Summary

The article reflects on the societal and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing parallels to the 1918 flu pandemic and critiquing the handling of the current crisis.

Abstract

The piece, titled "Put On Hold Indefinitely," expresses a critical view of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the unpreparedness of society for such a health crisis. It draws a parallel to the 1918 flu pandemic, suggesting that history is repeating itself, with potentially avoidable deaths occurring due to political and social decisions. The author argues that humans are inherently social beings and that prolonged isolation due to the pandemic is detrimental to mental health, leading to increased feelings of depression and general malaise. The article underscores the struggle between coping with the virus (referred to as "bug McNasty") and the necessity of human interaction, emphasizing that even introverts require social connections. The uncertainty of the pandemic's duration and the societal divisions in response to the crisis are also discussed, with the author noting the optimism of some, the pessimism of others, and the denial by a few who refuse to acknowledge the gravity of the situation.

Opinions

The author believes that the current pandemic was foreseeable and that society should have been better prepared, given historical precedents like the 1918 flu pandemic.
There is a critique of political leadership, which may be downplaying the severity of the virus to prioritize economic activity over public health.
The article suggests that extended periods of isolation are contrary to human nature and can lead to psychological issues, regardless of one's personality type.
The author expresses skepticism about the optimistic view that the pandemic will soon end, pointing out that no one truly knows how long the situation will last.
The piece reflects on the idea that some individuals are in denial about the pandemic's severity, which could lead to reckless behavior and further spread of the virus.
The author implies that the lack of physical human interaction can be as detrimental to well-being as the lack of basic necessities.
There is an acknowledgment of the economic hardships caused by the pandemic, which can force individuals to choose between essentials like food and maintaining virtual connections.
The article conveys a sense of frustration and resignation about the current state of affairs, while also maintaining a glimmer of hope that society will emerge intact from the crisis.

Put On Hold Indefinitely

None of us were really prepared for this

Right, like any of us expected a microbiological nemesis to, so far, infect millions and kill hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting humans?

Well, guess what? We should have. What’s the old saying? Those who ignore history are often doomed to repeat it? Politically, that’s precisely what’s going on and not just in the good old USA. Hey, it’s nothing but the flu folks, now get your asses back to the bars and restaurants, and let’s get this money machine rolling again.

What’s going on right now happened one hundred and two years ago, and now we’re repeating history, and people are dying just like then.

Ain’t it grand?

As if being exposed to bug McNasty and getting sick and dying isn’t enough now we have to face another battle. Are we learning to deal with McNasty? Maybe. But this isolation for months and months and months (this could go on forever) and months, is taking its toll on even the sturdiest of hermits.

I’m certainly no expert on the psychological state of the human mind, in fact, far from it, but I really don’t believe humans were cut out to be cut off from other humans. In my humble, utterly uneducated opinion, we thrive much better when we’re physically connected to each other. Whether that’s a social gathering, a sporting event, going to the gym, and yes, even a religious conclave, we’re built to rub literal elbows with one another.

Introverts and extroverts and all the other verts in between, as humans, we need other human interaction. Interaction with rug rats doesn’t count, especially our own. Those pre-teen aliens living at home with us right now driving parents bat shit crazy because if they don’t get out, they’ll simply die right on the spot? They don’t count either.

It’s surreal, and although we’re each attempting to cope with so many months of sheltering-in-place, even the best copers are struggling with episodes of general malaise and bouts of depression. The kind of depression that seems to come quicker and stay longer.

Why?

Because none of us planned for this. None of us woke up one day and said, “Hey I’m going to spend the rest of the year staring out the window at the sunshine wishing I could go outside and play with the rest of the kids.”

All over the world, we, in some fashion, are experiencing episodes just like spending hours waiting for a technical representative to take our call. Only what’s happening now isn’t make-believe. This happens to be our reality.

All of a sudden, we discover our lives have been put on hold indefinitely. It’s bizarre. All the optimists are telling us they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. All the pessimists are telling us what we see is the headlamp of an oncoming speeding train.

All the pragmatists are wondering what tunnel we’re talking about.

The sad truth of this situation is no one really knows how long this “on hold” situation is going to last. Except for maybe Donald J., who has probably had so many Clorox cocktails, the problem doesn’t exist for him anymore.

But for those of us who are Clorox intolerant, we continue to quake in fear when we have to go outside and forage for food and necessities. We dutifully wear our masks and wash our hands and try to find places to commune with nature alone. We run away from friends who spot us out in the open and advance on us bereft of either mask or gloves.

And when we finally make it back home (alone again naturally), it takes us an hour or two (and maybe a glass of wine or three. Hey, it’s twelve in the afternoon somewhere) to spin down after being spun up.

Isn’t this what they call being in survival mode?

To a certain degree, it is. Of course, It’s not like you’re stranded in a desert with a bone dry canteen and rucksack full of crackers. We still have our virtual connections as long as we pay for internet service and our computers or phones continue to work.

For some, if you’ve been laid off or lost your job, even this becomes a game of choices between eating and communicating with other humans. I believe it’s entirely possible for lack of human connection to be almost as bad as a lack of basic necessities.

Even worse is suffering the lack of both. Which is precisely what’s happening right now. People who’ve damned near lost everything are being told to stay the hell away from everybody but themselves.

We’d like to think what we’re going through won’t last forever, and everybody’s knocking wood (Good spirits live in trees. We need to wake their assess up.) hoping we’ll make out the other side of this intact.

The reality is that some of us are pretty sure we will, some of us have plenty of doubt about it, and some of us, well some of us don’t believe there’s anything out there to worry about.

As far as they’re concerned, that shit don’t exist.

While the rest of us have our lives put on hold for now, these fools are rushing around on the fast track to ICU and a ventilator.

That is if one is even available.

Thank you so much for reading. You didn’t have to, but I’m certainly glad you did.

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