What do you do? You’re my age, so you are old. Since you’re old, you are at high risk for an adverse outcome from Covid-19. You also have loved ones and friends who are in the high-risk group as well. You want to see them. You need to see them but you’re afraid to see them for a multitude of reasons.
What do you do? Your mom lives alone in Florida. You’re old, she’s ancient! While she’s in good health now, life is always precarious when you’re in your nineties. You’re afraid to fly. Airports freak you. Planes are tin boxes stuffed with humans breathing your air. You’re afraid to drive as you’ll have to make it a multiday trip, stay in hotels and hope your car makes it. You’ll need to stop for gas, food and toileting; and you’re afraid you’ll get infected and then give the bug to your mom.
What do I do? I have two uncles living in Norfolk. Both are in their 90’s. They’re the last of a generation and it’s been too long since I’ve seen them. I’m faced with the same dilemma. While I can make the drive in one day, going on the road carries some risk. I’ve just returned from Hilton Head. I was impressed by how prepared the Marriott was; their staff was masked and sprayed disinfectant on everything (including me). However, while filling up my gas tank in South Carolina, an unmasked and coughing male pulled up next to me and started filling up his car. I was masked so I left the gas hose in my tank and sat in the car.
So, what do we do? We go about our lives, taking appropriate precautions where necessary. One of my favorite authors is Tom Clancy. His hero, Jack Ryan, finds himself in danger frequently. To stay alive, Jack is always on high alert, scanning his surroundings constantly and ready to respond. We need to take a lesson from Jack. Wear your mask, maintain social distances and be prepared to react. If you’re in the grocery store and you want something on aisle 6, wait till aisle 6 is vacant, then retrieve the product you want. If you’re on vacation and the pool is crowded, don’t go in.
What else can we do? Certainly, washing your hands frequently is a good idea. If you’re religious, say a prayer for you and your loved ones. If you’re anxious, recognize that anxiety is your body’s burglar alarm. Pay attention to your surroundings and be prepared. If you are exposed to the virus, isolate yourself for 14 days.
Things are really screwed up and it’s up to us to unscrew them. Be careful that social distancing does not become social isolation and you will be well on your way to normalizing your life.
Here’s your music and a joke.
A couple of women were playing golf one sunny Saturday morning. The first of the twosome teed off and watched in horror as her ball headed directly toward a foursome of men playing the next hole. Indeed, the ball hit one of the men, and he immediately clasped his hands together at his crotch, fell to the ground and proceeded to roll around in evident agony.
The woman rushed down to the man and immediately began to apologize. She said, “Please allow me to help. I’m a physical therapist and I know I could relieve your pain if you’d allow.”
“Ummph, oooh, nnooo, I’ll be all right…I’ll be fine in a few minutes,” he replied breathlessly as he remained in the fetal position still clasping his hands together at his crotch.
But she persisted, and he finally allowed her to help him. She gently took his hands away and laid them to the side, she loosened his pants, and she put her hands inside. She began to massage him. She then asked him, “How does that feel?”
To which he replied, “It feels great, but my thumb still hurts like hell.”
