Falling Back, 52. Ups and Downs.

The results of the election in the United States are, as expected, not in yet. But there is a depressing amount of people that have voted for Trump. How? I know that Biden is not the most inspiring candidate. I know that the usual way of doing business cannot continue. But Biden is a candidate of decency, surrounded by people of decency. Trump is the candidate of knavery, surrounded by flies bloating themselves off the stench coming from the swamp that Trump created. 

The local news isn't much better. The closing of the larger cities and their satellite towns will continue for a month. Added to those are also other small cities and towns where contagion has grown exponentially. To pass my husband's car's inspection in Vilagarcía next week, I will have to show an email with the appointment on it. To go to a doctor's appointment later this month in Santiago, I will also have to show the SMS I received with the date and hour of that appointment. Life is getting complicated.

In the rest of the towns, there can't be get-togethers with more than six people who don't live together, and stores shall be at fifty percent capacity. Also, the curfew from 11PM to 6AM will continue for now. 

The weather has turned sunny but colder. The lows are down into the 40'sF/7C. A fire is now welcome in the evening. I pity the students who have the windows open these mornings in school. All wear their coats in class, and some have taken blankets. Truth is, it's difficult to concentrate when one is cold. I think too many are going to have a difficult year, with cold classrooms that numb hands and feet and minds. 

Supermarkets have Christmas goodies out, now. But just the tables and shelves with them; there are no decorations. Nobody seems to feel like spending or celebrating. Those who are unemployed, whether temporarily or permanently, don't have the money to spend. Others don't have the will to do so, especially those who have lost someone this year. The rest are wary, not sure if the number of people around their table will be the usual or just the immediate family. There aren't even Christmas commercials on television, nor is there any advertised marathon of Christmas movies, such as the Hallmark syrupy kind. I don't really mind, because all that was coming too soon, each year creeping up earlier and earlier. Christmas is in December, not at the end of summer.

Christmas lights are up, though, only not lit just yet. In Vigo this year, there were supposed to be even more streets garlanded with different colored lights, but this year there won't be as many tourists and wanderers to ooh and ahh. The enormous ferris wheel that rose above the harbor area last year will not be there. The lines for a few minute's ride unravelled far up the street last year, and the idea of having a lot of people together this year is not attractive. I don't think the mayor of Vigo will get his money's worth this year in tourism.

I went to bed late last night, looking at the incoming results from the election. I will go to bed late tonight, looking at the incoming results from the election. I hope there are enough people who voted for decency over knavery. For humanity over debauchery. Call me optimistic.

Life continues.