So we really are a fickle people, aren't we? I believe that we ride the trends furiously, contradicting ourselves, panicking others, all the while, basking in the glow of being "in the know."
This really hit home for me this week as friends and neighbors started to exhibit various flu-like symptoms, ranging from high fever, cough, and even my favorite old standby, general malaise. Well, wouldn't you know, all these people had succumbed to the dreaded swine flu.
Yes, you heard correctly. Or I guess, read correctly.
So of course, my immediate reaction was to dig out my plastic sheeting and cases of Ensure from the basement, and prepare to shelter-in-place. I was panic stricken. Horrified. Petrified!
However, my husband couldn't be bothered. He rolled his eyes as I broke the news. I think he may have even yawned. Then I called my friend. "Oh, that's good! It's certainly not as bad as the regular flu," she said nonchalantly. Hello? Weren't we all glued to cable news, and following the CDC on Twitter just last week? Wasn't it supposed to be one of the seven signs of the Apocalypse? What's going on?
Well, it seems it's as simple as the story has run its course. It's no longer a hot topic. Everyone has already moved on to more important issues, like Jon & Kate's big announcement. And sadly, that broken marriage, and the eight innocent victims it took with it, will be yesterday's news in 5...4...3...2...1...
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It's going around at work. I don't really understand what happened. It was this big media story, when no one was getting it, and now people are getting it, and it's never in the news.
Okay. I have been gone on vacation. I have missed this blog. I did though, just give a "humf" sound when you mentioned Swine Flu. I guess because I live in Michigan I am not worried about it coming here. NOTHING comes here. They only leave in droves:-) Good to be back in Deb Land.
A family from my church has it. And this HUGE activity, the Wilderness Trek, that the kids 14-18 look forward to, they are going to take temperatures first and if you have one, you can't go! Some of the teens are so upset, it is sad!
I have taken my children to the Dr 3 times in the past month - I swear they have it - but she keeps telling me no - but they are not getting better!!!!!!
My ex-husband canceled visitation for Father's Day weekend. He told the kids he had the Swine Flu.
(I should be so lucky.)
Aww that sucks! Sorry to hear the Patron Contaminator of Swine has hit your household!
Gah.
Question. Does it make bacon smell bad? I'm thinking for our family...this might be a good thing! heh heh
Hopefully this flu isn't as scary as the media made it out to be.
Do you need me to send some masks?
Oink.
My kid has a lot of these same symptoms. I took him to the doctor, but she didn't mention the swine flu, just that she's seeing lots of kids with the same thing and there is a virus going around. Hhhmmm...
I rerouted myself from Mexico to Florida for my beach vacay with my hubs. Now....its no big deal!?!?
Mammah mootah mammah babahaha, Oh crap I can't speak with this damn mask on. I agree with you Deb. Things of great interest seem to fizzle so quickly into the next hot thing. I hope you are doing well.
You can now understand my anger on why they closed Oldest's school district for NINE days over this crap!!!!!! Be happy you have been exposed - maybe you'll have some natural antibodies when it comes back in the Fall - like 100x worse.
Well, I guess that depends if Obama needs another scare to get his "healthcare reform" pushed though.
No swine flu here, but I think I have a raging case of cynic.
Soooo, are you saying the break up of Jon and Kate is LESS important than swine-flu or MORE important?
I need to know because I'm a follower and I don't know which way to lean.
Oh never mind, our governor just admitted adultery. I guess I'll watch THAT debacle for a minute...
Lately it seems that if you don't like the news just wait a minute - and it will change. Unfortunately it never changes into good news. You take care.
My husband said they got some of it in the ER he works at but he said things were blown WAY out of proportion and the normal flu has actually killed more people by far. That didn't stop my middle son from saying constantly "Oh my gosh, I'm sick, I have the SWINE FLU!, all my friends said so.". BAHAHAHAHAHAHA
As the news broke, we were in Florida and I asked Joe "Should we go home?" All I could think of was to be surrounded by my loved ones during this obviously fatal "end of the world". I wish we could hold the news broadcasters up to a higher responsibility. They can cause JUST as much damage as the actual terror.
This is so very true, Deb. I hate that they made such a huge scare with the swine flu stuff. It's crazy how these things really do just run their course. Especially the Jon and Kate thing. I'm hoping the fact that the show is going on hiatus will help it calm down and go away. Those poor kids don't need any more permanent records of how ugly their parents relationship became.
I agree with everything Em said about the swine flu.
I guess all the news on how Jon and Kate will divide their assests will be on the news for the next couple of months.
Oh yeah, if you blink, something is old hat around here. Makes blogging tough too. When I write a post one day, I wonder if it will be boring by the next!
Seriously. Always something more new and exciting. Even if it's NOT new and exciting.
Sigh.
And of course I read this post after all the hubbub on Farrah and Michael Jackson on Twitter....
People are already MAKING UP the death of Jeff Goldblum. Sigh...
There are times on a local level I want to target the "mouths' of the area and tell a sordid story, just to see the reaction and be a little s@#*! It's amazing how quickly stories come and go.
What I have learned from all of this is really to be prepared.
Living in Seattle there was to be a windstorm like no other. I did have several batteries for lighting and propane for cooking, blankets as well to keep warm.
I decided to go check out the local home depot and rite aid and to my surprise...I was literally pushed away and yelled at as many were desperatly seeking those items. I walked outta there with a grin on my face because I was just honestly going in to see what it would be like. I didn't have to speak a word, just act like I was going to grab the last triple A batteries to cause a stir..see a little s@#*!
BTW...the storm NEVER came in. On a good note..hubby had a 4 day weekend due to "possible storm" warnings. Ooo in the dark..no kids...I'll stop:):);)
Oh, I remember those days just a few short weeks ago where my mind was thinking it was the Apocalypse thanks to swine flu. I'm glad the media has stepped down it's s@#&storm for better, more depressing things like the demise of the Gosselin 10.
I'm glad that the swine flu isn't all it's oinked up to be.
Well, you were sure right about Jon and Kate becoming old news fast...
One (supposedly) confirmed case of swine flu in El's school. I'm pretending to have not heard that.
I know ... they freak us out and then BOOM ... it is over. And I think Jon and Kate are over too ... to be replaced by talking about Michael Jackson. We are a fickle fickle bunch.
I believe the swine flu will end the world! LOL I heard that is what really killed MJ!
I have heard it's heading our way. Oink oink. I have a tendency to panic, so I most likely will dig out the plastic tarps and ensure.
and the whole jon and kate thing just irks me to no end.
I still haven't heard of anyone really getting it........I'm glad to now know that it's no big deal though. Cuz I thought it was a big deal. :)
Deb, are you OK? I've missed you!
Both of my kids had flu symptoms this week...I was horrified! Fortunately, it was the boring old 24 hour vomit fest variety...whew! I don't think I could manage a pandemic right now!
Deb - Where have you been? I've missed you!
My whole family has been feeling crappy for two weeks. I am just coming out of it.
As long as we don 't start oinking, i guess we're okay.
Very funny (not the flu!), very true, sadly so. Stephen Colbert did this funny bit about Walter Cronkite's death not getting the media attention given to Michael Jackson.
More sadly, Uncle Walter's passing just reminded me how much journalism we've lost to sensationalism.
I enjoyed my visit to your blog.
I have offered you a little award today over at mine A Woman Of No Importance - It's to recognise your standing (probably lying at the mo', if you've gone down with a virus) in the International Blogging Community - I hope you can accept it = don't worry if you don't 'do' awards, I just wanted you to have it...
x
Oops, today is Thursday 23 July...
Deb-It is still front and center for me...but i am a worry-wart-I worry about everything...I hope you all stay healthy-I just heard on the news that this could be the worst flu season ever with 2 strains out there and no vaccine for one of them
Deb, I love your voice. Great writing and nice blog. It was great meeting you!
just wanted to say that you are AMAZING.
I'm waiting...patiently :-)
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