THE OTHER SIDE - May 29, 2020
People in southern California have been restless for about two-weeks. There is video of an angry mob on the evening news. Some of the people in the mob are shouting something about their lives. “I want my life back”, one angry man shouted into the television news camera. It appears that the seriousness of the worldwide pandemic has failed to register. People are frustrated. People are angry.
About ten-weeks ago, we were asked to shelter in place. Here in Long Beach, the atmosphere was mostly silent, reminiscent of a ghost town. The deserted beach, bike, and pedestrian paths, along with dark and empty restaurants and limited street traffic, have all contributed to the ghostly emptiness. Frightful projections for sickness and death have forced businesses to close and prompted limitations on our daily public activities, primarily because people didn’t believe the virus was going to impact them directly. Operations deemed essential, were the only businesses open. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and liquor stores were the only places available. A skyrocketing death toll drove the need for social distancing and face covering requirements as a behavioral norm. Today, I find myself inundated with Coronavirus updates everywhere. Radio, television, social and print media are all filled with COVID-19 headlines. And, except for taking care of my essential needs, I have been at home. For ten-weeks, I’ve been at home experiencing the eeriness of things.
In a way, the eeriness is similar to that which we felt on the days following 9/11. Back then, the skies were quiet, the people were somber, and the mood was uneasy. Today, the traffic on Ocean Boulevard is virtually nonexistent. In fact, it’s so empty that it resembles one of the secondary streets in the neighborhood, instead of the major east-west thoroughfare that it is. From our deck, I can now hear each wave of the Pacific Ocean hit the shore. I can only hope that the sound of waves crashing onshore will be among the things we enjoy every day – when we get to the other side of this pandemic.
I keep hearing about the “new normal”, some state of being once the pandemic is behind us. My sense is that the adjustments we make will definitely be new. But, I’m not sure how normal it will be. I’m going out on a limb. I’m going to trust humanity based on a few recent thoughts and observations.
A few days ago, I noticed something strange while negotiating the parking garage of the local grocery store. Typically, it’s a dog-eat-dog situation. Acts of aggression while searching for a parking space are the norm. On this particular day, I witnessed something that rarely happens – and it happened twice. Drivers were practicing kindness. It was odd watching total strangers first acknowledge the other’s existence and then demonstrate an act of acquiescence. I could see one of the drivers mouth the words, “no, you go ahead”. It was strange, beautiful, and potentially transformative. I now hold onto a hope that those four drivers will practice this new parking lot courtesy for the foreseeable future – and when we get to the other side.
The downtown LA skyline was sharply etched against a snow-capped mountain backdrop this morning. The skyline was even more dramatic in the late afternoon. Sheltering at home during what we hope is the height of this COVID-19 pandemic, has led to crystal-clear blue-sky conditions throughout the Los Angeles basin. Now, taking a deep breath of fresh air is no longer considered to be health hazard – or something you do at your own risk. Seeing clear skies and breathing fresh air has a way of bringing out the best in people. As I take my walks on the streets of Long Beach, I can’t help noticing everyone’s “smiling eyes” (most of us are wearing masks). You know, the eyebrows do a dance and the eyelids move up and down in response to each smile or friendly glance it snares. These walks have been fun. When we get to the other side, I’m inviting the dancing eyes to come along with us.
Fortunately, during our Zoom, Google, and FaceTime video-conference calls, we haven’t lost the ability to smile. What a relief that is. And speaking of calls, I hear so many people talking about the ongoing connections with family and friends, including some of the long-lost ones. It’s been great hearing about and participating in birthday celebrations, holidays, and even happy hours with those we love and miss so much. Long live the virtual connections and moments of happiness with family and friends, when we get to the other side.
Many of our close friends and relatives have lost their jobs, suffered losses in their business lives, or sadly, lost a loved one. The lives we knew just 74-days ago are now reflections in our rear-view mirrors. This COVID-19 pandemic has zapped so many individuals and families of their optimism. But, thanks to countless acts of human kindness, thousands have been helped in their effort to survive. Food, clothing, and shelter have all been shared day after day. And the groundswell of gratitude has played out in some highly creative and touching ways, too. Cards, letters, neighborhood caravans, and telephone calls simply to say, “thank you” are back in style. It’s been beautiful to experience both sides of the sharing. I’ll be on the lookout for this kind and generous spirit when we get to the other side.
So, we come back to the angry mob who demonstrate and shout that they want their lives back. We’re all in search of ways to cope and survive. I acknowledge that many in the mob are out of work, they have no source of income, and may not have received a stimulus check. As I struggle to put things into perspective, especially the condition of those who cannot see a way forward, I find myself wanting to make a few introductions. I want to introduce the man from the angry mob to a man just leaving a hospital, alone. The man’s eyes are puffy from crying. His shoulders are slumped. I want to hear the mobster tell the man leaving the hospital that he wants his LIFE back. I have no doubt that the man leaving the hospital will tell the mobster, in a subdued tone, “I want my WIFE back.”
A few more days of caring and supporting one another will not kill us. But, failing to be kind, smart, open, and safe, surely will. I hope you’ll join me in that search for a better life, somewhere on the other side.
End
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