Summer in the time of pandemic
Summer, the year is 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the globe. 200,000 Americans have died. People rarely leave their home, but those deemed essential workers continue to stock the shelves and deliver our mail. Most schools starting back have opted for virtual learning while millions of parents have lost jobs and can’t pay their rent. Despite a lack of governmental leadership, wearing a mask over your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of the virus has become the norm and physical distancing has stopped loved ones from hugging.
Protests and marches are popping up all over the country in response to the killings of Black men and women at the hands of cops and white supremacists. It seems as if every day Black folks in this country add another thing on the list of what can get them killed. Ahmaud Arbery was jogging. Breonna Taylor was sleeping in her home. George Floyd was suffocated when cops knelt on his neck outside of a convenience store which left his children fatherless. It’s no wonder why protestors are having to remind folks that Black Lives Matter since they are being gunned down in every state in the country.
Wildfires in the West are burning uncontrollably, fueled by climate change and decades of fire suppression. California residents wake up to apocalyptic red skies and are advised not to go out and breathe the smoke-filled air. Hurricanes are continually battering the gulf coast to the point that they’ve hit the end of the list of names.
Mourners grieve over the loss of beloved Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who passed away due to cancer complications as well as our hero, Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman.
Voters worry over the upcoming general election which will decide if the incumbent stays in office or if the majority can amplify their voice and elect the former vice president, despite foreign interference, the spread of disinformation on social media, and the president himself saying that voting by mail is fraudulent.
Every day brings more bad news and people are weighed down under the burden of grief and anxiety. 2020 will be one for the history books.
With all the trauma occurring in the world and plans being wiped away, my mantra this spring/summer has been "take it one day at a time” because if I start thinking about the future whether it be my personal plans or political outcomes my anxiety levels rise. I’m not alone when I say that this year sucks, but with perspective I know that I am much more well off than most and I need to focus on the positives. I’m healthy, my family is healthy, I have access to nature, I don’t have to worry about making rent payments, and I do not fear being targeted due to the color of my skin. So although this year has not turned out as I would have liked, I will try and focus on the highlights of this summer. I enjoyed starting a garden in the spring and come summer I was able to reap the rewards with bountiful amounts of cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, and tomatoes (I hope to have a garden video on my YouTube channel soon so check back). I felt purposeful volunteering at my local Meals on Wheels. I relaxed by kayaking a nearby river. I built an arbor, planter and trellis with my father. I found a simple joy by watching movies outside on my projector. ..Now that summer has come to an end and we transition into Fall I hope that everybody’s sufferings ease up and remember that we are all in this together.
