Pandemic Coward
Sometimes I used to wonder how I would fare in a crisis? Would I be one of the heroes saving the day? Would I be one of the victims, in a pile of bodies stacked like cordwood? Based on the COVID-19 crisis, I think I have my answer: I run away and hide.
I had many opportunities to help others during this pandemic, and I turned them all down:
- I did not get groceries for frail associates because I was scared of entering their houses.
- I did not help prepare lunches for homeless people because I was lazy, and because I didn't feel safe around other people.
- I did not work at a grocery store stocking shelves for the same reason, even though there were lots of "help wanted" signs and I could have used the structure.
- I did not volunteer for the census.
- I did not volunteer at a vaccination site.
- I did not even make supportive calls to people, or ensure that isolated people felt less isolated.
Instead I stayed at home when it suited my purposes, and exposed myself and others to danger by going on bike rides and purchasing junk food otherwise. For a while I tried to convince myself that sitting at home doing nothing was heroic, but it was just cowardice.
Fortunately the pandemic is almost over, and people are already being called back to the office, and now I will get my comeuppance because I am still a coward (and lazy) and still do not particularly want to spend time indoors with people. Already we are mocking those who live as if it still the pandemic with the pandemic almost over. Soon I will get what is coming to me.