Every Two Weeks. (Chapter 100 of Long Haul is out!)

Howdy there everyone, it's that time again! Yet another Friday is here, and this time, I've got a milestone chapter out for you to sit down and enjoy. The one hundredth chapter of Long Haul is finally up, and with it, I've reached a point I only imagined four years ago. From the start, I knew that Long Haul might stretch over a hundred chapters, but as I wrote, I became more and more comfortable with that fact. As most stories, they don't ever plan to run as many chapters as they end up being, and while a 'professional' writer with a full time editing staff would probably cut out half of my story, I'm happy with how things have progressed. And I've even happier to see so many that still enjoy and follow along every two weeks as well! So as I come up on my seventh year writing Fo:E fanfiction, I thank you for reading and supporting me with comments, advice, and general friendship.

I just wish that my enjoyment of reaching this story milestone came with better real world news. Now, I know that last in week's blog post, I had called out people for panicking amidst the growing pandemic. And while panicking is still the wrong way to go about things, I feel like I have to admit a fault in my own logic. Simply, I'd mentioned that Covid-19 wouldn't matter to 95% of people, and that was flat out wrong. This virus is going to be something that touches every single person on this planet before we get control of it. It may not infect every person, but with how it's spreading every family will have someone come down with it, and some will get it worse than others. But that's why it's important to play things smart, to be safe and take the necessary precautions to protect those around you.

First off, Don't panic!. Society isn't going to collapse overnight, and all of us won't be out wandering the highways looking for fuel and food like Mad Max in two weeks time. This is going to be a protracted fight against the virus, and it's going to take longer than most seem to think. We're not talking weeks, or even a few months. This is going to be a year long endeavor at the very least, and that's if people don't make it worse. It's going to take unprecedented cooperation to keep as many at-risk people alive as possible over that time, so before you make any split decisions, relax and think it over. Plan for long term solutions for food, household supplies, and recreation. Even with 'Mandatory Isolation', you are allowed to leave your house to go procure 'necessary supplies' needed to live, and that's important to remember. So maybe don't worry so much about running out right now to grab sixty rolls of TP, and instead make a hot kettle of tea and grab a book (Or a fresh chapter of a long running Fo:E story maybe!). Oh, and of course to go along with the not panicing, don't forget to bring your towel.

For now, I think it's best if I left this here. I could rant for an hour on here about how terribly the politicians have managed this, or about how most people still can't get paid time off for an event with a scale like this. But since there's little to nothing any of us can really do at this time, I won't waste our time with it. No, for now I'm just going to collect my thoughts for two weeks from now, when I return with yet another chapter for you all. So until then, take care, stay healthy, and I'll see you all right back here next time.