A Letter to a Coronavirus Free Future

It came to me a little before 4 am this morning.

I read an article yesterday about the Spanish Flue Pandemic of 1919 and in particular, how different societies responded and the subsequent results.

 

My Mother’s parents, my Grandparents are the only Grandparents I knew and they lived through the 1919 pandemic. I wondered what their thoughts and feelings were at the time and the insight this would provide now.

 

I decided to write a letter a day to the future. A letter to my Grandchildren, Great Grand Children, Grand Nieces and Nephews and their dependents, their friends and associates.

 

Further, I decided to hand write each letter in a new journal and after today, limit it to a single page.

 

I don’t intend to post each letter however I will share the first and may post each Monday’s letter.

 

Maybe you could also write a letter to your future?

 

Dear The Future,

 

It is Monday 23 March 2020  04.16 am

 

Shit is getting real. Coronavirus is real.

 

The Australian infection rate has increased 4-fold or more these last 10 days.

 

Social isolation has been practiced really well, and really poorly. We stay inside, limit our social interactions and we crowd Bondi Beach and some of the clubs and bars. From midday today, we will be denied these options.

 

Bars, clubs and restaurants will close except for take away and home delivered products.

 

Gyms and other indoor sporting venues, libraries and churches close also.

 

At midday, our way of life changes.

 

Bondi Beach has also been closed.

 

Selfishly, the impact on me is quite insignificant. Ok, so no post cycling group coffee and no coffee catch ups or meetings but this seems like a small inconvenience. As a largely introverted being, this is ok, but for the extroverted or lonesome who rely on such interaction and places to enjoy them, a challenge lies ahead.

 

At a personal level, I am not overly worried about being infected. I somewhat arrogantly or is it naively find comfort in being very fit and enjoying a healthy diet and overall lifestyle. To counter such arrogance, same may say stupidity, I am committed to being consciously diligent to avoid infection.

 

I do dread the thought of not being able to ride my bike or go for a run and have been imagining sneaking out to do so in the dark of night or the early morning. I imagine running at midnight, darting between the shadows cast by the street lights so as to not be seen. In my mind I am designing an adventure. 

 

Toilet paper has become a new currency and measure of wealth. Every new delivery is met by a rush that exceeds supply. Many want more and there is never enough it seems.

 

I have managed to refrain from such hoarding but admit to occasionally wondering what if there is no more, and I am left short? This of course would seem to be the mentality of those fighting, literally physically fighting, for rolls of toilet paper.

 

I must however be fully transparent. I did order twice my normal coffee bean quantity this past week, and did so only a few days after my previous order.

 

As I write, I am becoming increasingly fearful of the situation unfolding in the United States. Their infection numbers and associated fatalities are multiplying alarmingly. My fear however is driven more by wondering how many in the USA are going un detected. It was reported yesterday that in Australia, our infection testing rate is 400 people per 100,000 while in the USA it is 10 people per 100000.

 

By comparison, it appears Australia is “doing ok” but we will only know if “ok” is enough when we come through this and look in the rear view window,.

 

I will finish this first letter by also starting a weekly reveal of what I am reading and listening too.

 

This week, I will read (or re-read) “The Fifth Risk”  by Michael Lewis.

 

This week, I will add “Fake Heiress” to my Podcast feed.

 

With Love and Hope Always

 

Colin