Dear Covid, so sorry, I have been neglecting you on my blog, and now there is talk that you will be leaving us this summer. Well, that is according to our organizing politicians here in Alberta. Some thoughtful heads feel this is very optimistic. Especially when you consider that in early May we had the highest infection rate in North America. But great mixing and maybe matching has been promised for the summer months. Not to mention the pounding hoofs of the Calgary Stampede.
The condition, dear fellow Albertans is that we get those shots. How about that for a sneaky incentive! We will open in early July if 70% of the population has had at least one shot. So dear Covid, in this province of many reluctant – I could say anti – vaxxers, this still leaves you 30% of us. We may have you with us a little longer yet.
And hey Covid, you must find it interesting to see how the different regimes around the world are rounding up the not-yet-vaccinated folk. There are bribes such as a draw for a large cash prize, ice cream has been handed out, beer is being offered in Israel. Now in the incentive department, Singapore takes the prize with a fun lively hilarious dancing singing video by comedian star Gumit Singh along with a full cast. “Singapore, don’t wait and see. Better get your shot steady Pom Pi Pi!”
In the meantime, in Alberta, we can distract ourselves from Covid with spring planting. Again, this year the Covid factor takes the form of a run on all things plants and greenhouse. This week I was at our local gardening centre. Their greenhouse section was barricaded off with a shelf with a few rather sad remaining bedding plants.
There we were, now desperate for vegetation. Ever resourceful, we all Covid-navigated around the many racks of packages of seeds. It was a challenge, the crowd, the creaky knees bent to see the lower racks, the small print for the less sharp eyesight and the lure of the totally impractical and exotic.
With our short growing season, it is rather late to get going with planting many of these seeds. We don’t care. We will try. We want growth!
I got two kinds of beans. Bush and pole. So now, hoping to give them a sprouting chance, I have them starting in little containers on any sunny spot in the house.