My world has been really out of my control for nearly two years. In early January of 2020, I returned from visiting my family in Myanmar. We had the time of our lives traveling to some of the places that I had been before and places that I didn’t know existed.

I didn’t want to say goodbye to my family, but I knew that I would return for another family tour in two years. We were already planning that excursion. My birthday was on January 20th. Unbeknownst to nearly all Americans, the first confirmed case of the coronavirus was discovered on that day. It took several weeks before the alarms were sounding about the pending pandemic. Nevertheless, Trump assured us that he would protect us. In fact, under his esteemed leadership, he caught the coronavirus.

This is Donald the Dumb creating a photo-op returning from Walter Reed on October 5, 2020, where he was treated for the coronavirus. He wanted to portray a macho man’s presence, but that wasn’t what I saw.

This link takes you to a page with the video of his return.

A month later, Trump lost the election to Joe Biden. Two months later, Trump attempted a coup d'état on January 6th, which was followed in two weeks with the inauguration of Biden. I didn’t have any control over COVID-19, nor could I do anytime about the rest of Trump’s chaotic four years in the White House. However, the House Select Committee is investigating the insurrection on January 6th, and they are in control.

On the other side of the world, the people of Myanmar faced a replication of what was happening in America with COVID-19 and an insurrection. The only difference was that the general’s coup d'état, unfortunately, was successful. People in Myanmar, like my family, can’t get coronavirus shots, but they can get shot by the military. That is a deadly reality over which I have no control.

In my last article, I wrote about Ginger spending three days at Purdue Veterinary Hospital, part of which she was being fed intravenously in their ICU. I felt impotent. There was nothing that I could do to save her life. I had the same feeling of angst when my first Ginger died. Those two events were the worst two days of my life.

This essay is an absolute parallel to Ginger’s dance with death. I’m helpless. I want my family in Myanmar to have a happy and healthy life. I love my three grandchildren and wish that I could remove the two deadly problems they face: COVID and the coup.

Ti Ti’s college education was delayed due to COVID. Gusto University went online as a substitute for regular onsite classes. That was stopped due to the social unrest in the wake of the coup. Just recently, Ti Ti is back attending online classes.

I can sit and worry about my family, but I can’t change or control things in their lives. Than did a painting of A Ngal Lay, who we met at Set Set Yo on our family tour. It is too dangerous to take the painting to her or even send it in the mail.

While I fret about my family, I have learned from them. I remember Moh Moh’s comment about being a young child and wondering about having breakfast the next day during the 8888-Uprising.  Moh Moh learned from her parents to continue the journey of life despite the problems she will face. That is what Lao Tzu said. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” She also learned from her parents what Confucius said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Moh Moh and Ko Ko have taught my granddaughters well.

This is a photo of Fatty, Ti Ti, and Snow dealing with sheltering in place due to COVID and the coup. They learned well.