“If I hear the term corona-fatigue one more time I’m going to scream.”
That’s what one of our nephews said the other day. Our discussion was about how we’ll never get control of the virus if people are not willing to power through their frustration and do the right thing. For themselves AND for others.
We get it.
We seem to be selfish people. We want what we want: “I’m going to do what’s best for ME.” Trouble is, in a pandemic, it doesn’t stop with ME. It spreads when people are only self-focused.
Our part of the San Francisco Bay area shut down early–our entire state did–in late summer I decided to go to western NY to finish our second home. Numbers were better there and life was more “normal.” I loved every minute of a more interactive life–being out, about and social. Then our numbers here in the Rochester, NY area, started spiking. That’s because not only were places like gyms and restaurants open, but parties and small gatherings were happening. People masked in public but not in these get-togethers.
We simply disregarded the dangers of asymptomatic transmission. And now, we’ve got an even bigger problem on our hands.
All around me people resist going back into isolation, lamenting what will happen to small businesses and restaurants. I get it. People will suffer. (The government needs to provide some relief, but that is a different subject.) And then there are those who simply MUST have a holiday gathering. They just MUST.
And yet, how many will really suffer if they get sick? How many will die? What is our obligation to do the right thing? To ourselves AND others? I know what my response to that question is.
These aren’t easy questions. This month we had three very small dinners planned: with one person, two people. And the holiday dinner. Should we keep those plans or not? We’ve gone back and forth.
We know that the right thing to do is draw back in. We know our doctor wants us to. And yet it IS hard, hard to give up the little bit of social life we have had since this hit in February. And yet, we knew we had to.
So we did. We cancelled.
We cancelled to protect ourselves. And we cancelled because we do believe we are our brother and sister’s keepers and we do understand that asymptomatic transmission is very real.
It’s called “deferred gratification” –the ability to put off our own feel-goods for something greater. It is a sign of maturity. And while there are times when I don’t feel so mature, and yes, I do have corona fatigue… THIS I can do. I can defer my gratification for the greater good. And, of course, to protect myself and my husband.
I am pretty judgey about this, too. Because YOUR rights end when you put ME at risk. Or others.
Where do you stand on this?
I’m glad Los Angeles has been pretty good about social distancing and masks. The whole thing is getting tiring but being on a ventilator sounds horrible. We have to be smart about it.
We’re all sick of Corona, but have to soldier on. We can’t stop wearing masks and social distancing until it’s over, hopefully sooner than later.
Soldiering on is a good term for it.
So much to say, and so little space. It seems like if Vietnam, most of Africa, New Zealand, Cherokee Nation, and others can do it, so can we. What happened to our competitive spirit? It’s not even that hard.
Wear a mask
Watch your distance
Wash your hands
Work together
We can do it!
So crazy…we just can’t do it as a nation, so divided.
Weary, but not dead yet. So I’ll carry on!
We’ve suddenly had a huge spike in our town. We were virtually Corona-free until now. 5 deaths and most of the residents in our care facility have tested positive. It’s a disaster. Husby and I have always been hyper-vigilant with mask-wearing and other protocols. It’s time to be even more so. I think if my actions saved even one life, I’d be happy!
Wow … from nothing to a spike. Just wow. Loving thoughts…
I agree with you. Numbers are going up as if on cue. I know my mom’s going to be disappointed if we don’t come for Thanksgiving but I told her I’d be more disappointed if she or my dad died because I exposed unwittingly exposed them. So it will be outside or not at all.
That was a true and loving response to your mom, Barbara.
You are making me think even deeper about shared utensils. We have done the six-feet apart meals with our son and daughter-in-law. We wear masks until we eat. Going over in my mind how we have handled evening, I think we are fine. It’s awful to live like this. I just want to hug these two young people. I just want to kiss them. But one day at a time.
Well, I don’t think they mean serving utensils. I don’t think.
Agree totally. We need to do what’s best for everyone now, which means hunkering down, not going back to life as usual (which seems like many people have done). We’re just prolonging the agony, which is killing people, businesses, jobs, exhausting medical professionals.
Yes, exactly–prolonging it. SMH.