On self-discipline, self-awareness and selfishness

Daily inside the pages of this paper one reads of the sad, funereal, and economic consequences of COVID-19. Allow me to add a comment or two as to these impacts on us all.

For one, COVID-19 is a mere virus -- by itself, if left alone, it will live its microscopic life span and die. But, and a big but, if it finds a host or two, or 2 million, it will live on and on and on, much like the reproducing pods in that 1950s horror film “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” in which all that potential human hosts had to do was fall asleep near a pod. When sleepers awoke, they had been replaced by an alien look-alike and there was no turning back.

Lots of us have carelessly, ignorantly, and selfishly sleep-walked through the warnings and exhortations — making up one sentimental excuse after the next,” Oh, I can’t miss visiting grandma on Mother’s Day, what harm can it do?” “Oh, I can’t miss Memorial Day carne asada and burger cookout at Aunt Lizzie’s, what harm can it do?” “Oh, I can’t miss giving Tata a hug for Father’s Day, what harm can it do?” “Oh, what’s July 4 without a few sparklers, hotdogs and potato salad by Tia Nena’s poolside, what harm can it do?”

You may as well say, “Bet this gun ain’t loaded, watch!” So COVID-19, finds a home, over and over and over again. For that’s all we human hosts serve as, is “homes,” breathing carriers of this lethal virus. And we pass this virus along in a chain of exponential numbers. Like that 1970s Faberge Organics shampoo TV ad: One host passes it to two; those two pass it on to four; those four pass it on to eight; those eight pass it on to 16; those 16 pass it on to 32, and so on, a lethal game of “tag.”

The elderly, the diabetic, those with pre-existing pulmonary conditions or vulnerable constitutions just get it and die. If they survive, after a prolonged hospital stay, they report pains and aches they would not wish on their enemies

Just like the ignoramus who believed “this gun ain’t loaded,” many symptom-free hosts express the same sentiment, “I (or you) ain’t loaded.” No mask gets worn, no spatial distance gets kept. Then one falls sick, then two, and one day, 140,000 people die, all within a seven-month period. Consider, 55,000 Americans died in Vietnam over a 10year period! That ought to put some numbers in perspective, assuming one listens and has read this far down the page.

COVID-19 is a very serious virus. This ain’t no “hoax,” folks. Whereas in Vietnam, men between the ages of 18 and 25 died, and most were either drafted or volunteered, COVID-19 is not very selective about its hosts: All folks, young and old, male or female, all warm bodies, 8 seconds to 80 years old; come one, come all. Just breathe the virus in and risk your health, or worse, your life.

It’s hard to believe that despite the means of communication at our disposal a 30-day sacrifice of spatial distance and mask wearing isn’t worth the lives we save and health we keep. Such sacrifice would have eliminated COVID from our midst months ago.

Sure, everybody dies. No argument there. Still, that axiom does not excuse murder. It does not excuse putting the lives of others at risk, not for a beer with Uncle Charlie, a hug for Cousin John’s graduation, a burger at my compadre’s poolside, or grandma’s Mother Day kiss. Any one of these acts too easily becomes a farewell, a Judas kiss good-bye.

We still have time. In 30 days COVID could disappear! All it takes is a human choice. I assume I am a symptom-free host. I mask up in the presence of fellow humans. I maintain a safe, spatial distance where virus-bearing exhalations won’t reach them. I do an ankle bump or an elbow bump and move on. I wash my hands after touching any common surface. For I suspect, and assume, it’s contaminated. I try to never, ever touch my face, mouth, nose or eyes without first washing my hands -- where COVID can enter my nasal system.

We’ll do better, harder, and dearer on the other side of this sentiment-killing pandemic. We move on, we live on till then. And I expect no one to die due to my carelessness and selfishness.

Be well.