Pandemic - Day 12 - Tuesday April 7

Day 12 – Tuesday April 7

Numbers early Tuesday
Worldwide: 1,347,895 cases; 74,808 deaths; 284,805 recoveries
US: 368,245
SA: 1,686

According to BBC World News, Turkmenistan (population 4,948,000) has no reported cases of Covid-19 infections. It that because Turkmen people are super healthy, have antibodies or immunity for some unknown but scientific reason, or because President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has ordered the repression of actual infection numbers? All, some, or none of the above? I bring this up because usage stats indicate someone in Turkmenistan follows this blog. To that person I say, stay in touch, comment, we’re rooting for you, your compatriots, and your country’s safe passage through this pandemic.

Tracking world news gives me the impression there’s a change in the existential flow of the pandemic, at least in how humans perceive and report its flow. Last week, panic reigned as infection and death tolls rose: China, Italy, Spain, the US, South Africa….

People (and dogs) around the globe reacted with shock, denial, and fear to numbers of confirmed cases, deaths, and recoveries, to the lack of equipment and leadership, unsure of what to know, what to do, and how to do it.
This week, it appears New York state’s astronomical infection numbers may be leveling, that people around the world understand we’re in this for the long haul. Not to say ease up on social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands… It could be the reality of the pandemic is “normalizing” or that, by its nature, lockdown means difficulty gauging what’s going on “out there”, in one’s neighborhood, village, town, informal settlement.
Am I simply projecting my personal, relatively safe, behind a high security fence experience? Comment and let us know what’s what in your part of the world.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

In KZN, Kikuyu Grass grows, and grows, and grows. Named after Kenya’s Kikuyu people, this grass is native to tropical eastern Africa and was brought to South Africa as a lawn and pasture grass. Kikuyu shares some characteristics with dreaded Bermuda Grass that also grows, and grows, particularly in the American south.
Listed on the US federal noxious list, Kikuyu Grass can only be shipped to certain states and  counties. In California, shipment is restricted.
Today, this aggressive invader of pastures, crop land, and moist natural areas is found throughout KZN.
All five lawns here are taking advantage of the gardener's absence for the duration of lockdown.
High-maintenance expanses of grass don’t appeal to me. The few times I’ve had a garden, I’ve dug up grass and planted veggies and herbs.
Don’t misunderstand: grasses are fascinating. Look at these spectacular African grasses shot before lockdown.

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I ponder, why lawns? Why the initial and ongoing expense, the noise, the air pollution, the fossil fuel consumption that lasts as long as the mower? Meanwhile, lawns grow.

I’ve never power mowed but I understand the basics of mowing: pull the rope to ignite the engine, push the mower over grass, sweep up and compost clippings. Pulling the rope was tough. The motor grunted but didn’t start. After several failed attempts, I powered up my laptop and found an online user manual. Primer Buttons are key. I located the mower’s primer button, prodded it three times, pulled the rope again. More grunts but no ignition. Repeated primer button action. Repeated rope pulling. Finally, ignition. Mowing is hard labor. Noisy. Long, thick grass makes mowers stall.

Restarting mowers gets easier with practice. The smell of cut grass almost dominates the smell of the combustion engine. With one of five lawns mowed, I swept up and spread clippings over garden beds to compost. Tomorrow, I’ll tackle the next lawn. Staying busy during lockdown is hard labor, too.

End of day numbers: Worldwide: 1,362,936 cases; 76,373 deaths; 292,188 recoveries US: 368,449 SA: 1,686

Read Days 1 through 11.