It’s strangely easy to practise social distancing when one lives a rural lifestyle. It’s quite rare for neighbours to drop by. It’s just us, the dog and the cats. Nothing different than an ordinary weekend minus our off spring and the little ones visiting.
Only it’s vastly different than a month ago…. the world pandemic has made its way here. Albeit slower than elsewhere and our numbers aren’t climbing like crazy, yet.
So here we are, practising social distancing. Doing our part to keep the pandemic in check.
In some ways it’s just like I’ve gone into full retirement with my lay off notice as of Friday. It’s not a surprise at all. Hopefully it will be relatively short term but, as with most things right now, no one knows for sure. I’ve got a good pension, two full freezers, a cold storage room and a well stocked pantry so I know I am one of the fortunate ones.
I am, as per usual, keeping busy. I’ve started one heck of a big project alongside my other half. I may have dragged him into it but he’s being fairly enthusiastic.
I’m staying very creative as well on a variety of levels. It feels great to dive into a project and know that I won’t have to leave and go attend something..
All of my social obligations have been cancelled. No rushing in for a soccer game or a meeting. No lunch with a friend or cousin. No errands and no appointments. As an aside my hair is not going to last long at staying short but there is no social distance from your hair dresser. May just have to trust my other half with the clippers.
Which is when it hits home just how tumultuous the world has become. When a haircut, which seems like an ordinary kind of thing, comes with risks that make one hesitate. It falls strictly on the shoulders and choices of each of us how this damaging virus will be transmitted around our spaces. But the impact will be felt by all.
It’s unbelievable that there are people out there who won’t make the right decisions. Back from airplane travel and the next day in a store. Variations of this story abound. This is how the virus goes rampant across a country. This link talks about the Canadian Government Actions to address this issue. It happens in the city and in small towns. It seems, because it’s invisible, that the warning doesn’t apply to these travelers.
Doctors warn that we need to take this very seriously. The government is doing all it can. Universities are sending supplies to labs. Front line workers are going non stop to try and help society. Industry is stepping up. In Italy they have used a 3D printer to produce the value needed for ventilators. Lessons need to be learnt from China, Italy and Taiwan. We need to step up as a society and do what we can.
Which means, for the average citizen, nothing. We’re being asked to stay home. We need to practise social distancing, use common sense when we absolutely must venture into society and we must practise good hand washing. That’s what is going to win this war. That’s what is going to help those in the front line of this pandemic and those fighting it within their body.
I didn’t set out to sound so dramatic but, despite my bubble, the gravity of the situation is apparent. There are positives in this timeline; like China flying supplies and medical personnel to Italy. Like the mega work of laboratories across Canada.
Let us hope that “it” will be like the storm pictured below which looks intense but only gave us a few spits of rain and wind.. but let us prepare for what it looks like it could have been.
Let’s stay together while we stand apart.
Bernie
