Virus Mania
It’s as if there is some sort of pandemic or something. The coronavirus is everywhere. That invisible little bug that half the people think is being way over-hyped while over a million others are dead from and hospitals are being stretched beyond capacity is not magically disappearing in the way some hoped.
Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.
Radio on-the-street interviews capture a scary number of people who complain they are tired of the pandemic and frustrated with officials who are struggling to mandate protocols that can limit the spread. Not the proudest moment for the human race.
Staying home all the time is too hard. Really? How hard is it?
What if we had to practice avoiding others for a whole year? I don’t know. Maybe try imagining how hostages who are held for four times that long muster the ability to cope.
We have the promise of vaccines to look forward to, so the beginning of the resolution of the pandemic is within sight. It would be nice if people could rise to the occasion of not making things any worse than they already are while we work through the process of vaccine distribution on the way to achieving herd immunity.
Try pretending that it isn’t a hoax. Play along with us for a little while, for the good of the rest of the world population.
After it’s all over, maybe all the people who have lost jobs and businesses can be retrained to become firefighters or search and rescue EMTs to deal with the increasing wildfires and flooding hurricanes that global warming has continued to exacerbate while we have been distracted.
Just call me little miss sunshine this morning.
Forgive me. I’m just reacting sideways to the unending reports of GOP and White House lunacy stinking up the remnants of our democratic election here in the U.S.
I trust there is hope for a better day hiding out there somewhere. [Insert joke about expecting to find a pony in here someplace.]
I’ll keep digging. And staying home as much as possible.
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Relative Something 
Sorry but the lack of empathy in this post really bothered me. Yes, we do need to do our part to try to end the pandemic, we do need to wear masks and social distance but it is not easy. Your quote: “Staying home all the time is too hard. Really? How hard is it?”
For some people it is obviously easier than others. For people that are struggling with mental illness and no outlet it’s not easy, for people living with alcoholics and abusers it’s not easy, for people that have small business as their livelihood being forced to close with no income facing losing their homes and nowhere to go, not easy, for parents of small children that work full time and are now faced with teaching as well, not easy. And to have done this 8+ months already and to continue on with no end date is very hard and should not be minimized. People are tiring of the pandemic, depressed from missing family, anxious about the unknown and all these emotions are valid. This is all very hard and I understand the emotion on all sides and don’t believe we should minimize it or compare it to hostages who if lucky enough to come home probably struggle with ptsd or other mental illness the rest of their lives.
Tricia
November 20, 2020 at 9:24 am
Thank you for writing to share this point, which you have done a brilliant job of expressing! I’m sorry for seeming to make light of the range of difficulties.
I don’t need to say anything more, because you have said it all. May your comment serve to provide prudent balance to my less well-thought perspective for all readers!
Again, thank you, Tricia, for taking the time to express a broader perspective.
johnwhays
November 20, 2020 at 9:37 am
Yes, there are even more serious side-effects – particularly due to severe stress. Just to name two, I know a person who is now suddenly diabetic also requiring a gallbladder operation and another with the return of rampant cancer. And, to make matters worse, getting treatment is now much, much harder. I bet there is hardly a person alive today that can’t give other examples. For many, it feels like a damned if you do: damned if you don’t situation.-)
Ian Rowcliffe
November 21, 2020 at 4:42 am
It really is, and world over! There will be no quick fix for the disruption this pandemic has caused, so we need to maintain a focus on the long term recovery goals while mustering fortitude to cope with the short term challenges. It’s like an epic expedition!
johnwhays
November 21, 2020 at 2:08 pm
Re:It’s like an epic expedition! Your forté, I’d say:-)
Ian Rowcliffe
November 22, 2020 at 10:43 am