March 11, 2020 SICK CITY

Coronavirus. I get it. If someone is elderly or has health issues then BEWARE. The general public  is different right? Apparently NOT. The media frenzy has turned the virus into the next BLACK PLAGUE.  It's now being referred to as a PANDEMIC. This will really scare people as they will associate it with the 1918 Flu pandemic that killed--millions of people. BUT a pandemic is simply defined as "a global outbreak of a serious new illness."  Just say PANDEMIC though and all HELL breaks loose. Many governors have declared a public health emergency and now have the power to close schools, issue travel bans and even enforce QUARANTINES.  Dozens of colleges have shut their doors, the CIAC has canceled their postseason games, theatres are canceling their performances??  BET THEY WON'T CANCEL MARCH MADNESS. Too much money on the line.  How about political debates? Think they'll be canceled?? Too much at stake?? Apparently-- Toilet paper is the new PANIC BUY. Did you know that a family in Australia just bought a 12 year supply?? They must have a huge house. CRAZY.
I have just the book to get you through our current pandemic, it's called This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger.  Odie O'Banion is an octogenarian looking back on his life and the summer of 1932 during the Great Depression. At this time, Odie and his older brother Albert were orphaned and sent to live at the Lincoln Indian Training School in Minnesota. The training school housed hundreds of Native American children who were separated from their parents in an effort to "educate" them. On the surface, the school seems like any other school, but the students actually live in fear.  After committing a crime at the school, Odie, Albert, a Sioux named Mose and a little girl named Emily runaway. The foursome then steal a canoe and head toward the Mississippi with the law on their tails. While on their epic journey, the group meet a variety of people including a one-eyed farmer, a faith healer and several displaced families. They learn about life, love and just what home really means.  This lovely novel is about 460 pages or a 5 mile run full of quirky characters that accurately depicts the time period and the struggles many faced during the Great Depression. Enjoy.