This Too Shall Pass
Lest we think our pandemic is special, the Guardian reminds us that while we (as in, you and me) may have not lived through a pandemic prior to this point, humanity has lived through a pandemic multiple times. And written about it.
Over millennia, there has been a consistent pattern to behaviour during epidemics: the hoarding, the panicking, the fear, the blaming, the superstition, the selfishness, the surprising heroism, the fixation with the numbers of the reported dead, the boredom during quarantine.
Uh… yes… that sounds familiar.
And maybe I need this reminder right now because I’m reading about things re-opening and thinking, “I cannot imagine myself going back to the beach.” I mean, yes, I know there will be a point when I return to the beach because we are a beach family. But in the short term, I cannot imagine getting there any time soon, even as beaches reopen.
Theater = yes, because it’s time-sensitive.
Movies = no, because they eventually come to DVD so I don’t need to take the risk.
Haircut = will hit my breaking point one day.
Bookstore = guilty pleasure so I’ll figure out how to justify it to myself.
Clothing store = will use my pandemic fears to get out of ever trying on new clothes.
But right now, it doesn’t feel like we’re in the after yet. At all. I’m holding my breath watching states reopen and wondering what the numbers will look like next week.
At the same time, it brings me comfort to read this:
And then, of course, the plague ends. That’s the actual good news that these books bring. The epidemic always passes. The majority of people survive.
This too shall pass. At some point in the future.
4 comments
You should put beach higher on your list, though. It’s outside, the air is always moving and not recirculated, you don’t have to be close to people. The only issues are food (which you can bring with you) and bathrooms.
It will pass. Things may be different, but that’s OK. What is it they say? A change is as good as a rest . Look at it this way – you’re probably getting both right now!
Most of our local beaches are technically open—for walking. We haven’t gone bc although we can walk – about 1/2 hr each way—there are no bathrooms open. I can bring a portable potty seat for the kids, but I don’t have one for me. I can’t hold it that long 🚽
(We are only supposed to drive for essential purposes—includes recreation but we are not supposed to drive to recreate)
Meanwhile, I bought a bunch of bathing suits for my kids earlier (since Costco sells out of them quick, etc.) bc we were going to go to the Caribbean this year, kids were going to go to the pool and beach a lot, etc. They’ll probably grow out of them before they can wear them.
I wonder what measures for prevention were taken in previous outbreaks. It seems like people were more at the mercy of the virus/bacteria and just braced themselves. Ironically, our modern day abilities to know about virology and mitigate effects might actually make us feel less in control.
I feel like we’re living in a void. We can’t foresee how this will play out or when. That vexes me, not being able to predict what opening will look like, and how safe we can be doing it.
Yes, this WILL end. Someday. Probably not soon, but eventually. It’s just the not knowing, the lack of control, that’s really hard to swallow (particularly when some of us are doing our best to flatten the curve while others are… well… NOT. :p )