Why do I write like I’ve got so much time? Why do I believe there will be a tomorrow to read that book, write that story or joke, a tomorrow to tell that person I love them?
At the time of my original writing of this piece, on March 26th, 2020, there were 2,856 cases of the novel coronavirus and 62 deaths from that virus in Michigan. As I typed these words on April 3rd into a Word document, the total number of cases had risen to 12,744 and the death toll was 479 people. Now, as of the third edition on April 6th, there are 17,221 total cases and a total of 727 people have died. I’ve highlighted the word people because it is too often that we hear these numbers and brush them off our shoulder. Each passing was a person that had a family, that loved, that laughed, that believed the sun would rise and tomorrow would come.
I am able to spend my days during this crisis working my 9-5 job from home, thankfully. I realize that so many people are not as fortunate or do not have the luxury of being able to stay in-doors, as we’ve been directed to do by our Governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Every day I do my best to distract myself from the global pandemic that is ravaging my country and the world at large. I try my hardest to fend off fear and dread by keeping my hands furiously typing across a keyboard.
But due to the nature of my job, one after another after another, small businesses owners tell me about the hardship that they are dealing with. It is both explicit and implicit. It is as blunt as them telling me they can’t talk because their business has been forced to close and they have to decide who to keep on and who to lay off. It’s as explicit as one man telling me that he doesn’t know if he’ll be in business next week, so of course he cannot talk to me. Or, it is as subtle as a stern voice and an unwillingness to bring forth information about their business.
All in all, the American people are hurting, frightened, and don’t know who to look to or where to turn. There is no one with a plan or a timetable, all estimates are model based and there is no certainty about when this foe will let up. There is no rallying cry that is bringing us together as Americans-only divisiveness that divides us: Democrat and Republican. We are a fractured nation with 50 separate and competing democracies pitted against each other for supplies and equipment.
The only hope that we have to defeat this invisible scourge is each other; which is paradoxical because to defeat our enemy we must be separate. Each of us is on an island looking to the next one longingly; wishing for the companionship that we all took for granted. That is what makes this so terrifying: in order for us all to triumph we must all face it alone.
Yes, we are as connected as we’ve ever been. Yes, we have the world at our fingertips via our smartphones, game consoles, desktops, laptops, and streaming services. But these are all things, inanimate objects that don’t hear us speak. If a joke is told and no one is around to hear it, is it funny?
This is a moment for self-reflection. A season for inspection and repentance. In order to go through this storm, we’re going to need faith and an unwavering will. Faith to know that we’ll make it to the other side and a will to do everything necessary to make it there. I hope to see you all on the other side, but on the off chance that we don’t meet again: it has been a hell of a time.
Signed,
Publius
Note: Coronavirus data and number are exclusive to the State of Michigan only.
Source for the Coronavirus data used in this piece: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus
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