{"id":83618,"date":"2020-04-06T15:21:16","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T15:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.web.rcn.net\/rcntv\/?p=83618"},"modified":"2023-02-24T16:49:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T16:49:08","slug":"just-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/just-number\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Just a Number"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I would love to be sitting here writing about some good sports story that has happened this past week.\u00a0 But sports just do not seem all that important to me right now and you probably feel the same way.<\/p>\n

Each night we all hear the numbers.\u00a0 They are hard to avoid.\u00a0 Every news report whether local or national leads with the same information about COVID-19 \u2013 number of cases in the world; number of cases in the US; number of deaths for both.\u00a0 And it just becomes a number.\u00a0 We accept the report, knowing it will increase the next day.<\/p>\n

We sit and see \u201chot spots\u201d parking refrigerator trucks in the hospital parking lots to serve as morgues for the rising number (that word again) of deaths.\u00a0 There is just nowhere to put the bodies.\u00a0 And these patients have passed unable to see or, very often, speak to their loved ones.\u00a0 Ventilators keep that from happening.\u00a0 Doctors, nurses, and first responders are among the tally. No final words; no final good-bye.<\/p>\n

Due to \u201csocial distancing\u201d, funerals are held for just a few.\u00a0 Any eulogy that one might receive at some point at a memorial service would certainly include these words, \u201cThey died before their time.\u201d\u00a0 And that is the tragedy.<\/p>\n

My sister, Judy, \u201cdied before her time\u201d at the age of 43.\u00a0 She had breast cancer; waited too long to seek treatment; never recovered.\u00a0 She was building a house, had two boys in college, and needed to work.\u00a0 She could not afford to stop working; in the end, she could not afford not to.\u00a0 It cost her her life.<\/p>\n

But at least there was closure.\u00a0 We were gathered around at the end.\u00a0 She knew we were there.\u00a0 We had a chance to say goodbye.\u00a0 We had a funeral for all who wished to grieve with the family and we had a moment to express our memories.\u00a0 It is what the living want when a loved one has passed.<\/p>\n

Now each day we offer up numbers.\u00a0 We do not attach names for the most part and we do not consider the parents, spouses, children, family and friends left behind.\u00a0 Our president tells us \u201cWe need to get back to work\u201d, but each day the categories of numbers grow larger and larger and \u201cgetting back to work\u201d seems to be in the distant future.<\/p>\n

My message when my sister passed was that I knew why she lived \u2013 it was apparent throughout her life and certainly apparent at the funeral.\u00a0 What was not apparent to me or anyone was why<\/u> she died,<\/p>\n

It was well \u201cbefore her time\u201d.<\/p>\n

Thousands and thousands are asking the same question. And the answer is more than just looking at the numbers.\u00a0 Each number is another tragic story.<\/p>\n

I hope by next week, I have a good sports story to tell \u2013 I doubt it.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Remember the name Tom Dempsey, the former Eagle<\/a>, who was born without toes on his right kicking foot. He was famous for the 63-yards field goal he kicked in 1970 for the New Orleans Saints<\/a>.\u00a0 He died at the age of 73 from (you guessed it) complications from the coronavirus.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. The NFL<\/a> draft will take place this month \u2013 April 23-25. It will be done virtually from the homes of the various team executives and players have been invited to participate on line.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Lafayette<\/a> senior Myles Cherry was named on the second team of Australia\u2019s best college players. Cherry lives in Newcastle, Australia.\u00a0 The psychology major hopes to continue playing abroad.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Two Massachusetts golfers were arrested after playing a round of golf in Rhode Island. Non-residents must quarantine themselves for 14 days if they enter the state.\u00a0 They face a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.\u00a0 I hope they had a good round.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Now that we are isolated, a little humor – not mine, but funny: During my quarantine, I watched birds fight over a worm from my living room window. The Cardinals led the Blue Jays 3-1.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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