I know all we've been hearing about is the Coronavirus - its exhausting. In a couple of days, we went from being pretty chill about the whole thing to having schools closed and social gatherings limited, sports and events of all kinds cancelled and not toilet paper anywhere. It all feels pretty crazy.
I'm not generally a very excitable person - I tend to get the facts and arrive at my own conclusion rather than have a knee-jerk emotional response. I have been doing my best to gather info the last few days and also to try to sort between hysteria and truth. I have become convinced of a few things.
1. A lot of people in America will get the Coronavirus - most of them will be fine, but not all.
2. The biggest concern is that medical facilities and personnel will be overrun and unable to keep up with the number of cases requiring acute care.
3. WE CAN HELP. All the data points to social distancing being key to slow the spread.
I, like most of you I'm sure, was irritated when my daughter's (who is a dance major - how do you that online??) university converted to online classes and then subsequently my middle and high school kids schools were shut down by the Governor. I have a daughter who is a senior in high school - will she not be able to walk across the graduation stage??
But, the more I read and listened, the more I got it. Proactive closings and distancing will be MUCH more helpful than reactive ones. I am not afraid of the coronavirus on a personal level, but I am part of a society that is much bigger than me personally - the best way I can show my care for others is to throw my hat in the ring and do my best to slow the spread.
So, we will. My husband and I run a lacrosse club that literally just had its first game Thursday. But, we sent out an email to cancel activities for at least the next two weeks (in keeping with the Governor's mandate) and sent out some suggestions to keep the players busy at home. We were sad - our lacrosse loving boys are sad. But, if this inconvenience can keep others safe - it is the least we can do.
I was contemplating it all this morning and the silver lining of the whole thing crashed down on me.
I am at home - practicing social distancing - but, I can still talk to all of you. My kids will be stuck at home, but they too can talk to their friends. If need be, they can do school at home online and they can still have access to teachers through chat rooms and online learning platforms. THAT IS AMAZING. This will be tough, I think, but we are in so much better of a position to weather it as a society than we were even 20 years ago.
I am frustrated and sad and inconvenienced, but I am also grateful. It's what I've said all along - technology isn't all bad. :)
Wash your hands, friends, and let's chat - online.
