You may have noticed a persistent lack of updates of Fetch’s adventures in The Otherworld in the last few weeks. Toward the end of February I came down with a fever that reached 102 for several days. I managed to overcome that, but it took awhile to recuperate. After that issues of work and home became suddenly overwhelmed by the global coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately (knock on wood), my family and I have not contacted the virus — even though I am not completely sure that my illness a few weeks ago was a simple “viral infection” as my doctor vaguely put it, I did not have signature symptoms like respiratory illness and dry cough. Like everyone I have started practicing social distancing measures in the last couple of days. Hopefully, I and my family and friends and community will manage to avoid serious contact with this contagion; but I don’t know if that hope is realistic. We do the best we can.
It would be great if our local and national governments stepped up and helped the people. Immediate payments of universal basic income, universal health care, expanded unemployment insurance, help to freelancers and small businesses, free housing for the homeless, moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures, nationalizing private hospitals … to name a few measures we need now and will need for a long time.
As for Fetch, this down period will give me a lot more time for cartooning. Expect to see regular updates soon. I am also looking into ways I can best serve my communities of cartoonists, friends, family, librarians, etc.
Stay safe. Wash your hands. Wipe everything down. Don’t touch your face (the hardest when you have allergies, I know.) If you can work remotely, do so. If you can’t, I hope your workplace is following all safety measure. If you are out of work, I hope you can get unemployment and public health care. If you can spare a few bucks, buy gift certificates for local restaurants and retailers; a lot of jobs depend on those businesses. And please help stock your local food pantries. Check in on the elderly and disabled folk in your community. Tip your delivery people well.