It rained overnight, but by mid-morning the weather was spectacular again and cabin-fever sent us out for a walk. The magnolias are in full bloom and already starting to make their mess on the ground below.
On the sidewalk frontage outside a house down the street, a rock is brightly painted as a ladybug. It provided a little splotch of happiness and cheer on our walk today. I love that it sits there making people smile and that everyone passing it leaves it there to continue to providing enjoyment.
It’s a weird world at the moment. I know it’s a weird world, because I even accepted a video call from my best friends today. Normally I’d just decline and call them back on the phone. I don’t do video…
The neighbourhood is weird too. People in the neighbourhood have always been friendly and greetings are always plentiful. But now one can’t help but start strategy planning when you see other walkers coming towards you in the distance. When others are a block away you find yourself looking for the escape route; who is going to step off the sidewalk and walk on the road? Is there a driveway to duck into so the other person can pass without anxiety on either person’s part? Is there a car parked that you can just walk around the other side of as you pass?
And when you do step aside or into the roadway, most everyone smiles gratefully and says “Thank you”.
The playgrounds are closed; the swings and slides and see-saws and climbers wrapped in caution tape. Kids playing on them present a risk; they might pick viral particles up from other children and carry them home to at-risk family members.
And even the crosswalk buttons don’t want people to come near them. The District has reset the intersection and crosswalk lights to automatically change, regardless of pedestrian presence or absence.
I am looking forward to some semblance of normalcy returning in the future, but I also have to admit that it’s been fascinating to view human behaviour (some of it absolutely terrible) during this trying time.
The vast majority of British Columbians, and Canadians in general, have accepted that we are in a high risk period, that life has changed significantly, for now, and are doing the right things, following health expert’s guidance and recommendations, because those are based on the available data…which are always a bit of a shifting baseline given the novelty of the current situation.
Certainly there are twits out there who think it’s all some giant conspiracy by a government with (what??) agenda. I can’t even begin to comprehend that twisted and illogical thinking, but I do believe that most people are trying their best to manage and protect the people in their communities from transmission risks.
Stay well.
And don’t push the button, for now.
(109/365)
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