Greetings,
We can all agree that the last few days, weeks, and even months have been like nothing else we’ve ever experienced. Each day brings different news as we learn of more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, the country, and throughout the world. There are so many unknowns about COVID-19 but we do know that it has impacted our lives tremendously. We’ve learned to speak in a new jargon as we talk about “an abundance of caution,” “a new normal,” “social distancing,” “self-quarantine,” “coronavirus,” “COVID-19,” and “lockdown.” We’ve learned to become armchair epidemiologists by listening to experts in the media.
For some, learning that the elderly are in high risk for getting COVID-19 stings a bit when the word “elderly” never seemed to apply to them before. Do you think of yourself as “elderly?” There has to be a better way to say that just by being 60 or older, hardly “elderly,” there is a greater risk with COVID-19. Age, like everything else, is a matter of perspective. That said, it’s difficult not to worry about our Osher members and important for each of you to stay healthy.
You may or may not agree, but I’m taking pride in how Governor Hogan is handling this crisis and demonstrating leadership even when that can seem in scarce supply. Speaking of scarcity, if it had never occurred to us before, we are now realizing the universality of toilet paper—rich or poor, old or young, we all need toilet paper. One day, in a not too distant future, maybe we will have an abundance of toilet paper to accompany our abundance of caution.
One thing that is also universal in this age of coronavirus is that we’ve all had our plans dashed without much warning. For the Osher group, just a week and a half into the spring semester, plans to go to classes and activities with other Osher members—suddenly dashed. High school and college seniors are experiencing their final semester at home, distanced from their friends and wrapping up their studies through distance learning. Spring break plans dashed. That trip to Italy, dashed. Brides and grooms are tying the knot with their virtual guests toasting them from afar. As universal as the need for paper goods, the one silver lining in all of this is that we are all experiencing this world event together, even as we stay apart. We all have disappointments and will have to make the best of the situation regardless.
We miss seeing your faces and I am hoping that this newsletter will encourage you to let us know how you’re doing.
Stay safe and healthy,
Tracy Jacobs
|
