only people I see with any regularity are Jenny and her mother and that's usually just two days a week for lunch. When I'm there we sit apart in an attempt for security and so far we've all been fine. The last time they were at my place was in February before the hockey season ended early, they haven't been in since because baseball season never started at all. On Monday the 29th I was out of the house after the supper hour for the first time in SIXTEEN WEEKS, the county's youth baseball league belatedly started its season. The high school age division was canceled completely because most of its teams use school-property facilities which remain unavailable but the 14-and-under, 12-and-under and 10-and-under divisions are playing on fields in public parks. The city's recreation commission sponsers two teams in the 12u league and one in the 10u league, on this night the 12u team in Section Three played a home game in Lancaster Community Park (on the west side of town about three miles from my place). The boys lost to Donegal Green (from Mount Joy) but for me it just felt good to be out in the fresh air and sunshine at a game again. Yes, it wasn't a pro game or even a college or high school game but it was a BALLGAME and that's all that mattered. The 12u team in Section Two also plays at Community Park, the 10u team plays its games at Davy Arnold Field which is only about a mile from my house. The season runs through the month of July. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 1-15

The sixth month of 2020 began on a Monday with our county in the sixty-seventh day of "lockdown" and the nation-at-large in virtual chaos. Jenny and I spoke on the phone in the evening, she and her mother were cleaning up the apartment and wanted to move some furniture around. I told her I would come to visit for lunch on Tuesday and help them. At this point I don't much care about the so-called regulations anymore, what legitimate purpose they may have ever served has long since expired and the public-at-large has realized it. I hadn't been to their apartment since the stupidity started on March 27 and it felt damn good to be there, as far as I'm concerned we're getting back on schedule no matter what anyone says. There has been a lot of criticism of the way the governor and the secretary of health have handled this matter (and in my opinion most of it is warranted), on June 3 the simmering pot finally boiled over. A rally was held on that day in the state capital which on the surface was commendable because the cause was worthy, it's one I can easily support myself. The problems arose when the governor elected to actively participate and by doing so violated most every edict he has forced on the public since March. The gathering numbered more than 25 people (which is supposed to be outlawed), there was very little "social distancing" (which is what the public is supposed to be doing) and many in the group were not wearing facemasks (perhaps the biggest no-no of the bunch). His actions came under fire almost immediately and it only worsened when a photo of him at the rally featured a citizen in the background holding a sign bearing a very strong anti-police sentiment. His involvement was explained away as being "necessary" during troubled times but it still flies in the face of what the public has been advised (or "told") to do. Public health advocates added fuel to the fire by claiming that protesting is a civil right (even during an alleged pandemic) and a gathering of that type is not to be confused with other types of similar gatherings especially those for protest of stay-home orders. The level of hypocrisy in that statement is absolutely embarrassing, it's as if the virus can tell WHY your group has assembled, how many people are in it and will attack accordingly. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so ridiculous. On June 9 the state legislature finally acted with the bipartisan passing of a resolution immediately ending the governor's emergency proclamation (originally issued in March and renewed when it expired on June 6), he responded by refusing to acknowledge the legislature's right to do so and reaffirming his proclamation. A nasty court battle is in the offing regarding who has power over who (one state senator called it a "constitutional crisis") and it's not hyperbole to say the future of this entire state could be in the balance. Take care, friends. Thanks for reading.