Social / Physical Distancing

We're at the end of the second week of staying at home here in Louisiana, practicing social /physical distancing to help flatten the curve of coronavirus COVID-19 spread.

I've learned a few things about myself in these weeks, and I thought I would share.

1) Y'all are super important to me.  Without the threat/anticipation of company dropping by, I am a different person.  The day pajamas/night pajamas thing is real.  The bed must be made, but if it is made at 5:30 in the evening?  It is still a made bed.

2) I will not be saying as I am dying I wish I had drunk less wine.

3) I will also not be saying I wish I would have passed up that last helping of bread pudding.

4) There is absolutely never a reason to wear tight clothes.

5) You can still eat enough too much to be uncomfortable in loose clothes.

6) So maybe 4) is wrong.  Maybe tight clothes can act like a safety device to make you put your fork down.

7) There is no such thing as too much time with my dogs.

8) There is also no such thing as too much time with my husband.

9) No amount of social isolation inspires me to clean out closets.  Where would I take the stuff anyway?

10) Turner Classic Movies gives me a couple of hours of normalcy every night.

11) I am not the sort of writer who thrives on solitude, but I'm still trying to keep a certain amount of writing time every day, even if the words just won't come.

Honestly, I'm sad and scared for the front line workers who can't self- isolate.  I worry about the grocery workers and the delivery people and the garbage men and the convenience store workers and the restaurant workers (even though we only have take out options here).  I really worry about the police and fireman and EMTs and doctors and nurses and nursing aides and hospital housekeeping staffs.

I miss my family and want to see them and be with them but it will probably be a while before cross country travel is a good idea.  But humor helps me cope and I hope it helps you too.

Stay home and safe as much as you can!  And if you are one of the people keeping us all supplied and cared for - you have my unending gratitude.

Is truth stranger than fiction?

The last few weeks in the United States of America have been quite the adventure.  Burgeoning pandemic, stock market instability, suspension of NBA basketball games, no spectators other than family for NCAA events, schools closing, universities going to all virtual instruction, absolutely a departure from our normal.

Most of us have read a book or two about a global pandemic and the post apocalyptic world that said pandemic would leave behind.  It is hard to not compare what is happening in 2020 with one or more of those books.

But, from what I have read, COVID-19 is not the apocalypse.  It is a very serious situation, which, if the transmission curve is not flattened, has the potential to overwhelm our healthcare system, and lead to a high mortality rate.

There is debate at this point as to whether actions taken now are timely or too late.  We'll know that answer when it is over.

I have profound sympathy for the leaders in business, education and government who have to make difficult decisions in a time like this.  If the curve is flattened, and we do not see extreme societal disruption, they will be accused of flaming panic and damaging the economy.  If the pandemic overwhelms our systems, they will be accused of acting too slowly, and responding in an inadequate manner.  Just a really tough place to be.

The best post-apocalyptic fiction I have read focuses on the good.  The good people who triumph over the disease, and the anarchy that follows.

So the simple maxim that I am living by as this situation develops is "Be the Good".  Be kinder than usual.  Be more patient than usual.  Be tolerant of different viewpoints.  If someone thinks differently from you about what the right actions are, let them. You can limit your exposure to people you feel are taking unnecessary risks, and you can just feel empathy for people who feel the need to self-isolate.

Remember that people who are at high risk may be experiencing extreme loneliness in their isolation.  Phone or text people you know are in vulnerable populations as much as you are able.  If you believe in a higher power, it is a great time to increase your prayer life.

We don't know how this will all play out, and we don't know what personal impact we will feel.  But we can control our interactions with each other, and we can all try to make certain that when we interact with someone we don't make the situation any worse for them.