Dispatch from the Coronaverse: Day 20

As of April 7, 2020

Global Cases: 1,412,103        Deaths: 81,103

US Cases: 390,012                Deaths: 12,370

Michigan Cases:  18,970        Deaths: 845

It is 25 days since the first case was reported in Michigan.  We have been sheltering in place for 20 days.   

The first case occurred in China perhaps as early as November 14, but the virus was certainly spreading by December 21, when the US president was briefed.  The first case in the United States was reported January 21.

As of Friday, April 3.

Global: 1,026,974 cases and 53,975 deaths 

National: 245,813 cases and 6059 deaths 

Michigan:  10,791 cases and 417 deaths  

My goal here is not to recount the number of deaths and cases,  which are readily available with the easiest search.  It is rather to provide a travelogue, if you will, of our journey to a land yet undiscovered--a land I call PVC—post coronavirus.   

So here we go.  Welcome to the next installment of my travel-blog: Cycle Soul Search: Dispatches from the Coronaverse

The other day, after too many hours of doomscrolling, I wrote the following:

Today is March 31.  The time is 1:13am

Here is where we are:

We discuss soberly, in the planning mode, what to do if one of us dies.

We plan carefully to go to the grocery store.  Only one of is goes in, wearing a face mask and gloves.  After I wipe down the cart, I enter the store and move rapidly through this dangerous territory.

Ready for Our Walk. 4.7.20

When we get home, we take off our shoes before entering the house.  Using a sanitizer I made from scratch (from rubbing alcohol and a bit of oil of eucalyptus), we wipe down all the cartons and wrappings, and move the contents to our own containers. 

The Walk is the big event of the day.  Some days we walk to the grocery store.  Some days we walk around the neighborhood.

At 7:00 pm most evenings, neighbors walk out of  their houses just to see each other and visit from across the street and down the sidewalk.

We cook and clean and try to work, but --

          sometimes 

                fall into the morass of doom-surfing the twitterscape.

          Sometimes 

                we watch too many animal videos 

                      and fall prey to stupid facebook challenges.

          sometimes we grieve 

                 because we know people who have lost people. 

          We know people who are hospitalized 

                and we know people who are sick 

                       but remain untested at home, worried and wondering. 

          “Is this fatigue coronavirus?"  

          "Is this fever the sign?"

          Sometimes we are scared,

         When we think of the crowds we’ve been in—

or 

when we worry about people already going hungry.  

         Plenty already were.

It’s not going get better. 

-When every artist we know is scrambling.

-When Detroit is the first entry 

     in the Fragile and Impoverished Sweepstakes 

          in Global Pandemic Sh*tshow.

Then my anger rises. 

Because it doesn’t have to be this way.  

The rich fly off to spread the disease and shelter in place in home #5.  

      The middle hang on in their homes, bored and scared and anxious 

             but at least a little secure for a month, but please god, no more.  

The workers trudge out to face a dance with disease and death for $10 an hour.         Giggers and the poor know no day is secure as they ask "

             Where is my next meal?  

             Can I stay in my house, my place, my spot?”

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Maybe it does--

Maybe we have to lose so much to truly know, 

      truly know and understand--,

   when this storm is over--

There is no going back.

And really, why would we want to?

When we can go forward--

              To a world in love with life,

              Newly schooled in gentleness and compassion

              And crying for justice

              In all we do.