Coping with the Daily Onslaught of Covid-19 Stats
Every day, thousands more. When in quarantine, missing the constant news reports is impossible. So then what?
I’ve become philosophical over the last few weeks.
Read on; you’ll see.
You know the old “live every day as if it’s your last“ chestnut?
Kind of tough in the era of quarantine, isn’t it? Especially with death literally all around us, huh?
So I‘m living every day expecting that at some point Covid-19 will catch up to me too. I believe I’ll get it. Sincerely. Hopefully, this former severe asthmatic will be asymptomatic.
If not … I’m prepared.
I’m not being pessimistic. I’m being accepting of the possibility with the knowledge that at 56-years-old I won’t be here forever.
I’m remaining quarantined for as long as necessary. My wife and I wear masks when we go to the market, then we return home unless we go to a park or something.
We’ve gotten together with family and socially distanced from them. We’ve caught up with old friends over the phone.
We’re dealing.
Like you are.
I delivered a friend’s eulogy at a church last month. I made sure I was as safe as possible as I didn’t want to bring home any infection, though I admit I was a bit uncomfortable as I’d been so careful.
Still, my buddy’s passing — not Covid-related; he drowned saving his son — drove home for me that life is for the living and while we are here we must cherish what we have.
And honor what we’ve lost.
I could not bypass the opportunity to honor my friend, Shad Gaspard, especially as he made the supreme sacrifice to allow a continued life for his son.
For my part, I was careful. The others present were as well.
I’m glad I went.
Reminders: No one loved deserves to be forgotten. None of us will be here forever and we never know when our time is up.
Shad’s death was a tough and much-needed reminder that life is precious.
My buddy was in his 30s.
During this pandemic I’ll remain hyper-vigilant as it regards my health.
I’ll continue to do so until it’s safe again. As will my wife.
So I’ve rededicated myself to writing my heart out. This I hope will be part of my legacy.
I’m still striving to make a difference, only primarily behind a keyboard.
I’ll write here, there, and everywhere about politics and social issues, writing and the arts. I will not be shy with my thoughts or opinions. I encourage your honesty also, as communication is everything.
Today is a rare, authentic opportunity for such real communication. From my perspective, it took a pandemic to make this happen on a global scale.
I want to help, teach, and challenge perspectives.
It’s what I do.
I recognize that not everyone has the freedom I may have to be so single-minded. I’ve worked 80-plus-hour weeks over the last 15 years to sustain that freedom, and countless hours prior.
I’m working harder now.
My suggestion to anyone reading this is to work with what you have and do what‘s necessary to get through. Use this time, if you can, to get to where you need to be.
Maybe you’ll get lucky and be spared. Maybe I will as well. I certainly hope so. But I’ll have no excuses whatsoever if I’m tapped.
I will only stop working when I cannot any longer.
There is one more thing that bears mentioning.
What if a miracle happens that will allow us to finally, safely reopen soon? I personally don’t believe in miracles … but then again I would never have believed in a modern-day pandemic that ended the lives of over 500,000 people worldwide either.
In that event, I’ll be around that much longer to be a pain in your ass.
Because I’ll have earned survivor’s rights.
It’s time to be prepared for any outcome. That’s the moral of this piece.
Thank you, as ever, for reading.
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