Working Together
All of a sudden, all the contact stopped. There were no more parties, or going to the games, or meeting up for a drink. There was no more out on the towns, or meet ups or hook ups. It was all so strange and going completely in opposite direction. All of a sudden, we could make each other sick and nobody who we would normally turn to anywhere had any information that could inspire confidence or give guidance. All anyone could do was tell us what we couldn't do. We couldn't be together. We couldn't work together, we couldn't play together and unless you were a family, and even then, if the disease got past the front door, you couldn't live together. We are not programmed for that anymore than we are programmed to have someone tell us what to do with our own freedoms.
Healthy people have learned new ways to interact, work, and live together. Aside from the "politicization" of the situation, the lack of leadership at all levels, and the confusion created by "experts" guessing rather than advising, we have learned and begun a transformation. We have picked a way to do things together even with the pandemic. We have stood up for human rights all over this world by coming together in at risk but safer ways. That is a very new phrase so I will state it again. We accept risk by working together to be as safe as we can.
As an older at-risk-adult I see it every day. I could see just the people without masks boldly defying government generated orders. Instead I see people without masks giving me room. I could be mad at young people clustering in bars and drinking. Instead I remember how I did the same thing at that age and how silly it is that someone in government thinks they have any sway other than asking people to care. For the most part, just like the picture above at Bull Bridge in western Vermont, one person waits while the other uses the bridge. We survive by working together not yelling at each other. We will prosper by finding new ways to interact, take responsibility, and support. But, as I said, I am an old guy. I got plenty of time to be careful and all the reason in the world anyone needs to continue to practice safe distance, wearing my mask, and drinking great whisky safely the people I love.