Once upon a time, a virus named COVID19 turned up on planet Earth. It may have touched down on some of the neighboring planets. Since I am an earthling, I have no firsthand knowledge to confirm or deny that possibility. Due to the absence of any extraterrestrial communications, I remain uninformed.
The best I can aspire to is recounting what life on earth has morphed into since its arrival. Humans are required to wear masks when entering stores, restaurants, etc. Of course, that is IF the restaurant or store can afford to remain open with such little foot traffic.
People are encouraged to stay home and to leave only to retrieve essentials. Shopping for food is essential. Shopping for clothing is NOT. Dining rooms are unnecessary. Dining at home is confined to the people living at the same address.
We recently celebrated Thanksgiving. I use the word “celebrate” rather loosely. In some states, people were asked to report any neighbors who had visitors showing up that day. I am not certain what state agencies were tasked to take a count, but word was that someone would be dispatched to investigate any Thanksgiving violators of the mandate.
I am not minimizing the seriousness of what my grandson calls “The Corona.” The Corona is dangerous and highly contagious. It spreads easily and randomly. The Corona appears to be very finicky choosing which person to infect. In some households, everyone becomes infected. In others, only one of a husband-and- wife team is chosen as a host. I was exposed weeks ago, Apparently, I did not meet The Corona’s standards and remained uninfected. Thank, God! Unfortunately, many of my friends and family were up to snuff and did become infected.
People no longer shake hands, kiss friends on the cheek or hug anyone. As I was taking my morning walk today, I passed a car with an open trunk. The homeowner waited for me to pass the car. Once I did, he removed the carton of water to transport into his garage. The walkers and joggers will step into the street to remain six feet apart from any passerby.
Life on earth certainly is not what we were accustomed to. Perhaps, The Corona previously inhabited another planet. I am imagining life there is now what life on earth was like. People are kissing, hugging, shaking hands and leaving their masks at home.
A new year is knocking on our doorstep. We will be ringing in 2021 shortly. Well, we may not be ringing it in the manner to which we are accustomed. Times Square will not be bursting at the seams when 2021 arrives, but it WILL arrive. Even the Corona cannot stop the passing of time.
I am imagining that we will return to our old way of life and kick The Corona into outer space. Perhaps it will inhabit some other planet where the people would not consider it such a hardship. Mr. Spock’s Vulcan comes to mind.
Out with the old. May we all live long and prosper.
may be our last opportunity for a big barbecue. Summer may not have met its official end, but autumn is definitely breathing down her neck. Today is September 1, a new month. Another chance to get it right! Happy Labor Day. Enjoy the warm weather before we trade our summer clothing for those that will keep us warm as the weather turns colder.
MA. They had moved from the second-floor tenement they had lived in on Federal Hill in Providence, RI. They had lived there practically their entire married life, but the state had plans to develop a highway. The old three-decker was slated for demolition, so they moved to a three-decker in East Boston that had been in the family for many, many years. My grandparents now occupied the third-floor tenement where I had visited my great uncle and great aunt throughout my childhood.
We all watched in amazement along with the rest of the country as Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon. There was not a sound in the entire building as he said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” You could hear the country’s collective sigh of relief.
To all those men and women who weren’t relaxing on commercial flights waiting for the movie to begin, but were being transported to faraway places to participate in battles that we will never understand.
Janet DeLeo, Author and Artist 