Well Ole dawgs , things are finally starting to move forward in LA . It’s been a grinding 18 months but as of June 15 California will be completely open . As a strong critic of a lot of things that happen over here you’ve gotta hand it to the Yanks with their secondary response to this pandemic , particularly California . In our relatively small town of Hermosa Beach ( 20000 people ) I don’t know of one parent or adult in our town that hasn’t been vaccinated . On most social gatherings , walks in parks or beaches I don’t wear a mask . There’s an unknowing trust here that you’ve gotta respect . I recently heard that 56% of Californians had either been partially or fully vaccinated from covid 19 . This takes in consideration that they have just opened up the criteria for 12-16 year olds to be vaccinated , whilst under 12 years of age still await approval . That’s over 39 million doses already administered. It’s an extraordinary response from a State that guards it’s civil liberties with sometimes absurd fervour. You’ve gotta dip your lid to these figures . 39 million doses in just over 4 months ! Over to you Australia .
On a lighter note it’s been good to get the kids back to school and playing sport . In baseball poor old Leroy was drafted to a team of battlers that saw winning a rare event . Add a broken leg mid season and you can see things don’t always go your way . Hermosa Beach plays baseball and basketball seasons that see teams divided mostly within the town . The kids are ranked and drafted accordingly . The system can be manipulated when fathers have their own kids in the team . Generally it works pretty well . It’s something we don’t do in Australia and sometimes I laugh at how kids are always ranked , rated and compared over here . Club sport or the team sport we play back home in Australia is played right throughout a region . It’s localised here . It has its positives and negatives . It’s nice to keep it local but at times the kids sport blurs into dad ‘ one upmanship .’ This season ended with some great finals finishes , culminating in the last game going to an extra inning with a little guy I’m fond of ( Nolan ) pitching to give his team the title . He duly delivered but with chattering teeth and some good fielding by his teammates. They won 7-6 with guys on bases . It was tense but also a great finish . It felt like a metaphor for our town and state . The lid was finally coming off and its time to celebrate but not without some nervous moments .
It’s nearly summer in LA . It’s been a cool Spring but this week the temperatures are finally nudging the mid 20s(Celsius) along the coast . I try not to bore you with the surf anymore but it’s been pretty reasonable here . To have waves pushing into summer is a bonus. Right throughout the pandemic the beach has been an important source of solace to myself and many others , including my eldest son . I’ve finally got Tex over the line . He is committed to surfing and within a year will rapidly surpass my talent level . My brother and I are lifelong surfers . None of our kids have taken this great sport up , but Tex is now addicted . It should be a lifetime passion that will serve him well . I just never thought it would happen in Los Angles .
I think that’s it hound dawgs . We are not far away from getting on top of things over here . I’m not saying it’s over or there won’t be continual dangers and outbreaks but the proof is in the pudding . The numbers are coming down and you have to admit the coincidence in the increasing vaccination percentages and the falling in hospitalisation and infection rates has to say something . We are lucky to have Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson &Johnson as a choice . Emma and I had Pfizer . There were some mild side effects but we now both feel well . In fact I feel better than well . I feel assured . As an over 50 and an A blood type I’d rather be vaccinated and risk the side affects than get sick with this thing . It should give us a chance to get back to some normality , like watching our kids play sport . To the Aussies back home ……. I can’t preach to anyone on their choice to be vaccinated or not but I will say that a team effort has its benefits …. take a leaf out of California and trust science . You’ll benefit in the long run . You’ve gotta drink to that
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