The journalist talked about how the ambulances are always running through her town. About how they've stopped using sirens because it's freaking people out. She talked about her young children having a real fear of the virus. And she talked about her husband going to the grocery store wearing goggles, a face mask, and gloves. About how they wash all the packaging when he gets home to protect themselves and their children.
Yeah, there's absolutely no way I could write anything remotely lighthearted about the situation.
Sometimes I sit and marvel about how everything changed on Wednesday, March 11th. I was on vacation that week, and while I had some mild concern about the virus, I wasn't giving it a lot of thought. I got my oil changed that morning, went home and did stuff, and that evening, the atmosphere in the United States seemed to change as quickly as if someone had flipped a switch.
Not everyone. I've seen spring breakers completely unconcerned. I've heard there are kids calling the pandemic a "boomer remover." Real funny until it's your parents or your grandparents.
My dad moved in with me after my mom died and I don't want to lose him. I'm worried about bringing something home. (I had to work in the office last week. As of Friday, I can work from home, but before that? No.) It's lucky that he never smoked because this virus seems to like the lungs, but he's in the highest risk group. The aged.
I'm worried about some of the selfishness I've seen. "Boomer remover." "It's only taking people with other medical conditions; I'll be fine." Really? Let's get an attitude adjustment here, people. Every person deserves respect, no matter their age or if they have another medical condition. Almost every person who dies has someone who loves them who is left behind. And it's not only affecting the old and the sick. Young people with no medical problems are dying, too. Also viruses mutate. I read we already have two strains of this one.
Let's take care of each other. Let's try to be part of the solution, not a selfish asshole who's contributing to the problem.
