It is middle of the week already. Dallas County Shelter in Place is now on Day 30. Been home bound 38 days... Wowzer. That is the longest I have stayed in one state in quite some time. In fact, I think maybe it has been about 6 or 7 years. Or more. While our elected officials in Texas feel this way: "...there are more important things than living..." I must say I disagree wholeheartedly with that statement. I found it shocking the first time it was said, and even more shocking that he reiterated that he was right about it. Almost every single plan I have in my future hinges on the key factor of my being alive! I bet your plans, whatever they may be, do too. So I agree with the masses who are already saying "Go ahead and lift the bans, we are still not coming!" I am jumping on that bandwagon.
A haircut is not important. Working out at a gym is not important. Getting a tattoo is not important. Having my nails done is not important. Shopping is not important (and we have learned how to do that one online quite well). What is important is continuing to avoid this thing, until there is a vaccination available. It is important to not infect my older relatives and family members unwittingly. It is important to NOT spike up the hospital admits because I insisted on one of these non-important things.
My heart goes out to the people in these "non-essential" industries. People who are hard working and are struggling right now in every way. I hope for every one of them that their friends and family and communities are bonding together to help, and sacrificing to try and make a difference with their people.
Lots of informal surveys have been done about social distancing... a frequent question I see asked is "What are you finding the hardest?" Inevitably, in the top 5 answers are these two: 1) missing human contact/touch and 2) spending time in the same presence as those we love. This task is universally difficult for most. Our only population who likely are not affected or affected less, are the people we consider to be hermits. People who by choice practice social isolation. I know a few of these and they are mostly like - no big deal! Right now, I think they are lucky in some ways.
I desire for life to not be hampered by rules and regulations. I think we all do. But I also desire to be alive. I desire to be able to hug my peeps and family close. I really want to hang out and share a meal together and tell stories to each other in person. Yet until we can safely move about, I will remind myself every day that this is a temporary inconvenience. And I will seek out new and creative ways to let the people I love know I love them, and I miss them, and I cannot wait until I can hang out with them again...
...Alive and in person.
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