Putin Invades Ukraine

 As this blog is diary-like in form, some of it may be a little hazy on exact dates. Since this occurrence was so world-shaking I checked out the dates. Early on in January or perhaps even earlier Russia had been assembling what appeared to be a huge preparation for an invasion of Ukraine on the Russian border. Putin insisted he was only setting up a defense exercise that he had no intentions of invading his neighbor. NATO and American intelligence noted that there were hospital and backup structures to back up a real invasion. Satellite images showed numerous tanks and military vehicles parked in a neat row after row. Predictions by military experts began predicting when the operation might begin. Much of the world was in disbelief including the prime minister of Ukraine, who reminded the world that much of Ukraine spoke Russian and had family ties with Russia. A number of years previously Putin had tried a smaller incursion into southern Ukraine and failed. Follows a description I borrowed so as to have the date exact.

"Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The attack is internationally considered a war of aggression. It has triggered Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with over 3.8 million Ukrainians leaving the country, and millions more being internally displaced.'''

A horrible war began, something which normal people never imagined could happen again. Narratives suggest that Putin thought that his lightning-fast penetration would be welcomed with open arms by the Ukrainian populace.  It wasn't. The Russian troops were repelled in many places. What was supposed to be over in 3 days dragged out. It appeared the Russian military was not well trained nor supplied with the necessary equipment.  The Ukrainians fought back fiercely. The Russians began to shell and bomb the civilian populations in their dwellings, their hospitals, and schools.  It was similar to the Nazi blitzkrieg of World War II. The Ukrainian Prime minister remained with his people. He and his family are prime targets for assassination. He has become a knight in shining armor, guiding and encouraging his nation to repel the evil dreams of conquest by Putin. Several times Putin has threatened atomic retaliation and that has been rejected by rational people on all sides. 

Now the struggle appears to have reached a stalemate. Millions in Ukraine have become refugees. Poland has received a million. America has agreed to fast tract a hundred thousand. Many Ukrainian cities have been bombed into rubble. Half of its children have left the country. As the world slowly recovers from Covid it must now confront the evil that derives from the ambitions of powerful rulers. War is a greater threat to mankind than a microscopic virus.  Lord have mercy!!

LIFE DURING COVID-19 Prologue.....

Jan 31-Feb 1 Lib and I played bells in the workshop at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church with the Branderbells. The bell director at Oak Grove just happened to be there, was looking for a slot to play and happened to see Lib and I and as we were missing a few, joined our table. How very nice! After our concert and as we were driving out from the church parking lot, Lib discovered she had left her pocketbook. Thank goodness one of our ringers noticed it, picked it up and we were able to retrieve it. 

This was the almost the last week of total life normalcy for Lib and me. 

It was maybe a week later that we heard the first glimmers of the virus in China. It was a fast-moving epidemic and though CNN  made some comment, it was felt that it was nothing to be concerned about. 

We were able to have a nice mini Flory gathering at a new restaurant in Dayton, Va,  about 100 miles from our home. We filled a table:Lib and I, Larry and Joyce, Abe and Ruth, Lillian, Marsha, Jim and Jodie on the 29 of February. We talked about our families. 

My wife Lib is the last of her line and the group we had lunch with were all her nephews and nieces. 

By the middle of February there were a number of cases in Washington State, on a cruise ship, and soon in New York City. Two main streams of public thought emerged. (1) It wasn’t more serious/dangerous than the flue, (2) It was a “pandemic” requiring unthinkable strategies to contain it and that all we had to do was see the terrible outcomes in Italy to understand where we would be two weeks ahead.

In March it began to be a serious topic in all the media. We had our last quintet early March and our last quartet on  Thursday the 12th. Governments were moving rapidly toward the unthinkable. I could see the trend and canceled other musical obligations. We attended our last church service in early March.

Then in rapid succession public schools were shut down, colleges and universities followed suit with the intention of opening later in 2 weeks just to close for the year and try online instruction. When the big athletic leagues shut down the public began to understand. More serious tightening followed. Only food, medical, and other essential services were to remain open. No gatherings were allowed of over 10 people. When in public for necessary activities, we were to maintain at least 6 feet separation. During the day we followed the spread of this plague on TV. We learned the true meaning of “exponential”.!

Around the middle of March, the Federal government began to face the real consequences of the shutdown and passed a 2 TRILLION give back, loan to, a program to put a band-aid on the economic hemorrhaging for shuttered education and nonessential businesses forced to close or temporarily shut down. Each citizen will be sent $1200 toward the end of April to help buy the necessities. I understand Canada will give each of theirs $2000 each month for the next 4 months!!  The stock market dipped way down then jumped up only to drop again. Smart brokers made zillions while less endowed lost zillions. 

At this writing around 4000 have perished in America and hundreds of thousands have tested positive and many are crowding the capabilities of huge metropolitan hospitals. The country seems to have been blindsided by this scourge even though many physicians and people who knew were warning that this train was barrelling down on us. It seems incomprehensible that this is happening.  

Tomorrow will be April 1. Lib and I saw our daughter Cathy and husband Jeff briefly 2+ weeks ago and grandson Devin when he mowed for us. We’ve gone for groceries about 3 times.  Several days ago our Governor called for a Statewide lockdown until June 10. Thankfully, the virus doesn’t appear to be fearfully active here, yet! A favorite TV commentator on CNN, Chris Cuomo,  contracted the virus and described a terrifying  night of fevers, sweats, and hallucinations.....