Bad News/Good News
Bad news is it’s a zombie apocalypse and it’s right where we live and where you live. Good news is that unlike in the movies where there’s some mysterious, unknown way to beat the zombies, we all know how to avoid the virus. We can all do our best to be the heroes. Unless absolutely necessary, we can stay home. What’s necessary? What’s not? That’s the grey area. We’re fairly battened down.
Necessary, for me, isn’t the same as “I really really want to, which really stinks sometimes because there’s plenty I want to do that I’m foregoing “because the virus.”Necessary, for me, is doctors appointments, dentist appointments, and one-one-one outdoor, masked, distanced visits with folks who generally share my family’s risk tolerance.
We wear a mask if we’re out walking. We request those we interact with to also wear a mask. Over mouth and nose.
If I see a friend (that’s anyone) with a low riding mask situation I politely and kindly let them know — “Excuse me your nose is uncovered.” Usually that results in an awkward pulling up on their part. Sometimes I get a “thank you.” Once a group of 30-somethings walking by sniggered at my comment. But they pulled their masks up. So.
Once a store clerk argued her nose was covered “enough,” when I asked if she could please pull it up as it edged down. I just turned around and left the store. I really really wanted the organic celery juice I’d been craving from that place but not enough to share air. Now I make a better habit of preordering and doing curbside pickup or getting delivery when I can. I do want to support local business, but not enough to risk getting or transmitting the virus.
Anyway, I could give you a long list of fun-sounding gatherings we’re not hosting or attending, friends and family we miss, activities in public places we’re foregoing. Ya, it’s a bummer. When I hear someone who’s survived Covid or whose loved one has had Covid it’s a real motivator to do the right thing and be part of the solution.
I personally have not figured out a way to travel to family across the country that’s low enough risk to do it — and I’ve tried. We’ve been getting better at the zooms and this year I’m showing the love by staying away and they’re showing the love by seeming to get that choice and not make a thing of it. It is what it is.
My family and I have actually, if I think about it, been through a lot together. Together together and together apart. We’re gonna get through this. And my hope is that when we look back on how we did during this time we will say we acted responsibly, we kept ourselves safe, we did all we could to keep our communities safe, and we stuck to it together. It’s a longer road than originally anticipated, and yes we are tired, but the virus is not tired. It is what it is. I’m gonna keep going (at home).
www.livingeveryminuteofit.com
