The cavalry’s come through, at least the first strong elements of the vaccination army, airwaves abuzz with positive chatter, but also reminders that we still have a ways to go; overwhelming, but in a good way now.

Based on new evidence, authorities have given their approval to extend the period between first and second doses to four months, allowing more people to receive their first inoculation.

All this, as weather-wise we’ve dipped into another deep freeze. More snow on the way, but this being March, the temperature is up and down.

Had an eye examination originally scheduled for today, that I postponed until April. Just wasn’t in the right headspace to go through the trouble of travelling in bad/cold weather, and all what the exam entails.

Iris, the company I’m dealing with, via my family doctor, is way the hell out on Richmond Road, in the downtown west end of Ottawa, with no offices in any other part of the city. Usually I take a cab there, to make sure I’m on time, then a bus back home. In any case, hopefully with all the vaccines coming, things will have improved somewhat by April, especially having to ride buses.

I do have my Driver’s Licence, but don’t own a car. Nothing against them (I’m not an eco-nut), but when you factor in maintenance, gas, insurance, to me, it just creates unnecessary expenses…and headaches. The reason I’ve stayed so long in South Keys (30 years) is that everything is in walking distance or a short bus or taxi ride. On the occasion when I really need a car, I rent one for a day or two, usually to get out of the city in summer. I especially don’t like winter driving, based on a few bad experiences.

Had a disturbing experience a couple weeks ago on the bus. I was coming home from downtown, after running an errand, and a young man got on a few stops after me. I looked up, and here he is walking quickly down the aisle, looking rather disheveled in his appearance, dressed in a light coloured but heavily stained trench coat (not exactly warm attire for this time of year), and worse, he wasn’t wearing a mask, or rather he was holding it in his hand. The driver quickly called him back, told him to put it on, then the guy replied that his was broken, so the driver gave him a new one.

Based on his clothing, poor grooming, demeanor...body language, my overall impression was that he had some of kind of mental issue. At first, I’m usually shocked and repulsed by people like this, then a sense of pity and guilt comes over me. Why did I end up so lucky in life, and they not? There’s a lot of these down-and-outs on this particular bus route, as it runs through the center core of Ottawa, mainly The Market and full length of Bank Street.

My eyesight has deteriorated over the past two years, since my last examination and first pair of prescription lenses. Macular degeneration, mainly due to Diabetes. Some of it is Cataracts, that can eventually be lazered away.


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03/02/2021

Posted on 03/02/2021
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti