“You’re over 60 and have an underlying medical condition,” is the mantra of both my medically professional children in response to almost everything my wife and I want to do these days.
The damnable thing about it is they are both absolutely right.
Staying at home, social distancing, walking but crossing the street to avoid passing an oncoming fellow pedestrian on your sidewalk and always, always, always washing your hands; this should all be driving me mad, slowly but surely, but is now merely the new normal.
The most frustrating thing is that we will all individually only know whether we have been successful if nothing happens.
All of this sacrifice and deprivation will never have a positive impact beyond “well nothing happened.”
And this pinnacle of success will likely only be attained successfully and be guaranteed by those who have the capacity to realize what has to be done, and why, and who do it faithfully, 24/7.
All of this came upon us so quickly.
All of a sudden the now forbidden fruit of a trip to the supermarket or going out for fish and chips are all distant memories for which we would now pay dearly to have as a privilege.
Over the past the three weeks our most decadent excesses have been bumping over the potholes as far as Flatrock, a drive to see the Waterford River accompanied by an ice cream from a drive-thru window to assess its suitability for fishing from the snow banks or walking our grand dog.
I have never watched so much TV before in my life.
Well that’s it for me, I have to go now and wash my hands after touching this keyboard.
Marvin Barnes,
St. John’s
