This is a surreal thing to say, but we are in lockdown right now. Not we, as in my family. We, as in much of the United States, and many other parts of the world. My wife was on a conference call today and a lady in India described the same situations as we are going through here. People are currently be advised to stay more than six feet from others, to stay home as much as possible, and to work from home wherever possible. Schools have closed nationwide, and every event that gathers more than ten people in a space has been advised against. Stores are closing, or reducing their hours. Meanwhile, the stock market is meant to be suffering its wildest crash in history. Right now, the DOW is down to where it was when Trump took office on January 20th, 2017.
I have worked to keep on top of the news of this as it has spread, so we could be informed of the situation before it became critical. When I found the virus case tracker provided by John’s Hopkins, I assumed it was two weeks behind because people have been asymptomatic for up to two weeks, and spreading the virus. I taught the kids about the process of hand washing. I have advised our older kids as required to be serious, and it is the most disruptive thing since 9-11, at least.
We are lucky. We have what we need in our pantry to get us through for a while. We have land to move around on to keep us sane. We have projects to do at home. We have our income provided by employment that was already on a work from home basis. We already have been homeschooling. In a sentence, we have not been affected, yet. But it will begin to cut deep as time goes on, if things don’t begin to normalize. But as the world settles into the new normal, we may find that we are adjusting to it.
The events of the past week have been incredible, then this morning, a 5.7 earthquake struck right east of Salt Lake International Airport, shutting it down, and only causing minor damage in the valley. We felt it at about a 3.5 magnitude here. It was enough to alter the talk of the day for a while today. There were 44 total quakes at a 2.5 or above in the series as of 6:50 PM today.
The news cycle has already been busy. The quake was just one more log on an already big fire.
I have been keeping things in perspective by thinking that the world probably still seemed far more tumultuous during the World Wars. Still, I await each new day with baited breath, wondering what it will bring.
As a side note, the Angel Moroni on the Salt Lake Temple dropped his horn this morning. I knew people growing up who would be sent in a frenzy over this. Especially with everything else going on. Hell, we buried one of them in January; my grandmother. If she were here, or any of the others I knew back in the day, I think they would be taking this singular event as a dire omen. I myself do not, and look forward to the day, a year or two hence, when the horn is replaced and life is continuing on normally. Superstition does not impress me. But seeing them fail again and again, like bloody tears from a statue’s eyes that turns out to be sewage, does.
I don’t want to end this post on that note, however, because besides my disdain for religious fevers, I wish peace and happiness for all humanity. Now, more than ever, kindness matters. I think highly of the species, and that we can manage.