Greetings JesselP,

You have posed questions that I have been wrestling with (from several directions) for a long, long time. My answers are going to wander a wee bit to perhaps provide you with food for thought by reflecting on some other scenarios:

1) If this had been a pandemic flu – or something worse – we could all be dead. THAT'S A FACT, JACK!!!

2) You cannot rely on the news media to let you know it is time to put "universal precautions" in place. ....... What clues are others looking for to warn them of a severe illness making its way through their community? I CAN'T RELY ON THE NEWS MEDIA FOR ANY NEWS OF A REALTIME NATURE, WHICH IS WHAT'S REQUIRED. I TRY TO LOOK AT VARIOUS INTERNET NEWS SITES FOR INDICATORS OF WHAT'S A THREAT OR WHAT IS NOT. IF I HEAR THAT MOSCOW OR BEIJING IS BEING EVACUATED, I THINK THEY ARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH NUKES AT US AND THEN I WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY. SHORT OF AN EPIDEMIC OR PANDEMIC BEING OFFICIALLY "ANNOUNCED", I HAVE NO INDICATORS WHEN TO CALL EVERYBODY HOME AND START A SELF-IMPOSED QUARANTINE. SHORT OF AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, WHOSE EMPLOYERS ARE GOING TO RESPECT YOUR "PARANOIA" IN SELF-IMPOSED QUARANTINE?????

3) Caring for sick family members is emotionally draining. THIS IS ALWAYS TRUE FOR ANYONE WHO CARES FOR SOMEONE ELSE ON A 24/7 BASIS. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SLEEP AS/WHEN YOU CAN AND JUST KEEP PLUGGING ALONG. THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION UNLESS THE GRANDPARENTS CAN COME AND HELP. tHEY ARE AT RISK THEN AND THEY MAY HAVE BROUGHT IN WHAT YOU'VE BEEN AVOIDING TO THE REST OF YOU (HEALTH WISE).

4) Things happen when you least expect them to.
THIS IS WHY I TOOK MY BOB AND WEAPONS WITH ME ON THAT LITTLE 160 MILE ERRAND THAT I RAN THE OTHER DAY.

5) You can get sick FAST. My wife went from feeling perfectly fine to being completely incapacitated in about 30 minutes.
I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SPEED THAT A BUG CAN LAY YOU OUT. AT TIMES, ALL YOU CAN DO IS HANG ON AND DEAL WITH WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND FORGET EVERYTHING ELSE.

6) We're not the only ones.
SOMETIMES HAVING COMPANY DOESN'T HELP YOUR FEELINGS!!!!!

7) Where do you draw the line? If I had known there was a stomach bug going around, would I have kept my family from going to a birthday party? What if it was the flu? Other sicknesses?
STOMACH BUGS ARE ALWAYS GOING AROUND,,,,OR STREP THROAT,,,,OR SOMETHING!!! I HAVE NOT FOUND A REALISTIC SOLUTION IN THE REALITY IN WHICH WE ALL LIVE. STAYING AT HOME ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY SICK OR WHEN AN EPIDEMIC/PANDEMIC HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DETERMINED BY THE POLITICAL TYPES. BY THEN, IT'S TOO LATE FOR MOST!!!!!

I'm sorry that I have nothing better to offer. This is a problem that I am wrestling with irt many threats. If I come up with anything better,,,I WILL POST IT HERE!!!!