My family and I live in two locations in Texas. My wife and I live just a few minutes from our son and his family in North Texas, while our other son lives in the Texas Panhandle, about 360 miles northwest of us.

We’re all acutely aware of what is happening around the world with the Covid-19 outbreak. We all know what we’re supposed to do to avoid being struck by the virus.

However, speaking only for myself I must admit to a bit of confusion, although it’s probably unwarranted.

Our president seeks to downplay the significance of the outbreak, relying on a “hunch” that the mortality rate isn’t as great as it is being reported by those chumps at the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, health experts tell us to avoid cruises; airlines are slashing flight itineraries; the United States has imposed travel bans to places in Asia and Europe; athletic events are occurring on fields and indoors with no fans in the stands.

Is the coronavirus serious? Well, I am believing that it is. It is far more serious than Donald John Trump seems to suggest it is.

Our family members aren’t overreacting to it. They aren’t closeting themselves indoors. They are going about their lives. So are my we in our house. My wife and I are not going to hunker down unnecessarily.

The cruise ship advisory is just fine with us, as we weren’t planning a cruise any time soon … or later, for that matter. Air travel? We are staying away from airports.

The good news for us is that we’re all blessed with relatively good health. However, we aren’t going to nap at the switch while so many others are being struck down by the virus that can kill people — and has done so already!

As for the confusion, I will set aside what comes from the president and rely instead on the health experts who know better than a politician whose primary interest is in protecting his backside.