Note to readers:  Sorry.  I’ve never sent you a second blog in the same day, but things have gone from the ridiculous to the terrifying.  Besides, I didn’t really write this, it just…wrote itself.

There’s no reason to fear COVID-19, especially if you can be helicoptered over to Walter Reed Hospital to receive the very latest cost-is-no-object treatment from a team of world class doctors.

Do YOU have benefit of that kind of treatment?

Treatment for a disease that is now a preexisting condition for Donnie and may not be covered by YOUR insurance once Amy Coney Barrett takes the bench.

Fear is nature’s way of telling you to be careful. Fear stimulates caution and disaster often befalls those who ignore the warning.

As adults, most of us have learned not to fear darkness or that brain-eating monster under our beds.  Fear of skidding into a ditch though, encourages us to drive more slowly when roads are slick.

We get flu and shingles shots not because we live in fear of those diseases, but because it’s a wise precaution that could help us avoid uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening situations.

Same with colonoscopies, mammograms and the ever popular prostate checks.

97% of people who get COVID-19 will survive.  You needn’t be afraid of dying from it.  What you do need to fear is long term lung, brain, kidney and/or liver damage.

All of that is still UNKNOWN.

If you care about others, you may fear contracting the disease and asymptomatically passing it on to someone not as lucky as yourself.  Maybe grand mama, who knits you a scarf every year for Christmas.

Trump tweeted out that he learned a lot at Walter Reed.  All evidence would point to the contrary, as evidenced by his little joy ride on Sunday evening.

The families of 210,000 dead Americans have learned a lot about COVID-19, as have tens of thousands of “long haulers,” who have persistent and often debilitating symptoms.

None of them would tell you not to fear “Covid.”

If you’re trapped in the bubble, consider this:  There are more active cases of COVID-19 in the White House than in New Zealand, Taiwan and Vietnam COMBINED.

America’s death rate is almost FIVE TIMES what it is in Germany. 

If you’re a Trumpster, you probably consider his infection and apparent recovery an act of courage or some sort of accomplishment.  It is neither.

As I have written in this space before, I experienced a mild case of COVID-19 back in March, before Trump even acknowledged the seriousness of this novel coronavirus.

My participation in my recovery consisted of watching TV and eating all day while awaiting the arrival of happy hour.  If there’s a medal for that, I should have a room full.

A week later, Broomhilda came down with a much more severe case of COVID-19.  We both survived, but it took us weeks to get back to full strength.  She still hasn’t fully regained her sense of taste.

About John McCain, Trump said that he likes people who weren’t captured.  I like leaders who are smart enough to avoid getting infected with a disease for which there is no cure.

I’ve always said that I would stop riding a motorcycle when I lose my fear of it.  That fear has kept my wheels on the road for over 50 years.

America needs to work and we need to find enjoyment in our lives, but it is foolhardy for anyone to shun the simple measures necessary to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

Only a fool would tell you not to fear this virus.  A fool who clearly does not give a shit about YOU.

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