This space is supposed to be fun—sexy excerpts, new releases, puzzles, games…fun. Well, today, I’m going to get serious.

I’m an avid news watcher—many different news channels and newspapers every day, and not just US news. What I’ve been reading over the last weeks has me very concerned for my family, myself…you.

Last night, I went to bed a little late and did my usual scrolling through Twitter to see what was happening in the world. The more I read, the less sleepy I was. Suddenly, my daughter DM’d (direct messaged) me. She and the 15-year-old girl had been exchanging messages back and forth. (Which is hilarious all by itself, because we live in the same house!) They were both a bit freaked out. We met on the back patio while everyone else slept to talk about it. Mind you, this was 11:30 at night. I brought a pen for a grocery list. Because the only thing we could do for ourselves, at that moment, was to decide what we needed to have on hand if we self-quarantined.

Yes, self-quarantined. As in doing something to try to prevent the spread of the virus to our family members—and no, I’m not some weird prepper, although now, I’m thinking they’re better prepared than the rest of us. With list in hand, for things like toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, home cleansers, Dinty Moore stew cans, rice, beans, decongestant, cough syrup, cough drops, etc., the two of them headed off to Walmart. Being over 60, I’m no longer allowed to go out and about unless I absolutely have to!

This is what the TP shelves looked like last night at Walmart…

So, I know there are a lot of you who think people are going crazy. But what if there’s something to this? What if there is something you could do now to keep you and your family safe? Information is key.

When Germany’s leader tells her people that 2 out of every 3 Germans are projected to be infected… When Congress’s own medical staff tells them that 70 to 150 MILLION Americans can be infected… Maybe we should take some precautions.

I’ve heard things like, “It’s just another flu.” Well, flu’s been around a while. We have some immunity—and immunizations. The Novel Coronavirus (novel means NEW) is something we have no immunity built up inside us. It spreads far fast. It lives up to 3 days on surfaces and for hours in the air after an infected person exhales. The incubation period appears to be 4 days, but you can appear asymptomatic for a long while! Which means everyone you come in contact with after that fourth day following exposure could be infected—by you! And it’s not just an old person’s disease. If you smoke, if you’re fat, if you have an immune system deficiency… All are factors in mortality.

But let’s not talk mortality rates…oh, hell. Let’s do. With the present statistical mortality rate applied to the figure that the experts think will be the total infected, we’re talking hundreds of thousands, maybe millions.

So, I’m taking a deep breath. This isn’t seasonal flu, which seems to die off when the weather gets warm. This is the new pandemic. It’s related to SARS—remember that scare a few years back? This is more virulent! But don’t take my word. Listen to an expert who’s a guest on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Joe isn’t a “Democratic hoaxter” (Coronavirus is no hoax!). He’s a libertarian, and actually, a pretty smart guy. I’m sharing this podcast because the guy he has on is easy to understand. Listen to what the expert says. Let it scare the pants off you. Then take steps.

If this turns out to be a big “nothing burger”, then you don’t have to buy TP until the next millennium! No worries. If it’s as dire as the experts say, we need to be ready.

I’d love to hear whether you’re doing anything to get ready. Or whether you think this will all go away. No snarking, folks! Let’s just talk.