It is a peaceful Sunday, light rain is falling and I'm drinking my coffee and posting next week's science lesson.
Oh wait, I'm posting it because kids can't go to school...because there is a global pandemic in which a virus is infecting 80,000 people or more worldwide each day.
I guess it's only peaceful from my privileged vantage point, but in reality, there are currently thousands of first responders who are sprinting, covered in sweat under their (maybe adequate) PPE, trying to decide who to save, and how.
There are people mourning loved ones to whom they did not get to say goodbye, and scared patients knowing that they might die completely alone.
There are families who don't know how they will get food, and inmates and refugees who literally have no chance of avoiding infection.
Peaceful might have been the wrong word.
But for most of my friends reading this, your life might still feel that way. You, like me, are probably safe at home with your loved ones. You can probably safely get the food and water that you need. You are likely still getting a paycheck to work from home because you have the technology and education to do so. You may (like me) be baking, knitting, doing yoga, having wine with friends over Zoom.
I am writing to ask you to try to gain a little perspective on this Sunday.
On Friday, I chose to drive from Northern Michigan to Detroit to retrieve nearly 2 months of mail from my apartment, in addition to some other luxuries like my bike, and clothing that is not fleece or wool. I left some wine and a handknit gift for the woman in my building who has been caring for my plants.
I say chose, and luxuries, because that's exactly what I did and what it was. If we were being smart here in the good ol' USofA, I would have never been allowed to do that, despite the fact that I stopped once for gas, (where I used gloves and a mask despite remaining outside,) packed my own lunch, and peed only in my apartment inside my own building, inside of which I wore 2 masks and gloves.
I expected empty roads, desolate gas stations, boarded up windows. What I saw shocked, saddened, and scared me; heavy traffic headed north. RVs and SUVs full of bikes and kayaks towing ATVs and fishing boats. Gas stations packed full of people wearing neither gloves nor masks; people running in just for bags of chips....one dad sipping nonchalantly out of his Starbucks cup. There were signs asking for the overthrow of our governor for 'stealing our freedoms' and restaurants blatantly open for business in the more rural regions of the state.
A parade of potential carriers, headed to small communities with limited resources and small hospitals, communities that feel safe, away, pristine. I finished my drive near tears...scared and angry.
The hypocrisy of my anger is not lost on me....I promise...but I was really careful. I waited until I had sufficiently quarantined, and until there were repeated reports of zero cases in our building. Based on my observations, and training in anti-infective research, and solid, (though admittedly limited) understanding of epidemiology, we're fucked. It is coming, folks...we're just a little behind.
I spoke with 2 dear friends yesterday who, after talking with me about how scary this all is, also did things like invite us out on their boat, or say, "once so and so gets here and is done with quarantine, we will go out for drinks...' I bring these statements to light not in judgement or anger, I mention them to try to highlight how, even for the most conscientious it is going to be so so hard for us to change our habits, to process a life in which there is no more going out for drinks....no more going over for dinner...no more lazy afternoon boat rides....like...for YEARS.
Our lack of leadership in this country, and a general misunderstanding of not only science, but of what a right is vs. a privilege, means that this is going to get much, much worse before it gets better. We have utterly inadequate testing, completely lax travel restrictions, (my friends in Ireland cannot go more than 1km from their home, and in Argentina one needs a card with permission to even be out AT ALL.) I should have been stopped on my journey several times; I should have been asked where I was going and why, and probably should have had my temperature taken and my nose swabbed when I exited the freeway at my destination, and when I entered my building. I should have at least been forced to wear a mask, (which I did, but there was no enforcement.) I should be monitored for the next 14 days to ensure that I don't infect anyone, even though my journey was reasonably safe. I took a highly calculated risk, and I know that I could get sick.
Now...take your mind back to the fudgie parade on I-75 North.
Friends. Loved ones. I would love to go for a masked walk with you at a safe distance...being out is a privilege, having a reasonably comfy mask is too. Let's get used to wearing them and set good examples.
I would happily support local curbside ventures to sit on the grass outside, 6-10 ft apart with you and sip cider and eat pizza and rant about the state of the world. Or even better, to count blessings that we are in a place, both physically and financially, (for now) that we are able to do just that.
If you are someone who is, (as I did) traveling to a place you call home, or feel safe...quarantine completely for 2 weeks. Going into the store is not quarantine...have someone bring you groceries or pick them up curbside. Don't know what you want? Be glad you have that problem and get over it...make a list and be thankful.
If you want some information based on science...I'm happy to do what I can to help you understand transmission, infection, etc. If you're reading this, I probably love you and want you and your family to be safe. However, I also want you to be aware, and smart, and patient. I want you to think about what you really NEED vs. what you want, and to consider what life might look like going forward as this second wave hits, and we all are faced with much more imminent danger, followed by a very real recession or depression. I don't want to sound like the fun police, or like a doomsday prophet...in fact, I hope I'm wrong and that way more people are doing the right thing than I think; but my observations tell me differently.
We are not special; viruses don't care, and in an overrun ER nobody knows how much money you make. We are only privileged, and for some of us that really could change as this pandemic plays out. Write your legislators and ask them to protect teachers and families by keeping schools CLOSED. Support businesses who are keeping their staff safe and protected so that people like my sister can maintain their livelihood in the service industry without endangering their health. I bet, if you ask a Doctor or Nurse, they would love for us to stay home so that maybe they can sleep some day, maybe even eventually without the PTSD and haunting nightmares of people gasping and gurgling their last choked breaths.
I encourage you to talk to the people you know. Share the numbers with them. Explain that fishing and using parks are privileges, not rights, which is why in order to do these things, you have to buy liscences and passes (on which you literally sign contracts.) You have to wear a seatbelt to avoid a ticket...even if you won't to protect your own life. You may have to start looking at masks the same way, except the life you're protecting is someone else's...maybe that makes it easier.
Check yourself and your friends when they think that 'just running in' is ok, and remind them of their loved ones at home who may be far more vulnerable. Share good science, and remind others kindly and repeatedly about good habits...it doesn't make you an asshole or a hypochondriac. It makes you a conscientious citizen, and maybe we can relearn what patriotism and community are supposed to look like.
Remind others that we have a lot of time, we don't need the cleaning crew to come, we can do it ourselves. The handyman can come fix the sink, but you can probably do it with some curbside parts from ACE hardware and a youtube video. Your hair looks fine, nobody cares....we love you anyway.
I love you. Stay safe.
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