Editor’s note: This commentary is by Melinda Moulton, of Huntington, who is the CEO of Main Street Landing in Burlington.
The Covid pandemic is the number one issue of our time. It has affected every aspect of human existence in every corner of the world. No one is exempt from the realities of this deadly virus that can kill you or someone you love. I reached out to my group of social media folks and asked them to share with me how they are holding up, what they are doing to stay safe and sane, and what they see for the future.
The responses were varied, passionate, sad, tragic, hopeful and reasoned.
Paul, who has not seen a friend in nine months, is focused on preventing harm. Joan quoted “pity those who see but are blind to the truth and those who hear but are deaf to the truth and so cause suffering to others.” Gayle lives in France and is under strict controls. She can only shop for necessities and go out to exercise for an hour or two. She cannot go more than 12 miles from home without permission; and restaurants, gyms, theaters and cinemas are all closed.
Mikey, who is working from home, has created a novel schedule with her gentleman friend. They are reflecting on special interests, streaming a wide range of international films and series, and cooking recipes from many countries. They feel an immense sense of freedom within the framework the pandemic allows, and they are seeing things they may have missed in busier times. She added that there is great sorrow and empathy being surrounded by suffering and that this harsh reality keeps them appreciating every day they have.
Carol has decided to “love her mask.” Christine, who is an art teacher and teaching online, is inspired that her students are finding space to create, learn and express their art. They are being seen and sharing their thoughts about art and creativity. Their online discussions are giving her students a feeling of community.
Josephine has lost five loved ones to Covid. The pandemic has burst her positivity bubble, but she is still looking upward and forward because she knows “this too will pass.” She states, “we all need to have patience, take responsibility for our own lives and that of the community at large by following the health guidelines to the letter for a bit longer in order to put this nightmare behind us.”
Jeremy has embraced this time to focus on his bachelor’s degree and cannot imagine another time when it would be possible to cover so much academic ground. He is keeping safe by staying in the attic on Zoom and kicking his “academic butt.”
Lupe, who has two teenage daughters, expressed her immense pride in them because they are teaching her how to be resilient and to face a life that is full of burps with patience. Lupe is an essential worker at a dog hospital and wears a surgical mask 12 hours a day while working.
Sarah, who works in a school, is in awe at how well the students have adapted to the hybrid schedule. Teachers are inspiring in their dedication to their students as they double down and focus on education in such a challenging format. Sarah has worked in education for almost 40 years, and this year has been the most difficult in her professional career.
Pam feels fortunate to live in such a beautiful place on Lake Champlain where she and her family can watch the birds, possums, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits and deer like never before. They appreciate the glorious sunsets and moonlit nights now more than ever before. She believes we will emerge from these challenging times with a new appreciation of what really matters, and recommit to doing all the things that make a difference for others.
Carmen views the mask as a temporary accessory that stops the spread of the virus, which she feels will end in the next year. She asks, “what side of the equation do you want to be on in the family history book?”
As of this writing, we have had 13.8 million cases of Covid and 272,525 deaths in the U.S. According to the CDC, “with more time spent indoors, the ongoing holiday season, and the silent spread of the disease (because 50% of the transmissions are from asymptomatic people), the U.S. has entered a phase of high-level transmission. We all must wear our masks when not at home, maintain physical distancing and limit in-person contacts, avoid nonessential indoor spaces and crowded outdoor spaces, increase testing to rapidly identify and isolate infected people, quarantine, protect essential workers, increase room air ventilation and hand hygiene and environmental disinfection, and finally, achieve widespread community coverage with an effective COVID-19 vaccine.” The overwhelming sentiment is “listen to science and we shall prevail.”
