I recently visited our family doctor for a minor issue. He just started seeing patients in his clinic again, since the Stay at Home order. After going through sanitizing my hands, lifting face mask to cover my nose and checking my temperature, I was allowed in. After suggesting the necessary medication, the doctor and I had our customary chat about families, and our views on the pandemic. When the doctor expressed his concern, I offered my typical response, “And this shall pass”. “Will you put it in writing?”, he asked. I said, “I will”.

I was always interested in history, regardless of the subject. The history of pandemics goes back to circa 3000 B.C. Online I found an article about 20 of the worst epidemics in history. The article began with, “Plagues and epidemics have ravaged humanity throughout its existence, often changing the course of history.” COVID-19 will pass as well. To see the outcome, we need to be patient; meanwhile, do the outmost to stay safe and healthy.

It might take longer for the social issues to pass. But eventually they will. The history is the proof.

Jews came to New Amsterdam (which later became New York) in 1654, which started antisemitism in this country, and it took until 1960s when signs reading “Dogs and Jews Are Not Allowed“ finally stopped appearing. This happened not because Jews suddenly became loved; but rather, they became relevant and part of the American society through education and contribution. I do not think antisemitism has passed, but at least its outer appearance did in our country. This is a gradual process, which comes from within. So, the next time you will have a bothersome issue, find something which gives you joy, focus on it and be patient, and the issue shall pass.

After I wrote about our visit to the forest in San Francisco a few weeks ago, we went there again with our friend and his son Daniel, who recently turned eight. Our dog Max enjoyed the outing again, since he could run leash free. On the way back at about five, the setting sun lit the leaf, and before taking a photo of it, I pointed out the effect of the light to Daniel. He was silent for a while, and then suddenly asked, “Do plants think?” I paused before answering. “Why do people think?” I asked. “To make a choice”, he answered. “Do plants need to make a choice? Do they choose where to grow, where to get food, water, light?” I challenged him. He thought for a moment again and then said, “They probably think differently than us.”

There is another book written by Daniel Chamovitz titled, “What a Plant Knows: A Field Guide to the Senses”. Online I found the book’s summary – “Paralleling the human senses, the author explains the secret lives of various plants, from the colors they see to whether or not they really like classical music to their ability to sense nearby danger.”

Turns out that Daniel at his young age knew something that scientists and writers have been trying to prove – that there are so many things beyond our knowledge and comprehension.

Everyone in the world is waiting for a vaccine for obvious reasons – no one wants to die from COVID-19.

As it stands now, there are 23 companies that are working on coronavirus treatments or vaccines. One of them, Israeli Bio-Defense Lab announced on May 5th, 2020 that it found an “antibody that neutralizes” the coronavirus. Those companies better rush, since our daughter, who is expecting her first baby in the beginning of September, informed us that we will probably have to wait until there’s a vaccination before we can meet our granddaughter. There have been cures for plagues for over 3,300 years. The Torah describes a plague, which struck the children of Israel who started sinning in the desert after their exodus from Egypt, and thousands began to die. Moses told Aaron to quickly take a firepan with incense (a ketoret) to go into the middle of the congregation and atone for their sins. “He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was checked. Those who died from the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred.” (Numbers 17:13-14) But what was the incense called ketoret, and how did Moses know about this miracle cure? According to the folklore story, when Moses had ascended to heaven to receive the Torah, the Angel of Death, whose name was Satan, taught him the secret.

In 1796, Edward Jenner, a general practitioner from rural England, theorized that cowpox built one’s immunity to smallpox. He extracted a cowpox-infected lymph from a cow and inserted a small amount into the arm of an eight-year-old boy. Seven weeks later, Jenner injected a boy with smallpox. His immune system responded positively. This discovery led to the birth of the science of immunology. Vaccinations became a reality. The word is derived from the Latin vaccinus, meaning “of the cow”.

This story was inspired by the book titled “This is Earl Nightingale”. The book has been sitting on my bookshelf, and we have stared at each other, until I finally picked it up again. Since it was last published in 1983, it was awhile since I held it in my hands. I was first introduced to this remarkable author a few years earlier, when I listened to his recordings called Insight on audio tapes (remember those?), which served for me as motivation in my early years in San Francisco. His other book, “The Strangest Secret” used to be called, “One of the great motivational books of all time”.

The real question is – what to do – especially now, when the pandemic affects so many people’s line of work. Are you looking forward to returning to work, to earn money, to take care of your family, not to be dependent on the government support? I suspect you do. I will finish with a quote from a story: “Even in the meanest sorts of labor, the whole soul of a man (or a woman) composed into a kind of real harmony the instant he (or she) set himself to work.”

Yes, we have at least two forests. One is on Mount Davidson, not far from where we live. I used to visit it often, and have shared my experience in the Encounters stories a number of times. Actually, it is a 40-acre park with lush vegetation, and many trails, leading to the top where a huge concrete cross is located, which can be seen above tall trees. We’ve gone there a number of times with Max, but for some reason, he does not like it there (perhaps he smells coyotes). However, we recently discovered, almost by chance, another forest, which Max liked that is located “under our noses” so to speak, in the heart of Golden Gate Park.

I drive through the park at least three times a week on the way to Max’s dog sitter. In spite of the restrictions, it is full of life and young people. Many wear masks, but all seem to come here to have a good time. Recently, the Botanical Garden reopened its doors. Unfortunately, they do not allow dogs in. A friend of mine told me that some days she makes sandwiches and coffee and goes there to have lunch by herself, just sitting on the bench and reading a book. When was the last time you did that?