With this week, I’m shutting my world down a little bit further. Through the past weekend I have taken a daily walk to the store, ridden my bike outdoors, and even met people for coffee at a safe distance in parking lots of Starbucks. However, based on what I’ve read about the progress of the virus (and like most of you, I’ve read too much) it seems that even greater caution will be necessary to navigate the next few weeks.
I have enjoyed my continued connection to the outside world. I have always taken this seriously and taken precautions within my travels, but it has been nice to see people. It has been particularly good to act as a delivery service, for friends and neighbors, which has fed my genetic need to help people. Riding my bicycle gave me the opportunity to see some of the nature that is around me while watching other people stay active in a mostly closed world.
So why am I closing up for a bit? This falls primarily into three reasons. First, I understand that a spike in cases is expected soon. If this is so, I don’t want to be sick while competing for resources or worse taking away resources from someone else. Second, I am very concerned about asymptomatic transmission, and the thought that I might give something to someone unwittingly (or equally scary catch something from a non symptomatic person) is not something I could live with. Third, I had to have a conversation with my daughter this weekend about what my wishes would be should I end up on a ventilator. That is not a call I want her to have to make for several years, and certainly not because I wasn’t cautious.
So I’m cut back and closed in. I’m grateful that I have the luxury to be inconvenienced like this. I wait with strong anticipation for a time when this will be over, and I’m anxious to find how we will live in the world to come.
Be safe! Be strong!
Today’s playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Z6UK8MUYVkfp1NMI2oFge?si=vZxu3cCLTPe7ah2RCTOoXg