Summary

Bobbie Dubey pens an open letter reflecting on the personal and global impacts of COVID-19, acknowledging both the virus's role in fostering self-improvement and its devastating effects on society.

Abstract

In an introspective open letter to COVID-19, Bobbie Dubey confronts the pandemic's dual nature. Personally, the virus has prompted a period of self-reflection and productivity, leading to healthier habits and academic success. Globally, it has inadvertently taught valuable lessons about human connection, financial prudence, and self-care. However, Dubey also addresses the profound loss and economic turmoil caused by the virus, questioning why such a catalyst of change had to inflict so much pain. Despite recognizing some positive outcomes, Dubey ultimately pleads for the end of the pandemic, highlighting the suffering and disruption it has wrought, and calls for a return to normalcy.

Opinions

Dubey expresses a love-hate relationship with the pandemic, appreciating the personal growth it has spurred while condemning its widespread destruction.
The author criticizes the denial of the virus's existence by some, emphasizing the irrationality of conspiracy theories in the face of tangible evidence and scientific efforts.
Dubey reflects on the irony of valuing human life more highly during a crisis that has claimed many lives, suggesting that pain can lead to growth and satisfaction.
The letter conveys a sense of frustration with the pandemic's impact on daily life, including the loss of social interactions and the alteration of routines like going to the cinema.
Despite the hardships, Dubey acknowledges that the pandemic has led to increased hygiene, financial savings, and productivity for some, though these benefits are overshadowed by the need for a cure and the desire to return to pre-pandemic life.
The author directly addresses COVID-19 with a mix of humor and seriousness, personifying the virus as an unwelcome guest that has overstayed its welcome and caused irreparable damage.

COVID-19 is that you? It’s me, Bobbie.

An open letter to the Pandemic.

Hi,

How are you? Um, so if you didn’t know by now, half the world hates you, we’re looking forward to 2021, and to be honest, I see why they hate you, but I’m going to cut you some slack, it must suck being the virus that temporarily halted the world.

Here’s what you’ve done for me, you have given me the time to look at myself and criticise myself to the core, which is good, since then I’ve been tracking my calories, losing some weight, doing great at school, waking up early and being super productive.

For a moment, let’s forget my selfish and arrogant display of whatever I’ve achieved, let’s talk about the world. I guess we value people a whole lot more than we used to, we sort of learning to save money, the gig economy is booming and we’ve started to take care of ourselves.

Why did it take you, COVID, to make this happen?

I’m not trying to be rude here, it’s just that a lot of people passed away, and there are a lot of incomplete families now. Our economy is recovering and hopefully, Donald Trump will be out of office.

Now COVID, you’ve caused a lot of pain to this planet, could you please fuck off? Ok sorry, that was a bit rude, but seriously, why man? The bottom line is that humanity hates pain, sickeningly, pain is good for us.

Let me tell you what I mean, I’ve started getting up at 3 am, it gets cold here in England and getting out of bed is a pain. The bed is a warm, welcoming place, the world outside of the bed is quiet, cold and not fun, it’s got a textbook full of information.

I have to force myself, but you know what? It’s worth it, I’m on top of school work, and to be honest, life feels satisfying when you get up at 3 am. COVID, you’re the 3 am wake up call for the world. Could you stop ringing now? Please?

Human beings are so weird, we all think we are rare and special, which we are, yet there’s 7.5 billion of us, does that make us dust in the wind? Nah, that makes us stardust, caught in some cosmic wind.

Sorry, I digress, figuring the world out at 18 is somewhat difficult.

Do you remember when we could go out and socialise? You were small then, probably somewhere in Wuhan, although I wasn’t there to witness the day you were born.

So we used to go out and eat food, talk, work, have fun. There was a thing called Cinema, which has now been replaced by Netflix, hopefully, Cinema will replace Netflix, I’m going to lose it if I see one more Netflix made movie.

We could see another humans face as well back in 2019, like their whole face, nose down, damn, those were the days. Then, you came along, you have to recognise people by their foreheads now, haha.

We have to wear gloves as well, and when you travel internationally, you have to wear a full-size bodysuit, and you look like one of those cleaners in Monsters inc. Have you seen that movie?

You wouldn’t have, you sadistic shitty virus.

Again, I apologise.

Here’s a question, how do we get rid of you? An orange suggested that we try bleach, that’s uh too fatal. Someone suggested Vodka, that’s too alcoholic, we’ve also tried turmeric shots, multi-vitamins, but those aren’t cures, they build immunity.

What’s your secret? You can whisper it in my ear, and I promise I won’t tell anyone. Nothing. Damn, COVID, you’re not the opening up type.

So since we still can’t find a vaccine, some people decided to say that you aren’t real. Yeah, I know, you shut down world economies, and some people still don’t recognise you. Please, don’t try harder, you’ve done enough damage already.

According to them, you’re a conspiracy, some made-up virus, which doesn’t exist, it’s a form of voodoo, crazy right? It’s kinda funny watching tonnes of Karen’s single-handedly destroy the work of many intelligent scientists who are working long hours.

Then there are those WhatsApp groups that one of my friends is on, they think that Beyonce is part of the Illuminati, here’s one that makes me laugh, so according to my friend, Miley Cyrus is a lizard.

So far, you’ve given the world conspiracy theories, a lockdown, masks, hand sanitiser, and social distancing.

Do you know what social distancing is? It’s the introverts fantasy walk.

The basic idea is that humans have to have a 2-metre distance from the human being walking in front of or behind you.

In short, we just have to avoid each other. It’s not that hard.

COVID, you seem like a nice virus, not really, you’re a bit of an asshole, and this felt like a one-sided conversation, don’t worry, it’s okay to be shy, but it’s not okay to put the world in lockdown, take the lives of about a million people, shut down economies, make the stock market crash and then stop people from hugging each other.

That’s the part where you’re an absolute dick.

To give some credit to you, you’re not all that bad, heck, we value each other a lot more than usual, we are hygenic, we save money, and some of us are now super productive, which is awesome.

The issue with you is that you don’t open up and tell us your cure, which is sad since we want to get rid of you.

COVID, could you please go away?

Sincerely Yours, Bobbie Dubey.

Hey, could you please join my mailing list? Pretty please?! Thanks;)