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Don't Stand So Close to Me : Living in the Age of a Modern Pandemic

People, life is going to change once we get to venture to the streets again.

Is it for the better? 

I guess that's all individual perspective.

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I just received an email from my dentist.  They are ensuring me that they will be updating their already stringent health and safety procedures.  They already follow guidelines put forth from ADA, CDC and OSHA.  But they are taking more measures to keep everyone in their office healthy.

It's nice to get a reassuring note from a dentist I've trusted for almost 20 years. 

Here are just a few items that stuck out to me:

--They'll be asking screening questions before you come in as well as when you arrive.  They don't mention the exact ones yet would probably be fine telling me if I called. 

--They are putting hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE.

--Their waiting room will no longer have magazines, children's books or toys. They are hard to clean.

--They will be making appointments spread out further to ensure there are less people in the reception area.

This email gave me comfort.  I know my dentist is making the good effort.  Sure, they don't want to be the cause of any disease spread yet I also know the wonderful people that work there and this is a genuine place of care. 

******************

The email also made me sad.

Daily life is going to change.

The kind gestures of hugging, shaking hands, and even helping a stranger with a quick simple task are going away.

We're still going to care about one another yet from a distance with cautious, almost distrustful concern.

I'm an introvert and I generally don't enjoy being around people other than family, friends and those friendly hikers I always meet on trail. So I've never really been one to be huggy and touchy.  BUT I have been one to help a stranger in need. 

I don't want to be leery of my fellow human being when I walk down the street, shop for groceries or attend a sporting event.  But I will be.

States are starting to open up non-vital locations yet I'm still going to wait to be near people.  I'm not high risk yet I could spread the virus.

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My head is swimming with thoughts of how I need to now be more cautious:

  • When I stay in a motel, hotel, cabin, or inn, will it be clean?
  • When I fly.  Did someone just cough?  Is she blowing her nose?
  • See a movie. What if the person that sat in that chair before me had Covid-19?
  • Eat at a restaurant. Did the cook wash his hands?
I honestly want to say FUCK IT and not worry, I most likely will not get sick.  Get out there and live.  

Yet I can carry the virus to loved ones, friends and even strangers that can't fight the illness.  That's a heavy burden.

Am I thinking to deep?

*******************

Life is going to change from what we once knew.  The small, kind gestures may go away.  The simple, courteous efforts that brightened a stranger's day may disappear.

Back to my question, is this for the better?  Maybe for public health and safety but what about our mental health, we need each other.


Oh, something I forgot to mention - the cost of living is about to go up.  Social distancing, more stringent procedures as well as laws will force companies to spend more to keep up, passing the cost on to the consumer.  Be ready.






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