I took Zinnia out for our walk to the lake; we had it to ourselves except for a  young couple with a child trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to restrain their Rottweiler, who seemed eager to tear Zinnia to bits.

He pulled the couple down once or twice, but fortunately, they held onto the leash, and we moved quickly down the path. Maria and I are planning our trip to the Bronx Zoo tomorrow, barring some unforeseen change.

Right after that, I ran into a man walking a poodle. He had a mask on, presumably to protect himself from the coronavirus in our little town in upstate New York. To my surprise, he pulled up his mask to explain why he was wearing it, which I suggested was counter-productive.

I asked him if I could take his photo – irresistible up here – but he said he’d rather not), it was a little embarrassing.

Not at all, I said, whatever makes you feel safe. I don’t tell other people what to do.  I tried several pharmacies, but the virus is in our minds up here – there isn’t a bottle of anti-bacterial soap anywhere in the county.

The walk was lovely, although the wind was strong and cold. When I got home, things were not so peaceful. My inbox was churning.

When I wrote about my trip on the blog this morning – I thought it was kind of a funny piece about the penguin I hope to meet tomorrow afternoon – I saw that the inbox instantly filled with angry and upset and alarmed people accusing me of being selfish. And irresponsible.

Some said I would be threatening the elderly and the refugee children I work with.

I realized today that my response to attacks on social media are exactly the same as health officials recommend for dealing with the coronavirus itself: stay calm, don’t panic, pay attention to the experts, be thoughtful make reasoned decisions.

I learned tonight that there is a case of the virus reported in nearby Warren County, far from New York City or Seattle. It is clear that the virus will be coming almost everywhere. All I can do is follow the best guidance from people I trust. I am not yet prepared to hide out in my house, nor do I believe it is justified for everyone over 60. What an outrageously impossible idea.

After the Governor of New York declared a state of emergency, the messages really started coming in. People thought I was endangering myself by visiting the penguin, and then recklessly endangering others by returning to my community to spread the virus.

And I thought the Penguin thing was cute, a respite from the bad news. It turned out it was the bad news for some.

Lots of people urged me to cancel my trip. Maria, understandably concerned that I am at risk from the virus, given age and health issues, was also concerned. It is nice to be loved.

My daughter is meeting us at the zoo with my granddaughter, her family does not take warnings lightly.

So I am calm, neither angry or panicking. I’ve danced this dance before, I know the steps by heart.

I read all the stories, went on the right websites, watched the recommended videos. read the cautions, warning, and explanations (the CDC recommends that people over 60 – including me – stay at home). They were not persuasive.

I listed to Governor Cuomo’s clear and reasoned report on the virus in my state and New York City, and read the in-depth and informative stories on the New York State website, and from the  State Department Of Health.

He did not suggest people my age stay inside for the next month or so. He did not ask people like me to stay out of the city. He did say older people had a higher risk than others from the disease, especially if they had serious underlying issues.

The state has not recommended that all public events in New York City be canceled. The Bronx Zoo has not aborted my 30 minutes with a  penguin. No state or local agency of any kind has recommended that New York City be quarantined, or that people avoid it.

I have no concrete reason to cancel this trip, and I plan to go unless told otherwise by the zoo. When I last checked, Penguins cannot get the virus or transmit it. I surely won’t be bullied off of the trip by strangers on Facebook or Twitter.

If the meeting is on, and when I return on Monday, I will consult my very knowledgeable and vigilant doctor about how to proceed after a visit to New York. She says it is not a problem just because I went to the  Bronx Zoo.

We are driving; there are no subways or other public transportation involved.

I will catch up with the latest updates and advisories.

I will talk to the people running the Mansion and Bishop Maginn High School and seek their counsel and direction on keeping the residents and the students safe. If it comes to that, there are plenty of ways to help both places without getting in anybody’s faces.

But according to the New York State Department of Health, visiting New York City is not in itself a cause for alarm or any kind of quarantine. To say otherwise, say, state officials, is panic, not reasoned preparation.

I will, of course, follow any advice or requests from either of these institutions or my doctor.

I imagine the people I support will need help and comfort, not hiding. I know I am at risk and will take every reasonable precaution for myself and others, including any tests that are available if asked.

I am entirely secure in my decision, and ready to change my plans instantly, given a good reason. Almost every public health official I read or  listened to said, shutting down our world without good reason could be far more destructive than the virus  itself.