The Pandemic of 2020
On this day of March, 2020, a different world emerged. I never thought that I would be alive to witness what’s happening today.
Pandemic? That word never crossed my path. Who would imagine that something this strange and scary would come to the United States? How did this happen?
Although it started in China, it seemed to have found its way quite rapidly through Europe. The States are locking down and isolating people from one another. Schools are closed. Restaurants, bars, concerts, and March Madness and the NCCA all shut down. We are not to gather unless in small groups. We cannot visit the mall, the movies, or live the way we used to.
For how long will we survive this catastrophe? How are we to keep our sanity with the news blaring horrible headlines of death in glaring numbers? Will we eventually run out of food if we don’t have the money to shop in grocery stores like we always did before? So many businesses have shut down for lack of sales.
There are no baseball, football, or arenas that allow people like they used to. It’s a different world, and only our faith and hope in God will help us through this challenging period of our lives.
Fear is the culprit in this scenario that is making people act in horrible ways. So many suicides, so many dissenters, so many troubles in marriages. Who survives will only be the strongest.
All Universities and schools have closed. My grandchildren are doing online classes. It is boring for them because they miss their classmates. How sad is that?
The grandkids cannot visit because I am over 65 years of age. I miss them so much. I’m being alone and lonely and missing them so very much.
The news doesn’t help the spirits much. It is depressing and frightening for anyone of any age. Thank God that Julia, my granddaughter made it out of Italy, studying for a semester, before the lockdown. Scary doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling.
Many of the kids are on Spring break this time of year. Although the rule is to avoid crowds, they are swarming on the beaches. How are you doing this? They feel that they are exempt from catching this deadly virus that is consuming the rest of the world. They must pay attention and heed the warnings that have been laid out so clearly for everyone.
Sure, I don’t particularly appreciate this isolation. It’s lonely. We cannot touch one another with a hug anymore; we shrug or thump elbows. But it is a precaution, and we all have to do it to prevent this vicious intruder’s spread. I also miss going to Church. It’s too dangerous.
We have to social distance and wear masks in public. How much longer, we don’t know.
The norm is no longer standard. Our lives as we knew it would no longer be. There will be changes that will disrupt our lives, our economy, and our futures. We ask why, but no one can answer the enigma. We’ll get through this crisis with God’s hand holding ours as He says, “This too shall pass.”