PHOTO BY PIXABAY
The last few months have been challenging not only for me, my wife and family, but for all of us as we undergo this global pandemic. The coronavirus (COVID 19 ) . I underwent a sickness back in January just as we began hearing of the coronavirus, before we had any known cases in the U.S. As I was sitting there watching the news and shaking uncontrollably with a fever and chills, the media was talking about this coronavirus pandemic. My mind began racing with fear. I didn’t know what was going on with me. It couldn’t be possible I came in contact with anyone who had this virus. Or could it?
I was supposed to watch my granddaughter the next day so I immediately called my daughter and told her not to bring her because I didn’t know what was going on with me. As it turned out I had a bacterial (not viral) infection around my kidneys. It wasn’t contagious. I was hospitalized for three days and given antibiotics through an IV. I had to take antibiotics (pills) for 14 days afterwards. As of this writing I’ve been okay since. But this pandemic hit close to home when one of my siblings told me that she tested positive for the virus and was sent home from the hospital to quarantine for 14 days.
To paraphrase a word that perhaps some of us may have thought to be overused, ” this is an unprecedented event.” This disease has ravaged our country and the world. We are living through this and there is no playbook, no COVID 19 disaster owner’s manual so to speak. We must do what we can to stop the spread. We must become warriors and protect ourselves and each other. Stay at home and if we need to go out for food or medicine, we also need to social distance. And of course, make sure we wash our hands and wear a mask.
Socially and economically our lives have been turned upside down. This invisible enemy has taken a lot of lives. It doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can become a victim; no matter how rich or poor, young or old, no matter what ethnicity. I know I not only speak for myself when I say, ‘ our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those who have lost love ones and also anyone who has tested positive for the virus. Because of this disease people can’t be together, to hug, to love and comfort each other and grieve in the normal way that we are accustomed to. Millions of people across the country have lost their jobs or have been furloughed because businesses had to close, children and college students are doing their work from home, some parents are working from home. People have postponed weddings, family reunions and school graduations have been put on hold and rescheduled for later dates.
During this challenging time there are so many people who have become our heroes. The people who are essential to our safety and provide those things that we need to sustain us. They are now the ones on the front lines. Our first responders, health care workers, police, firefighters, correction officers (out of sight but not out of mind), food industry workers, utility workers, truck drivers (who help supply the stores ), sanitation workers, people who are making ventilators or parts for ventilators and so many others. One of those that we may overlook are the morticians and their staff as they deal with the mounting death rate of this insidious disease. The aftermath of which some communities have looked like battlegrounds.
This pandemic has brought out the best in some people. This evidence of love has been manifested in many ways. People are making masks and supplying them to health care workers, family and friends. People are helping their senior neighbors, dropping off food and other necessities for them. Businesses are making and distributing much needed hand sanitizer. Even the media (like some of our leaders and politicians) have been doing their best to present the FACTS NOT FEAR of this CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. Some stations have even left us with relaxing imagery (like waterfalls and beautiful landscapes) to help us get through these stressful times.
There are other heroes who are putting out positive messages on INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and FACEBOOK, words of INSPIRATION and HOPE that we so desperately need to hear. There are HOLLYWOOD celebrities (actors and musicians) who are still providing us with music and entertainment to get us through this dark time. But I ESPECIALLY get pleasure and a sense of hope and encouragement from the thousands of everyday people (the ‘ORDINARY PEOPLE ‘ to borrow a title from a JOHN LEGEND song), who are performing music, singing and doing dances on TIK TOK. People who are helping to heal us while also relieving themselves of pent up boredom and relieving us of ours. Then there are the DJ’s across the country who are providing hours and hours of non stop music. One of those dedicated DJ’s is DJ NICE who has a following into the hundreds of thousands and has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES. You can find him on INSTAGRAM and YOU TUBE.
We have witnessed what this disease, this COVID 19 ,can do and has done. The battle isn’t over yet. Although we’re not used to willfully holding ourselves hostage in our homes; the goods news is at least we can make needed trips to the grocery store, pick-up take-out food and medication. And of course take social distancing walks in the park. I heard from a friend ( a dog owner) who said that after about the 4 or 5th walk of the day, her dog starts to look at her with contempt. Even the dogs are starting to feel inconvenienced. About the only thing I could think to say to her was , ” I hope both of you are staying hydrated.”
It is uncertain if our lives will ever return to the normal we once knew. But one thing is certain. We have evidence. We have witnessed what many people can do and have done. We have seen the random acts of kindness, love and generosity. And like this disease, that is invisible and highly contagious; so is love and compassion. Perhaps, this pandemic may cause us to realize what’s really important to us during this surreal and seemingly apocalyptic time. The simple things in life. Finding TIME for self reflection, finding TIME to bond and appreciate family and friends, finding TIME to do projects around the house, Finding TIME to write, paint, create…TIME that we never seemed to be able to find before because we were too busy. In a circumstantial way, I believe TIME may have found us.
Either way here we are. We’re in this together and we’ll get through it together. I am determined to move into the future with a positive sense of hope yet cautious optimism. Life may be different after this pandemic. How different? It remains to be seen. All we have is this moment right now. As it has been said, ‘tomorrow is always a day away,’ I choose to take one day at a time and make the best of what time I have, be an asset to humanity. And if I do my best for today, then maybe I’ll have a better tomorrow. This is what I want to focus on. This is what I want my mind and heart to feel and to see clearly, with 20/20 VISION.
BE WELL AND STAY SAFE
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