Texans, Stay the Hell Home This 4th of July

As Molly Ivins famously said,"I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part and discuss it only with consenting adults."

I am a seventh-generation Texan and do love it. And as the 4th of July edges closer, I am both scared and mad for my state. I'm scad.

Today - Tuesday - it was reported that we hit a new record - almost 7000 new cases in one day.

And Saturday is July 4th.

Something I've heard, and bless my heart I have probably said myself several weeks ago, is "...and this feels safe."

No, no, my friends. There is no "feels safe." This is not something on which we can rely on our instincts. We have to rely on science.

Stay home unless you are required by your job or have another required reason.
Get curbside groceries or delivery.
Wear a mask.
And in the name of Molly and all that is holy, please do not gather with friends and family for an Independence Day barbecue.

Think ahead. July 4th. Plan your groceries. Plan to watch the fireworks on tv. Watch Hamilton. Or 1776. Or any of those other patriotic (and probably problematic) movies.

Make giant ice cream Sundaes with fresh peaches, or hot fudge sauce and sprinkles.
Eat potato salad that you don't have to worry about it, because it's been in your fridge the whole time.
Drink lemonade or Redneck Margaritas if you imbibe.

Listen to the 1812 Overture and insist on narrating what's happening in the song to your bored-looking children, with great animation.

Play Stars and Stripes forever to your annoyed-looking neighbors (20 feet away). Keep the beat by banging on your trash can.

Curl up with a pitcher of something cold, some Fritos and bean dip, and read Howard Zinn's
A People's History of the United States to learn all the things about our history we never learned in school.

There will come another time when we will return to figuring out how to make this all more sustainable, how to expand our bubbles, and take calculated risks.

But right now, for Texas, the calculations are in.

Stay the hell home.

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