The most prevalent question I keep asking myself is: What’s going on? Because I don’t know, and, quite frankly, nobody seems to know the answer. As social distancing takes on a hashtag, and people are encouraging everyone to stay home, we face this continuum of isolation and anxiety.
I keep seeing, “This too shall pass” all over social media, a quote everyone seems to remember when the times get tough. The better question is: When will this be over?
As the death toll rises internationally and within the U.S., I wonder when the curve will finally flatten, since that seems to be the end result of this pandemic. That’s the goal anyway. We isolate ourselves and hope this all ends soon.
Now that Washington County has reported cases in the area, my own city isn’t safe anymore. When will this pass if it’s only just begun in our region? People I know could be infected. After living in Johnson City for a few years, I’ve learned just how small this world is.
It was only a matter of time before the first case broke in Washington County. Places of business were still operating at usual hours until recently.
I went to work at Cracker Barrel for three hours last Friday. While I was there, I realized I was facing another twisted reality. Our usual customers at Cracker Barrel are typically seniors, a vulnerable community to the virus. I needed customers to come in and tip me, but every time a new face walked in, I kept thinking: Why are they out? Aren’t they taking this pandemic seriously?
Not many of them were taking the pandemic seriously. Many customers made jokes walking in the store in an effort to dissociate from this new reality between caution and panic.
Places of business are now shut down or otherwise working curbside for to goorders. Millions of people are unemployed, myself included. Many will be unemployed after this pandemic is over. Local businesses and companies are shutting their doors for good. The Associated Press reports unemployment could soar to 20%. Every day something new happens.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is being pushed through the Senate. This act, according to Congress, “responds to the coronavirus outbreak by providing paid sick leave and free coronavirus testing, expanding food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requiring employers to provide additional protections for health care workers.”
I don’t know what my paycheck will look like this week, but I imagine it’ll be rather small. Thankfully, my bills are low, and I’ve saved enough rainy day funds to keep me financially steady, but that doesn’t answer for the millions of Americans who couldn’t afford to have any savings, who are in debt, who are responsible for feeding their children, who are facing full-time unemployment, who are homeless, etc.
The world is facing a crisis. Many will argue no, this isn’t a crisis, but it’s time we recognize the severity of the situation. Thousands have died, and the death toll continues to rise. The economy is down, and many worry Americans will face another long-standing recession, one that nobody was prepared for in 2008, one that nobody could be prepared for now. We could possibly face a Depression. Families are without a stable income. Everyone is wary, scared, tense.
There doesn’t seem to be an end to this crisis, but as they say, this too shall pass. Buckle down, everyone, and stay safe out there.
