My hair appointment was booked the day after personal service providers (hair, nails, massage, etc) were told to close to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. One week later, I’m thinking I may need to…cut my bangs myself. (gulp)
There has been some whining on a certain tv channel about the ‘privations’ people are experiencing right now due to the shutdown of such personal services.
I would like to point out that someone catering to me is the last thing I want to have happen because we still don’t know who all is carrying the virus. It is now clear that some people can be shedding the virus for several days before showing any symptoms, and some have symptoms so mild they didn’t even know they had it.
No one on this planet has an immunity to the virus. There isn’t even much certainty that those who have had it are immune afterwards. No one knows how quickly the virus mutates and if having had the first go round will confer any immunity to subsequent mutations.
Some people are also missing the point that isolation is a privilege not granted to all. People who are homeless are going to have a hard time staying clean (no access to soap and water in some cases). People who are working jobs deemed ‘essential’ are still having to go to work. (And lets start paying them hazard pay, not running gofundmes to cover their sick time – yes, I’m looking at you Mr. Bezos).
People are going to suffer economically as businesses shutter. There is mass uncertainty as to how government programs to help people will work. How to apply. Who gets to apply. Self employed people are particularly left out in the dark. Do any of these programs apply to those folk? Contractors? Who is ‘essential’? Who isn’t?
I do not forget to be grateful that I live where I do (Canada) where I at least have universal health care. I do not forget that I am ‘retired’ after shutting down my business at the end of 2019. We have minimum state pensions and not much else, but having been a ‘starving artist’ for most of my life, my wants are few and my needs more or less covered. For now.
We still have electricity, water, heat and so far we have been able to get food without too much difficulty. That may become more of a problem the longer this goes on.
I am old enough to remember where food comes from (and I’m not talking about the stores) and as the virus continues to burn through, farmers are going to have more trouble sowing their crops, then harvesting them.
I am old enough to know how to cook from ‘scratch’.
I am old enough to remember the time prior to tv, internet and vaccines.
For the politicians saying that ‘old’ people should be ready to die to preserve the economy for their children? I say fie on you – you go first and take your rich supporters with you.
I might be willing to die for a child. I am NOT willing to die for some billionaires portfolio.
So I will cut my own bangs, trim my own fingernails (I always do anyway) and I will staythefhome
for as long as possible to flatten the curve.