Keeping a Sense OF
W
By: Sue Wighton ho would have thought that in 2020, the world would have been brought to its knees – not by terrorists, not by global warming, but by a virus? Life as we know it has certainly changed. Like most of us, I’m busily disinfecting everything in sight – my kitchen benches, the doorknobs, the steering wheel of my car, the cat. So far, the only one to complain has been the cat. With continuous media coverage around the clock, it’s hard to believe this crisis will ever end. We are now hearing about a situation called ‘the new normal’ (‘You call this normal?’ I silently scream). New words and phrases are
HEALTH WELLBEING AND COMMUNITY expanding our lexicon every day (self-isolation, social distancing, pandemic, ‘flattening the curve’). It’s almost impossible to keep a sense of perspective, even though there’s a lot of Covid 19 humour about on social media. Like, everyone, I’m trying to keep a sense of proportion while keeping busy. But it’s all getting a bit competitive. There seems to be this idea that we need to do something worthwhile while we’re confined to quarters. Like teaching yourself to play the Lithuanian nose flute or creating miniature authentic medieval costumes for your garden gnomes. Or writing that blockbuster novel everyone believes they have within them. Just a tip. They don’t. I’ve decided not to buy into these competitive pursuits. Instead, I’m using this time in self-isolation to un-teach myself those things that make for a civil society. For example, I’ve stopped wearing a bra,
stopped shaving my legs and some days I don’t even make it to the shower. Those bristles sprouting from my chin are being given free rein. I’ve decided that if I keep resolutely on this path of completely uncivilized behaviour, it won’t be long before I’m so smelly, hairy and generally loathsome, no one will want to come near me. That’s self-isolation – done. And somehow now we’re all expected to cook. Not just rissoles or spag bol, but fancy Israeli chef Ottolenghi – style concoctions like stilton and butternut squash quiche with roast sprouts or baked celeriac with smoked trout and caper salsa. Once again people, where is the perspective? My local Italian take away is still operating and I can happily exist on Italian supreme pizza every other night. If I buy a huge one, they’ll bring it to my door. And because I’m now smelly and hairy, the delivery person has no issues with leaving the
giant wondrous pizza on my doormat. But in this ‘new normal’ there are some things that haven’t changed. Riding my bike along Kedron Brook, I note the creek is still burbling away, and squadrons of pretty butterflies’ weave in and around the dappled trees. Friendships remain rock solid with phone calls and ‘zoom’ catch-ups keeping us connected. And Bribie’s beautiful beaches remain quiet and pristine, waves continuing to break on the shore as they’ve done for millennia. Let’s keep our sense of perspective and help each other through this awful time. See you on the other side.
ISSUE 112 | 24 April 2020
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