Coronavirus and John Lennon

“Life is what happens while you’re busy making other

plans” is from a song, “Beautiful Boy,” by John Lennon. So, I wonder about what you were planning just a few weeks ago? Was it about Easter or Passover time with families? Or perhaps other religious gatherings. It could have been about the forthcoming graduation or prom for a child or grandchild. Perhaps it was getting ready for the March Madness NCAA basketball tournaments.

I was looking forward to one of my two granddaughters competing in a gymnastic meet. And the other one singing the Mrs. Potts role from “Beauty and the Beast” in a local production. We each can add to the list of events that have been or will be canceled. But there are much weightier challenges to contend with, from families in one country with no running water having to walk miles to wash their hands. Or children here in the United States where schools provide them their daily meals. I will leave it to others to speak of those issues.

Moreover, my thought for this column was less about delving into memes that have flooded the internet, such as the great toilet paper hoarding spree, and more about the “stuff of everyday living.” How things we took for granted and did regularly might change. And in some instances, sparked new insights. For example, parents are now grappling with the demands of home schooling. Will they be more intimately involved in their children’s education once schools reopen? My guess is that one outcome will lead to a greater appreciation of what teachers do day-to-day in classrooms.

There has been a surge in the use of Skype-type of professional programs such as Zoom. Teachers are using it to virtually reach their students. Suddenly organizations are having virtual meetings daily. Are these harbingers of what’s to come? Will virtual sessions replace in-person conferences? And what are the cultural, sociological and economic implications of these overnight changes in the way we carry on?

How has the coronavirus affected non-virus medical appointments? I had two scheduled visits on different days with two doctors in the same office. I had to call in from the parking lot for the first visit so the tech could walk me into examining room. For the second appointment, no checkup was necessary. It was more of a consultation. So the appointment with my doctor was scheduled on Zoom. Indeed, it’s a new world.

How about holiday gatherings? Will they be impacted? Typically, in our house on Easter Sunday 15 to 20 local family members join us. My wife is thinking of sending a menu to our local Easter Sunday regulars and our relatives in California and Pennsylvania. On Easter Sunday we would meet on a Zoom-type program, exchange greetings and share how each recipe came out. Is this a prelude to future holiday gatherings?

What about the handling of food in supermarkets and restaurants? Will all our buns and bagels be put into cellophane bags? Will salad and hot food buffets fade away? How about diners with unwrapped loose candy at the checkout registers? Will early shopping hours for seniors remain?

And then there is our canine population to consider. Will veterinarians issue more Prozac prescriptions as dogs’ feelings of abandonment swell once their owners return to work? As comical as this pooch talk may seem, it’s bombarding Facebook feeds.

Lastly, I am puzzled how a phrase with its frequent usage can overtake a society faster than a rapidly spreading virus. That phrase is “social distancing.” It has crept into every “dos and don’ts” pronouncement on the airwaves. I have difficulty grasping what “social distancing” really means in the context it’s being used. It seems to me this separation is more about keeping a physical distance from each other. I have socialized with my grandchildren for a few minutes visit on our driveway. Of course, we were separated by at least 6 feet with no wind whipping up in either direction. I wish only I could have hugged them.

There may be a hint of levity in what I write. But in no way does this diminish my appreciation of the seriousness that we are facing collectively. Or what families with loved ones, lost to the coronavirus, are experiencing. All that is real.

As to being lighthearted in periods of strife, writers have often paraphrased Mark Twain’s definition of humor. He said, “Humor is tragedy plus time.” We may need more space in between today and the tomorrows to laugh again with gusto.

But just as our lives flipflopped while we were

“busy making other plans”a

few weeks ago, a time will come to plan anew and move ahead.

I have difficulty grasping what “social distancing” really means in the context it’s being used. It seems to me this separation is more about keeping a physical distance from each other. I have socialized with my grandchildren for a few minutes visit on our driveway. Of course, we were separated by at least 6 feet with no wind whipping up in either direction. I wish only I could have hugged them