Apr 30 2009
We’re all pigs - Swine Flu
Last night we got word that there was a confirmed case of Swine Flu at Notre Dame. There have also been confirmed cases in Michigan and Ohio. Check out the Google Live map of the pandemic. This hits home especially close for me.
1 - I attended and graduated from Saint Mary’s College.
2 - It’s just down the street (semi-figuratively)
3 - The kids attend South Bend schools
4 - I start teaching a class in South Bend on Monday
5 - All my close family lives in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio
Right now, Little Guy and I are pretty isolated. With the rain, we haven’t gone outside or talked to many people in person and honestly, right now, I’m OK with that. Tomorrow, the kids arrive for the weekend and the first thing I am having them do is take showers and get into their clothes from here. I will be washing both sets of clothing (the ones they wore and the ones they brought) and ensuring the health and cleanliness of everyone in this house.
Overkill? Maybe. But better that then a dead three year old. The swine flu seems to be striking youngsters hardest of all, as with most flus and the kids’ mom works in the health care field. I cannot and will not put my baby at risk.
In addition to the immediate cleansing they will receive upon arrival, we’ll also check and make sure everyone is feeling OK, doesn’t have a fever, and is generally healthy. And then we’ll do a bit of cleaning around the house. I’m considering not letting the kids go to church on Sunday, but I’ll need to talk about that with Big Guy. It also depends on whether or not they feel they have the pandemic under control. One of my big concerns is the large hispanic immigrant population in Elkhart. If someone has family visiting from Mexico or visited Mexico, there’s a strong chance they’llhave caught something. Even worse, there is also an illegal immigrant problem. If they don’t have their papers, they may choose to deal with the illness rather than risk deportation. Understandable, but still risky.
My plan, if this gets worse or begins to seem Captain Trips-like, is simple and pretty much the same as my “zombie invasion” plan. Head to mom’s. After that, if things seem to still get worse and it encroaches. Head north, to the abandoned areas in Northern Canada. No people equals no illness and no zombies.
If there is one thing homesteading is good for, it’s learning how to live without people.
