Crystal Ball Time

Yesterday was the first really nice day.  Correspondingly, there was a visible increase in the number of people on the streets as we walked home from work.  There weren't hordes, and everyone, with the exception of two people, were wearing masks and maintaining a social distance.  There were more children out.  Our 18 month old charge was also 'out' - at the top of the 13 granite steps on his stoop using his large colored chalk pieces.  I think as the late spring finally takes hold, it's going to be harder and harder for people to stay inside.  Oh, and shame on the runners who think they are exempt from wearing a mask as they huff and puff down the sidewalk.

Checking that restlessness is the grim news the limited testing/antibody testing in this city is showing:  There's a 25% infection rate in New York City.   I think this is due to two factors:  The density of the population - lots of people in a small amount of space, and the slowness of the Federal and State governments to grasp the rapidity of the spread of the virus.  Drake thinks with proper handling initially, we would not be in our current state.

I think what we all want to know is what's going to happen in the future.  One set of epidemiologists have three possible scenarios.  None of them is particularly comforting.  Even the rosiest suggests this problem isn't going to be gone quickly. 

What I've been pondering (and Drake too), is what are the take-aways from this pandemic disaster/debacle.  Here's a bullet list of what we've thought about in no particular order:

1)  The gulf between the 'haves' and 'have nots' isn't just something talked about - it's visible.

2)  Maybe teachers will finally get some respect.  Parents are getting an up close and personal experience with teaching and even student management!  It's not so easy, is it?

3)  More people can work 'on-line' than previously thought, and the population could be re-distributed back across the country.  Maybe you can go home again.

4)  Now we know where there's no internet access, and lack of internet is crippling those areas.  Access to technology is critical in a society transitioning into the electronic age.

5)  Is the birth rate going to go up?  Is the divorce rate going to go up?  Will the obesity/diabetic numbers inch up even more?

6)  Close confines breeds domestic violence.

7)  The safety net held together by chewing gum, baling wire and hope is in tatters. 

8)  Is it time for UBI?  (Universal Basic Income).  I didn't even know what this really was until I read an article by Nathan Heller.  The idea goes all the way back to the 17th century, and nobody is really sure if it's a good idea or not!

9)  You can't spend years gutting basic scientific research and development and not expect to have that shortsightedness bite you on the ass.

10)  Nobody knows how many unemployed there really are as a result of the pandemic, and how many there will be as the economy totters toward recovery. 

11)  The closure of the churches may be the final death knell for some of the major denominations which were already in decline.

12)  If you were in doubt before, you know now major corporations are only out to benefit their shareholders.  They could care less about their workers.  They have been firing them, furloughing them, and cutting off benefits at a time when they are needed most - especially workers at the lowest level jobs.   Very few CEO's or other upper management are really making much of a sacrifice - some are cutting their 'base' salary by a small percentage for a couple of months. 

13)  If you compare the things in common of all live in partners (no matter what legal status), we are getting a crash course in how much intersection we have in a Venn Diagram of our relationship.  [you can google this if you are confused as to what exactly is a Venn Diagram.]

14)  Who knew reading could be so much fun?

15)  Have you been reduced to asking for binge worthy TV shows from friends?

16)  Everything can be bought on line; however, delivery is a different story.

17)  The rituals of weddings and funerals and birthdays mean more than we thought they did

18)  I find myself praying for a 'lite' tornado and hurricane season.

19)  I having a rising frustration level over being able to find facts rather than opinions in the media about this crisis.  I long for Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings, and Tom Brokaw.  At least I knew what they reported had been fact checked before they told me.

20)  I'm going to value exercise more in the future.

I'm sure I could continue on and on and on with observations about how this virus has affected our lives today, and what the outcomes will be in the future.  I welcome any feedback as to something you think I've missed.