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<\/a>If these numbers don’t scare you, I don’t know what will.<\/p><\/div>\n
So my suggestions of how to find joy in this crazy year will have to wait a bit, while I break life down for you right now. (And that\u2019s a clue\u2014it gives you the joy of having something to look forward to!)<\/p>\n
What upsets me most these days is seeing people acting like it’s all clear now. I don\u2019t understand how anyone can be dancing on TV, dining out, getting their hair and nails done, having get-togethers, going to sporting events (when allowed by the organizers,) etc., like there\u2019s not a care in the world. Even worse is that many of them make believe<\/em> they\u2019re wearing masks and socially-distancing!<\/p>\n Just last week, I received an invitation for a cocktail party in the tiniest eatery in New York. It\u2019s bad enough that they\u2019re having a soiree now to begin with, but the invite said, \u201cMasks must be worn upon entry; Social Distancing practices apply.\u201d Notice the \u201cupon entry\u201d part\u2014it means you can take it off for the duration of the<\/em> party<\/em> since everyone will be eating and drinking. And in this self-described \u201ccozy\u201d fifteen-seat space, no more than a handful<\/em> of guests will be able to be 6\u2019 apart, which is how \u201csocial distancing\u201d is basically defined at the moment. (The experts say it really should be much more than that, though.) Despite my admiration for the food and atmosphere in that place, you couldn\u2019t pay<\/em> me to attend! (Nor to fly<\/em> now, to get there!)<\/p>\n Here’s the pertinent part of that current tiny-place cocktail party invitation.<\/p><\/div>\n And here\u2019s an awful recent experience I had that takes the cake!: I was invited to a friend’s wedding shower in her mother’s massive backyard. I hadn’t been anywhere but the market and an emergency dentist visit in over seven months, (and still<\/em> have not, other than for the debacle I\u2019m about to describe for you,) but I love this friend. So, even though she was good enough to let me off the hook about it, I decided to attend because her mother and aunt assured<\/em> me that it would be only fourteen people, who would be staying 6″ apart, and would all be wearing masks, (except when eating.) I even told them both that I would be bringing a pool noodle<\/em> to make sure everyone was at least that far away from me, (which I forgot to do.)<\/p>\n But…not one single person<\/em> was wearing a mask (except for me<\/em>, of course, who was even rocking a shield<\/em> over my masked face,) they were all sitting together at tables with no distancing whatsoever<\/em>, and there were at least eighteen guests and six staff members!!!<\/p>\n And the kicker is\u2014a couple of them (not the bride) made fun of me<\/em> for sitting apart and wearing a mask and not even walking<\/em> near the others! The mother even had the nerve to tell me that I’m<\/em> upsetting everyone!!! Needless to say, I was in and out of there in about fifteen minutes, (which the bride totally understood. I have yet to hear from the mother and aunt, though, and it\u2019s been almost a month!)<\/p>\n On top of all that, I know people who: have flown places…for fun<\/em>, (not out of necessity!); eaten inside<\/em> restaurants; been in cars with people not from their households; gotten pedicures; had parties; been in very large groups, either for protests, celebrations, or events; and have even gone on blind-dates<\/em>! [Note: I\u2019m happy for them to be having a good time; I just don\u2019t want to be at their funerals, wishing that they had not engaged in that dangerous behavior.]<\/p>\n What is wrong with everyone??? Why did so few people learn to listen to directions in grade school??? This is really of the utmost importance right now! Are Mr. X and I the only<\/em> people who are still worried about the virus???<\/p>\n Yes, we are<\/em> a couple of the lucky ones during all this, knock on wood\u2014we have each other, so neither of us is alone, (though I\u2019m sure he<\/em> would prefer to be!) I\u2019m especially blessed to be locked-up with the funniest person in the world, who also appreciates my<\/em> mind and humor, so we\u2019re laughing all the time. We can pay our bills, and don\u2019t have children or elderly parents to worry about. (Which may be why I worry about everybody else!) I\u2019ve become a great cook and don\u2019t mind doing it (too much.)<\/p>\n But it seems to me that people like us<\/em> are the ones who are flouting the rules the most! I\u2019m not surprised that lunatics who think the virus is a hoax don\u2019t heed the advice of experts in the field. And I totally understand that my friends who are doctors, nurses, medical personnel, supermarket staff, etc., have no real choice but to continue to work, for the greater good.<\/p>\n<\/a>