Page 2 - MidWeek - July 14, 2021

2 MIDWEEK JULY 14, 2021
Tips For The Road And Life
“When within yourself you find the road, the right road will open.”
I— Dejan Stojanovic, The Creator
didn’t get around to so make your lane change obtaining my driver’s early and mindfully.” Also, license until after age “driving on the highway
later, his ideas translated into my daily life. For example, his rule to change lanes early on showed me not to procras- tinate. In addition, because driving on the highway is “far-off driving” this made me think of the positive as- pects of planning better for the future.
RThe Flu Flew Away
30. A friend suggested a man means looking far-off — in
emember kinder and gentler times when the biggest medical decision many people faced head- ing into autumn was whether or not to get a flu
called Kita-san, who taught me how to drive in three days, two hours a day. His instruc- tion was invaluable.
anticipation of accidents, sudden stops, stalls or debris.” When I missed my exit, he said calmly, “Should you miss the opportunity to get on or off a ramp, don’t panic. Simply go on to the next exit
opportunity to do something you want in life, move on and look for another opportunity.
vaccination? Well, if you go by statistics from this past flu season (October 2020 through March 2021), the numbers in this country are staggering — in a good way.
“Before you drive, check your tires and windows, ad- just your seat and side and rearview mirrors; know your destination and route.”
or entrance.”
In our final hour together,
One of Kita-san’s driving tips, however, stuck with me more than others. It con- cerned the idea that if you missed an opportunity to get on or off a ramp, you should go to the next entrance or exit. In other words, if you miss an
While I had a civil service job, my wish had always been to finish college. I wondered if, instead of giving up, I could find another “exit” and try again. My husband whole- heartedly supported me in my aspiration. I “took the next exit” and quit my job. That very year, serendipitously, an office for nontraditional students just opened up at the school I wanted to attend and I was granted a stipend.
Juliet Kono is a writer in- spired by Shin Buddhism.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
Since 2010, the annual U.S. flu death toll is about 35,000- 40,000 people. The estimates from the 2020-21 season that just ended? Under 1,000 total flu deaths. Surely our hiber- nation due to the coronavirus helped, but so did the fact that everybody’s worn masks for so long. And while some view masks as an affront to their personal rights, COVID-19 knows no boundaries, shows no mercy and hasn’t heard that the ballgame’s over.
It all made sense.
Kita-san prepared me to take my written and road exams. I easily passed both.
His advice when driving on a multilane highway: “Keep up with the traffic flow. You know you’re going to get off,
I had used these pointers for driving purposes. But
CHASING THE LIGHT
with Juliet Kono
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
You might argue that your chance of surviving the corona- virus is 98% or so. But an estimated 30% of people who get COVID-19 in any form (mild or major) end up with some long-term ailment — breathing issues, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, depression, hair loss, stomach pains, nausea, brain fog, loss of taste/smell. The number of ailments iden- tified now totals well over 50. The 30% figure (collateral damage?) means that over 12 million post-acute COVID-19 syndrome Americans still suffer regularly.
I began college at the age of 40.
It would be tough to be 25 years old and suffer stomach, brain or lung problems for the next 60 years when you re- alize it probably could have been prevented by getting a vaccination and wearing a mask just a little while longer. Tired of hearing about this? Me, too. But celebrations are premature.
Driving taught the author that when you miss one exit, you can always take the next exit and look at it as an opportunity.
KELLEY
Wearing a mask has been an accepted custom, not a state- ment, for decades in Asia. To protect others at the first sign of a sniffle, many conscientious people wear masks in major East Asian cities. Air quality issues also factor into masking decisions in some cities, but the point is it’s not just about me; it’s about the collective us. As things loosen up post- COVID, it’s not about being so over this mask charade, it’s about accepting responsibility. Want proof? Talk to the 12 million collateral damage cases.
As many uncover (and haven’t vaccinated) in celebration of our newly won semi-freedom, also remember that flu season starts soon. Keeping safe from the coronavirus with masks could also prevent many of the 500-plus flu deaths we see annually right here in Hawai‘i. The germ war is being won by smart, action-oriented people, but it’s not over until it’s over.
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com