The wide open spaces appears to be the place to be what with the "Swine Flu" pandemic on WHO level 5 now. Imagine if you will, being isolated from people yet still connected to the rest of the world by telephone and internet. At least until the extent and nature of this respiratory health situation comes closer into focus, maybe the Canadian cottage would be a good place to ride out the storm.

Unfortunately, that will not be our case. Plans for the coming months have us working in clinics, either like Kathy reviewing charts for insurance companies or myself volunteering at a free clinic. We will be getting a snoot full of exposure, if you know what I mean. In addition, I just came back this weekend from the Michigan State Medical Society House of Delegates meeting in Grand Rapids, plenty of Docs there, attended this last monday and will again in two weeks attend the Meridian Township Planning Commission; I am scheduled for the Ingham County Medical Society Legislative meeting monday May 11th and MTPC meeting that night.

The major issue is the impending wedding of Justin and Sherry in Shanghai May 24th. Kathy and I are both hopeful that sufficient time will have elapsed so control and treatment strategies will be in place and we all can go about our business knowledgeable and adopting appropriate precautions. We leave Saturday May 16th on two different airplanes, one from Detroit Metro to Chicago and the 14+ hour one from Chicago to Shanghai. Vice President Bidden said that he recommended his family not ride public transportation or fly in airplanes although that stance is being modified as we speak because the airline industry already have their shorts in knots. Three feet is the magic number. Three feet between people, although I would sit next to Kathy just as a matter of principle. Who knows: cover your mouth with your forearm when you cough or sneeze; hand wash frequently, especially before touching your mouth, nose and eyes, and be sure to get plenty of sleep. Sleep and the immune health that sleep provides, will get us all through.

Oh by the way. The two pictures? One is from inside our cottage this early April. The second is from the Litomski's (now Devil's Glen formally just plain old Purgatory Harbour) front window. Notice the glass allowing all to see out to the beauty beyond the deck. We are doing something like this for our cottage. We got the idea right here.

Well my chickodees, I am about to boost my immune health for a while or until Kathy gets home from her work day.