#8 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Sunday April 25)
Good morning!
PHASES OF THE PANDEMIC
I’ve written in the past about the various stages of the pandemic, from the early days of President Trump’s cover up to the hording of masks, from the toilet paper crisis to the slow roll-out of vaccine, topped off, of course, with the proud “American individualists” who defy masks and/or vaccines.
We are definitely in a new phase, one that holds promise of tamping down this disease and the threat that slacking-off on simple distancing measures and slowing of vaccinations may bring. With variants already on our shores and a still large segment of our population resisting the simple responsibility to their fellow citizens to be vaccinated, herd immunity is still far off and booster shots are inevitable.
I’m still waiting to see a massive campaign of public service announcements from sports figures and celebrities, with whom people identify, encouraging masks and the safety and responsibility of obtaining a vaccination. What’s the delay?
There are other lessons of the pandemic:
WHAT MAY WE HOPEFULLY WON’T BE DOING
A few of the lessons that have come out of this pandemic:
A few safety precautions, like frequent hand washing and the wearing of masks results in lower incidence of all diseases communicated through breathing. The flu was way down this year (which may mean it will be up next winter, as the “guesswork” on the formula for the next shot will have less data to go from), as were other colds. Sneezing into one’s elbow, not hugging everyone one meets, washing hands, all are just good practices.
Stop going to work sick! I think the time has come to abolish the “I’m so tough, I came to work sick” mantra. It was never okay. Getting other people sick is crazy. Most white collar workers have the luxury of staying home (yet many don’t). We need to extend the freedom to stay home and spare the rest of the office.
No more birthday candles! As a reader shared, “I hope this pandemic finally kills the inexplicable, disgusting cultural ritual in which we say ‘thanks for celebrating me, now let me shower your food with all my germs in return’ that no one (except perhaps Howie Mandel) previously even blinked about!”
Handshakes and hugs? Fewer and further between and then only with people we know well.
THINGS WE GAINED
And then there are things we gained:
Eating outdoors! We live in Southern California, in some of the best weather in the world, yet we crowd ourselves into small dining rooms, elbow-to-elbow, with pumped in air, when we could eat outside on a beautiful evening. I’m not suggesting all the time, but the creative gardens and sidewalk dining experiences should stay.
Time alone to do very little. This sounds crazy, but Tom Hanks wrote an article a few weeks ago, suggesting that every minute he spent playing Solitaire was a waste. I heartily disagree. Sure we should be productive and engaged as much as we can, but such engagement can come from within. I’m a crossword and work games addict. I do them all the time in my spare time. It frees the mind to think differently. Plus, these times alone allow for introspection and mental relaxation. I’m learning to appreciate the greater time of recreational thinking and play.
Stop and smell the roses. Who hasn’t noticed the beautiful evenings, the birds of spring, the sounds and sights of nature. I loved our trips to the national parks when I was a kid and then again with our kids. And I hope to do more. The majesty of these special places I think about often. But we have been relegated to our homes and our streets and it isn’t so bad. There are small moments of majesty—in the birds that nest in our yard each year, the garden in our yard, the hummingbirds, lizards, and even the occasional feral animal on a late night walk. I hope I don’t forget that this is a world with small wonders, as well as big ones, and they are all around us—and worth preserving!
We appreciate those close to us more. Even if they might sometimes aggravate us (or we, them). Having the daily opportunity to hang with family is a blessing.
There are more things that have changed or are changing, and ways in which life will be different—often better, sometimes worse—in the coming years. One is our mental health returning to the workplace. That discussion, and other suggestions you may offer, is for another day.
Have a great day,
Glenn