80 Days

I've actually lost track of how many days we have been in lockdown. Quarantine. Confinement. Last Friday marked 11 weeks. 77 days. Using that math, we are now at 85 days.

Ugh.

Early on someone remarked the word quarantine takes it root from the number 40. At the time, 40 days of quarantine felt like an eternity. We are now at more than double that.

The purpose of this message is not to complain. I did plenty of that in the beginning. But to have a place to record my thoughts for posterity.

When the world shut down on Friday the 13th of March (the same week as we jokingly said would we survive that, the time change, and an eclipse -- we didn't) we were told the virus takes 2-14 days to manifest. If we only stood still for two weeks we would be able to contain it and move on with our lives.

LIARS!

Twelve weeks later and though it was easy to shut down businesses, it is becoming political to reopen them.

The beaches are open. Because they are safer or because they are owned by the mob?

Golf courses and tennis courts are open. Because they are truly safer than basketball courts or because they are white people sports?

Protesting is allowed, but graduations are not. Because it is important to keep our civil liberties or because no one thought to outlaw protesting?

In nine days small businesses are finally allowed to reopen. All along I thought small businesses would be safer to support than Wal-Mart, Target, and the like. Why were they allowed to sell art supplies but not the local art supply store? 

Also in nine days we can eat at outdoor restaurants. Restaurants are scrambling to create outdoor dining areas that are also socially distant. After 12 weeks of mostly cooking, or doing cold take out, I am looking forward to having someone wait on me. Can we swap Mothers Day and Fathers Day this year so I can eat without having to either cook or clean up?
 
In 16 days we can finally get hair cuts. I've heard the hold up is the air blowing 
from hairdryers. I'm looking forward to my hair cut. I would have skipped the blow dry weeks ago. 

Meanwhile anytime people see others outside (not sure now they see these people if they are inside) they predict a huge spike in numbers. 

Examples: 
* After families gathered for Easter and Passover, there will be a huge spike in numbers.
* After the protests, the numbers will spike.
* After stores reopen, the numbers will spike. 
* If we celebrate graduations, the numbers will spike.

Something forgotten over the past twelve weeks of confinement (I like the French term), the goal was to flatten the curve. There was zero chance of eliminating Coronavirus until we have a vaccine and a cure. Even then, it will likely be with us just like the regular flu.

The goal was to not overwhelm our healthcare system.

As we reopen the world, as people travel again, as we gather again, may we do so aware that the virus is still thriving. So we'll wear our masks when we are inside buildings (not while getting our teeth cleaned or other obvious places). We'll avoid hugging a little longer. We'll stay out of theaters and stadiums (hopefully they can recover). We'll continue to write a new narrative.

Meanwhile let's have more in-person conversations. Let's enjoy the beautiful weather. Let's continue to find ways to celebrate.