Wake me. Please. Surely this has to be a dream. This can’t be real. Some want to call it the “flu” but here it is, the month of July, 95 degrees outside and people are still catching this virus, having flu-like symptoms, some being diagnosed with pneumonia, no smell, no taste, coughing, and sadly others being added to ventilators. Many are still dying. God bless their souls. This just can’t be real. It must be a dream.

These symptoms are lasting for 2 weeks! And sometimes it lasts longer! I’ve never been sick for 2 weeks. I’ve never been isolated from people, or my own family for 2 weeks. What is this monster that is plaguing us? They are calling it the coronavirus or Covid-19. And this beast isn’t going anywhere. They say it’s here to stay. Matter of fact, it’s not new, just different this time.

It begs the question, is this the worse of it? Can there be a more lethal strain of this thing…the next time? There is a threat of a second wave in a couple of months. This second wave basically consists of the coronavirus AND the flu striking at the same time at the start of the flu season (October). I just know I’m dreaming!

And here we are, the land of the free, and the best country I know of and we are fighting each other on all sides. We can barely agree on the simplest things. This disease has terrified us all. The medical experts have recommended, warned, and in some instances, mandated that we wear masks to protect one another. In addition, practice good hygiene by washing hands often and sanitizing. And here we are arguing constantly about the right to NOT wear masks.

They say it’s their right to decide what they want to wear. Yeah sure, they are correct in a sense. But is it not also our right to not wear a seatbelt? How about what we wear? Can we simple walk around naked in public? Well sure we should be able to have that right to decide as well. However, no business will allow us in naked. One can’t wear a swimsuit to school.

So yes, we have the right to decide for our lives. No one is taking our rights or liberties away. But hell, I can name example after example how some rights are ridiculous and how others are punishable when it’s not for the greater good. Driving without a seatbelt will likely earn you a ticket. And walking around naked downtown will have you not only labeled “crazy,” you’ll also be arrested. Surely my point is understood.

Sigh. We are arguing about so much right now. Shutting the economy down versus keeping it open. Sending kids back to school versus keeping kids at home with virtual classroom instruction. But what if we shut the economy down, how will we survive? Where will our money come from? If we are working and there is no school in session, who will watch our kids? Just too many questions and not enough answers. Well at least no answers we are willing to accept. Someone please wake me up! This can’t be life right now.

So many are suffering right now and many of us probably clueless to it. So many things we aren’t discussing. Many have claimed that we all have to die from something. And many young people have decided that they are young enough to handle this disease. “Bring it on,” is what they are saying with their “Covid parties.” Haven’t you heard about those parties? If not, Google. #YOLO #theysay

But what about the whole families affected with this disease. There have been many families where multiple members in one household have been affected. Not just with positive cases but also with multiple deaths. How about the mom in Detroit burying both her husband and son on the same day. Husband passed on Wednesday and two days later her only son. So many more stories such as this but they aren’t even being mentioned.

What about the mentally ill? How are they coping during isolation. The drug addict? I can only imagine it being worse right now. Check out the liquor store sales. I’ve heard many have had to restock the stores more often. And you wonder why.

So many have lost their jobs. Yes, unemployment is available for some; but not for all. I heard just this week of a home invasion where a mom and her kids were held at gunpoint. What did they steal? Tvs? Money? Did they rape them? No, they raided their refrigerator and pantry for food. No one is talking about situations like this.

I don’t know about you. But every now and then, I really think about our current situation and I get extremely sad and/or worried. Yes, my family is safe and blessed to have two parents working at home. But when I think about the other families that are not so fortunate…I wish so hard for this to be a dream. A nightmare even. And I yearn for someone to just wake me up. Please….

Thanks for your attention. Remember you are your own competition.

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