As if the Pandemic were getting boring, Texas came up with a new set of problems to make me wonder whether 2021 would be any better than 2020.
Snow and winter weather dropped further south than usual, caused massive traffic accidents (70 car pile-ups), frozen tree limbs crashed onto houses, water pipes burst, mandatory boil-water orders in effect and NO HEAT! Here’s how a week of frigid weather and catastrophe unfolded in Texas
Circling the Wagons to Protect Texans
Without electricity for several days, there’s no internet. And food spoils.
Hearing that news was upsetting enough. But then, news of people finally getting their heat back on were quickly followed by discouraging reports of massive utility bills. His Lights Stayed on During Texas’ Storm. Now He Owes $16,752.
Texas manages their electricity distribution differently from other states. I decided not to dig into the details because it’s confusing and out of control.
Add in problems with the vaccine roll-out, plus the virus is gathering strength, becoming stickier, easier to catch and more deadly.
Today, as everything piled on, I felt overwhelmed and vulnerable.
To take my mind off things, I watched “Togo”, a Disney movie about a man and his dog-sled team making a ridiculously, perilous trip during a snow storm in Alaska in 1925. Willem Dafoe played the hero, risking his life to pick up a diphtheria antitoxin. “Togo is based on the events of what become known as the ‘Great Race of Mercy,’ or the ‘1925 serum run to Nome’.” What’s Fact and What’s Fiction in Togo
From Heroic to Bizarre
Covid is making me dig deep to find things to watch on TV.
“Little Otik” is one of my favorite psychological thriller fairy tales. Weird adult behavior, inappropriate desires and a tree root that turns into a live baby with a huge appetite. Not a kid’s movie. Exact opposite of Disney. Deals with adult issues using a dark fairy tale format.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a version of this on any of my streaming services. I’ve watched it several times. But that doesn’t stop me from screaming, “Don’t open the door!” at the TV when the social worker shows up.
Otik ate the cat. And the postman too.
Everything’s crazy. Otik (now a sizable beast) is banished to the basement, but finds a way to devour every single one of Grandma’s prize cabbages by sending his roots through the window.
Oh no you didn’t!
Big mistake. Grandma got game. Goodbye Baby Beastie!
No matter what they throw at us, somehow we manage to survive.
What else can we do? If you want to see more of Little Otik’s antics, watch the 8 minute clip below.
Photo Credit: snowman family with red hats by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash
The game I call Demon Spotting developed over time as I worked through emotional entanglements and confusing break-ups. My misery became code words. Code words became mat drills. Mat drills became winning combinations. And my confusion lifted. Consider this your invitation to play. Clarity is freedom.