I had a grim thought this morning. What if we never go back to how things were? What if, in this hyper sensitive age of media scrutiny, fake news, and fear, we are pushed to a place where physical contact is a secondary aspect of human interaction and physical distance becomes more and more the norm? My head hung heavy at the thought. As the people of Hong Kong have suggested, we are social creatures and unwilling to be separated by the fear of contagion. Meanwhile others are celebrating and gathering on social platforms. Animal Crossing has quickly become a social media platform and a place to share political ideas–so much so that it was banned in China. This argues that people may be interested in moving thought to the virtual realm. It means we are still being social online.
But, I’m not ready for Ready, Player One.
I want to touch and feel and smell. I want an Easter where my kids and run through the park and hunt eggs. I want to run with them. I want to play outdoors and see other people and shake hands and give hugs. None of that is my present reality and that is just strange–almost unbelievable. I’ve lived over forty years and through some incredible times, but nothing so insidious and distancing as watching a holiday vanish in smoke.
We are going to celebrate in our home. We are fortunate enough to have the space to have the freedom to do so. Others will forego safety, I’m sure. Our yard backs up to a park where very recently there were multiple teams of adults playing in a pick up soccer tourney. Covid did not slow them and I suspect it will hardly slow them today.
Still, I am slowed. I am awed. I am cowed by the power of this thing. I, sadly, have a heart condition and I am vulnerable. Therefore I am cowed and will remain so until my mind surpasses the cloud of media fear that threatens to rain upon me.
Only, it isn’t just the media. It is real. As hard as that is to stomach, this is the new reality… This is our 100 year virus.