Something Hit Us  

Old Normal, New Normal

A Pandemic Reflection

One question heard frequently in the media and among friends is, "what will the new normal be?" For school, work, play, entertainment, events, community and religious events we simply don't know.

Uncertainty rattles bones. In my area, unease preceded disease this winter. Meteorological measurements of winter's first two months (December 2019 – January 2020) noted the warmest records for the contiguous U.S., dating back to 1895. Closeted snowsuits with tags still attached remind parents that these are not normal times. Boston recorded 74° readings on January 11. On the same day, on the South Shore, I recorded my first tick bite of the year. Several more have already followed. This is  not normal.

COVID-19 interrupts the flow of our work and play. Have our routines been furloughed or discharged? We don't know. Early signs from other countries gave hope that normality would return. Yet, last night the World Health Organization (WHO) diminished those hopes. The WHO warned that there is no evidence that the presence of antibodies in blood can determine whether someone has immunity. People are experiencing relapses or reinfections. Until better testing is done, until there is a vaccine, until there is a cure, we will not return to normal. 

What lies ahead? What invisible enemy or enemies blankets the earth? Will our shelters continue to keep us safe? 

"Something Hit Us"

"Old Normal, New Normal"

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