There isn’t a soul left on the planet who doesn’t know about this pandemic. Well, maybe those aboriginal tribes that are completely cut off, they’re probably not panicking about COVID-19, but the rest of us are painfully aware something’s amiss. We just seem to be in varying stages of exposure and/or acceptance.
I was poking around Twitter yesterday when I came across a tweet by @tranquileyes30 surveying isolation levels.
How isolated is everyone right now?
- Living normal
- Being cautious, but still going out
- Going out as needed, mostly staying home, still seeing friends and family
- Very limited, only going out when unavoidable and very careful contact with people
- Full lockdown
I scanned the first twenty replies or so to get a quick overview. There were two 1s – first responders in the hospitals. There was also a 3 – somebody who just couldn’t make the leap to breaking off contact – and one 5. But most of the replies fell solidly in the 4s – people home with their kids, people whose jobs were shut down, people plain old invested in this whole social distancing concept, that sort of thing.
I’m a 4. Because I’m awesome I also require my teens to be 4s, a torture I’m sure will come up during their midlife crisis therapy sessions but hey, they needed material, it’s not like I dressed them alike when they were little or anything. My 4 status has been a fairly unpopular stance seeing as they both know classmates who’ve met for lunch or gone to the movies, but around here we don’t play.
Here’s what I know.
A. I believe this is building to something that’s really, really not good and we want to slow that train.
B. In support of point A, take a minute to watch this: http://www.openculture.com/2020/03/quarantined-italians-send-a-message-to-themselves.html
C. When all else failed and my kids were tore up about being secluded like this I played my ace in the hole, as in sorry you’re missing the hot outing, kiddos, but I’m one of those folks who really cannot get this virus. I have scarring in my lungs. This isn’t hugely impactful day to day now that I’ve cleaned up my diet and improved my stamina, but it means I have worse symptoms and take at least four times as long to recover from anything respiratory. This makes Coronavirus a major no-no for me.
I’ve been working hard on not being Judgy McJudgester or anything but have you seen these obnoxious kids on spring break? These college spring breakers in Miami, Florida literally went on the record with such winners as:
- “If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not gonna let it stop me from partying. We’re just out here having a good time. Whatever happens, happens.”
- “It’s really messing up with my spring break. What is there to do here other than go to the bars or the beach? And they’re closing all of it. I think they’re blowing it way out of proportion.”
- “We’re just trying to roll with it. We’re just living for the moment. We’re just going to do what happens, when it happens, when stuff closes. We’re going to do it when it closes.”
- “What they’re doing is bad. We need a refund. This virus ain’t that serious.”
Somewhere Darwin just shrugged and said Told ya.
source: CBS News, Thousands flock to Florida beaches, ignoring Coronavirus concerns by Sophie Lewis
Lovely read! I’ve written a blog that takes on a different perspective during this time 🙂 https://maisarra.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/the-journey-begins/
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Welcome! I’d so glad you stopped by to read. I enjoyed your first post — I think we’re all going to have a lot more time to reflect on what’s really important. Good luck with your blog!
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Thank you, yes definitely a time to reflect and start new hobbies! Thank you for the support 🙂
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You and me. Yep.
“I’m a 4. Because I’m awesome I also require my teens to be 4s, a torture I’m sure will come up during their midlife crisis therapy sessions” — YESSSS! We became 4 Wednesday when the # doubled here. We had been like, “Oh your smallest circle, the shared friends…” and then we became 4. There was a definite shift among all the parents Wednesday, and then news that hey, young people are getting sick. We had to have a lil come to Jesus meetin.
I also believe we’re watching the same news reel, you and me.
Thank you for the video.
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I have to say, hearing all those Italians share their advice really did make me feel better. Solidarity from the other hemisphere, you know? Big stuff, scary times, news shifting by the hour – we’re all doing the best we can at this point. Welcome to the 4s, friend.
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On the positive side, there hasn’t been one school shooting. Stay healthy and safe.
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And that is one hell of an upside.
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I’m a five except for a bike ride once a day. I have a compromised immune system, Asthma, underlying medical conditions and I’m 78 years old. The parents of those kids on spring break ought. to have told them to shut up and go to their room. Well done, Laura.
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Thank you, John. So glad you’re taking good care of you. Stay safe!
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I will. You too.
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I am also a solid 4. The many displays of stupidity being displayed dismay me, but that’s been going on for a few years now.
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It has. It just has more dire consequences now.
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We’re solid 4’s, even though it’s not fun or easy. I’d rather sacrifice and change our way of live now because being in that more vulnerable age group the consequences could be far worse. Hope you and yours stay healthy.
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Thank you, Kathy. I hope this passes you by, too. I guess I should be grateful I really like my home.
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True, or it’s a good time to move furniture around.
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That and clean out the closets, I suppose. 😉
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Your Darwin quote kind of says it all. I was amazed to see certain states are right there. Extinction ? Sure whatever ! Gotta go, can’t be late. Oblivion is calling.
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The Florida governor refusing to close beaches really takes the cake. You’ve gotta be particularly callous to prioritize your spring break cash cow over public health.
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Stay safe Laura. You’re right some of these people are acting totally without thought.
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It’s hard to grasp. Then again, I may have been just as cavalier about it had this come around when I was in my 20s.
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I think you would be more sensible.
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That’s optimistic. 😆
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I’m that sort.
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Sometimes, when you live for the moment, you can measure your life in minutes.
Part of being an adult is making the hard choice in a time of crisis. You’re doing the right thing, Laura. Hopefully this will pass sooner that the worst predictions. Take care.
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Adulting is hard. The kids asked me at breakfast why they couldn’t go anywhere but I kept an appointment yesterday and I found it hard to explain weighing the risk and deciding which things were important enough to leave the house. It’s a difficult thought process to lay out for 13- and 15-year-olds.
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We are 4s as well. I have to walk the dog, but I’m making sure we go out for a walk everyday. No socializing. I don’t even invite the neighbors over. I go to the store everyday few days for fresh fruits and veggies. Hope is a homebody. She misses her friends but is content with semi-lockdown. Hang in there!
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Glad Hope is adjusting. We were in the driveway yesterday afternoon — I was weeding, Bear was shooting basketball, T was skateboarding — and I’d throw up a hand when neighbors walked by. There was always this nanosecond when they’d speed up, like they were afraid I’d call them over and I’m all nope! Just saying hey!
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best to all, in whatever safe way we can all get through it. here’s to everyone trying to do their best
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Honestly, that’s all I need, if everyone can pitch in with their best I think we’ll do okay.
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It’s staggering how many people I’m hearing say stuff like – I’m young and fit so why should I stop socialising. It’s all me, me, me and not a thought about others.
Look after yourself and your family. But it’s tough parenting for you. I’ve got it easy with the Aspergers. It’s kinda normal for us. You will find a way as you are a wonderful parent. x
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We’re making it work, day by day. The headline that caught my eye this morning was that the virus may be infecting more 20-somethings than previously thought. I shudder to think what that means for these giant hordes of party goers.
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