French winters and our own – A brilliant day after a snowfall – An unexpected side benefit from use of face masks – Mingled hopes and fears – Evening statistics
When I took a French class in high school, one of the texts that we were given to read was “Silence de la mer” (“Silence of the Sea”) by Vercors. Not much of this novella lingers in my memory but there was one detail that made an impression. Throughout the story the “pale wintry sun” is mentioned numerous times, with heavily symbolic emphasis – symbolic of what, I’m no longer sure at this date, but there is no question that it was symbolic of something or other. The reason that I remember this phrase is that it did not (and does not) tally with my own observation: the sun in winter, at any rate in this area, can be wonderfully luminous, particularly during the aftermath of a snowfall. Perhaps matters are different in continental Europe. Victor Hugo’s description of winter in Les Miserables is certainly forbidding:
“Winter: no warmth, no light, no noonday, the evening passing on to the morning; fogs, twilight; the window is gray; it is impossible to see clearly through it. The sky is but a vent-hole. The whole day is a cavern. The sun has the air of a beggar. A frightful season!”
Nothing could have presented a greater contrast to this passage than what unfolded before us today: brilliant sunlight emanating from a nearly cloudless sky, air like crystal, snow and ice on the ground glittering in the sunshine with opaline glints here and there, the atmosphere smelling fresh and clean as if it had been newly washed. The temperature certainly was cold, but the continual sunshine made it feel warmer than it actually was. It simply was a delight to be outside and when I returned to my home, as dusk was falling, I did so with reluctance.
Incidentally, wearing a face mask turns out to be unexpectedly convenient in these temperatures; I felt quite warm all over when I was outside, instead of being chilled at the chin and the tip of my nose (which is what usually happens when I go out of doors during this season). I may take to using one during future winter seasons even after the pandemic is over.
Matters are in a curious state at present; we are currently at a stage of hope and also one of profound discouragement. The Moderna vaccine has been approved and distribution of it is beginning. With two vaccines, each of them rated at a success rate of 94% or higher, we have a good chance of containing the virus at last. On the other hand, it is gaining even more momentum than it has displayed previously. The increase of cases yesterday was the second-highest on record and the number of deaths is at an all-time high. My guess is that the effects of the vaccines will be felt some time late in the first quarter of 2021, but that in the meantime we will continue to be buffeted by the COVID virus with accelerating casualties. I do not see how we can escape with less than ½ million deaths by the end of June.
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM – # of cases worldwide: 75,247,918; # of deaths worldwide: 1,667,124; # of cases U.S.: 17,617,659; # of deaths; U.S.: 317,660.