Not moving to green

Our county was in the first group of 24 that moved from the red to yellow phase on May 8. Last Friday I was hoping and praying that our county would be moved to the green phase, but our county and two contiguous counties were not included in the list of 18 counties that would move to the green phase on May 29. I am one who would rather have low expectations because I don't like getting my hopes up only to have them dashed. For example, a few weeks ago Paul finished installing the subfloor in our bathroom. A section of that subfloor had been missing for four years. Although it seemed to me that he must be getting closer to the end of the project, I told myself NOT to get my hopes up and reminded myself it still could be more than a year until I can use that shower again. I'd much rather be pleasantly surprised that disappointed. I should have told myself that last week about moving to the green phase. One county that is just a couple of miles from our home IS going green on June 5, but not our county or the other county we are very close to. Many of the 16 counties going green on June 5 are ones that moved into the yellow phase on May 15. I'm not sure why we were chosen to be one of the first 24 that moved to yellow on May 8 but not one of the first 34 counties moving to green. Union county (which is where our usual library is located) has only had 57 cases of COVID-19 and 1 death over the past 2 1/2 months. Why on earth haven't they been given permission to go to the green phase? Lycoming County is the one close to us that is going to the green phase on June 5, and they've had about the same number of cases as our county (162 vs. 186), and our county has had far fewer deaths than theirs (16 vs. 3). Our populations are pretty similar (113,664 vs. 91,767). The movie theatre, bowling alley, and roller skating rink we usually go to in the summer are all in the county that is going green on June 5, but I doubt we'll be visiting those venues until July at the earliest. I was hoping to visit Reptiland in the near future, but they are in the county that has only had 57 cases but hasn't been given the green light yet. It's disappointing for us, but I can only imagine how devastating it is for the local businesses such as hair salons that aren't allowed to open in the yellow phase. My heart goes out to all those small businesses!!! After being disappointed two Fridays in a row, I am trying not to expect we will be moved to the green phase on June 12.

During Thursday's press conference, the Governor was asked about the phase after the green phase because green definitely isn't normal. He said there isn't another phase. This is the new normal. What?!? There are so many businesses that would be permanently closed if the regulations in the green phase are maintained for years to come. In the green phase we can be in groups up to 250 provided that is at the most 50% of the capacity of the particular venue. It's 50% capacity or 250 people, whichever is smaller with people staying 6 feet apart, wearing masks, etc. That would seem to mean no amusement parks, no attending professional sporting events, no festivals, no parades, very few concerts, no Sight and Sound productions, etc. It would be one thing if he said not until 2021, but he made it sound permanent. He is allowing kids to use a playground while they are at a child care center, but public playgrounds are not allowed even in the green phase. If there truly isn't another phase after the green phase, then kids would never be on a playground again if they don't go to a child care center. This is insane in my opinion. He actually does have a list of changes he wants to implement after the green phase, but none of them have to do with easing any restrictions. They are all focused on other things such as raising the minimum wage and unemployment compensation. What that has to do with COVID-19 is beyond me. 

The good news is that my kids have been having a lot of fun playing with the kids in our neighborhood. Nadia has a friend over for another sleepover tonight, and she will be returning to an in-person youth group on June 7. That youth pastor is splitting the group in half to follow the 25 person limit guideline we are under in the yellow phase. She's very happy about this. Also, we will begin attending the church where she's attending youth group (not the one where I'm a member) on June 14 even though the county might still be in the yellow phase at that time and there will definitely be more than 25 people at the service. Does that constitute civil disobedience? After three months of church at home, I'm really looking forward to a service that doesn't involve watching a TV screen. Speaking of screens, Ian downloaded a free version of Fortnite onto his Switch yesterday, and this evening he played the game with a neighbor. Camden was in his house, and Ian was in our house, but they were playing the game together and able to talk to each other through a microphone. He thought that was awesome!