The right balance is imperative

There’s an inherent selfishness in living. We teach our children to not be self-centered in very specific ways but in every part, we are animals with a will to live – so water, food, shelter and health all fall into a realm where we look to ourselves first. Those that overcome this – who run into fires, who nurse the sick, who step in front of danger, do so in knowing sacrifice of that, frequently for very personal and complex reasons.

In this wealthy, consumer-based country, there is deep scripting for further personal fulfillment. We’ve been taught we need our hair cut every couple of weeks, nails done, drinks with friends, dinner out, gym membership, beach time and on and on. We don’t wear masks because they aren’t comfortable, or in some cases, because we feel we’re exercising our rights.

This is also natural. Animals feast when food is available. We’re opportunists. And instant gratification addicts. I don’t exempt anyone from this. And we are privileged to think that the safety of others is a choice we get to make.

 
But this disease we’re dealing with is insidious. It’s more opportunistic that we are. It counts on our inability to distance, to curb our desires – it waits for situations where we are forced to be near each other and spreads this way. Conservative politicians push to not restrict and to keep consumers openingly consuming citing the economy, inviting people into more of these circumstances.

And so, we decide we cannot live without the hair cut or coffee. Or dinner out. Or drinks with friends. And a large number of us contract the disease. We then bring it home to our families and give it to coworkers, to the first responders and front-line workers.

And people, real people, die or go broke surviving – or both. Husbands and wifes die leaving spouse and family to rip out the carpeting, throw away furniture and sanitize the house to prevent additional exposure.
We justify this with “it’s all in gods’ plan” or “when it’s your time, it’s your time”. 

But doesn’t god give us tools to fight and frequently defeat these things? Unless you believe in total destiny and the absence of free will (and in that case for those that follow a biblical faith, I’m not sure how you interpret the creation myth – after all, wasn’t understanding and choice the reason Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden? At that point we were left to our own decision making, our free will?).
Only you can decide where the right balance lies. Me – I shop every couple of weeks. We supplant with some online ordering. An occasional meal delivery (once or twice a month). I go down the street to the mailbox every couple of days. Did a home project and replaced a sink and ended up at Home Depot 3 times based on a relaxed view of the risk at the time.

Each time I do, I’m increasing my chance for exposure – sometimes minimally. Sometime palpably (shopping for groceries is a particularly tense and frustrating business, with people ducking in while you open a freezer door – “just let me grab…” or not distancing or refusing to wear a mask.
And each time I do I’m increasing exposure for my wife. For others I may inadvertently come in contact with. Invariably good people. My neighbors – each with different risk profiles. One took pains to pick daisies and deliver them to our door. He was careful when he handed them to us, but no mask for either of us, forgetful in the moment (please don’t judge me on this singular indiscretion – I certainly understand I’m imperfect). Or my interaction with a next-door neighbor for a community purpose, where she handed me something – we were wearing masks and were careful, washed hands after, but still, interaction and physical transfer.

I see friends and neighbors online and see them ache for human interaction. I do to some extent too – I’m lucky enough to have my life partner with me – and I have loving pets. But I see the wish to do what comes naturally and all I can say is;

Balance folks. In this case, it’s light, necessary interactions – things that are survival items. Things that can be done with frugal exposure and much caution. Wearing masks as a life saving measure for those we come in contact with. We can do this with consideration.

141,000 deaths in USA up to today. 600,000+ worldwide. Each of these were people that laughed and loved. Many of them could still be doing that if either they or someone they knew could’ve shown some restraint and caution.

And that’s what is needed to beat this – thoughtful, compassionate action and some temporary sacrifice. Thanks, if you are doing this and thanks to those who start. 

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In other news, we see our president sending unmarked military to Portland, to put down those exercising their right to protest (yes, there’s violence in some cases – but the violent response begets violence and some peaceful demonstration is being broken with violence, like it was 60 years ago during the civil rights marches in the 1960s). That brings us top the death of John Lewis who knew the struggle and fought every day of his life. He will be sorely missed as we work to defeat racism and totalitarianism. Trump and Devos are working hard to force “full” public school openings, because, if schools refuse or come short with only partial week attendance in person, they can then site non-opening as a reason to redirect public funds to private schools. The defunding of public education should be a huge story – but it’s buried behind the dumpster fire that is this administration.

The only way to right this ship is to vote the current administration and Senate out. Each day it becomes more imperative. Please, please, make sure you are registered to vote. Make your vote count.