Safety Zone

Out of an abundance of caution, through these challenging times, the new normal has taught us to stay apart—stay together. It’s essential to self-isolate by sheltering at home in quarantine. This is so we can stay safe, stay strong, and stay calm. During these strange times, when the world changed, flattening the curve in order to slow the spread has been essential.

But hey, we’re not cut off while we socially distance. We’re AloneTogether. HomeTogether. Even in our time of crisis it is possible to keep being fearless while staying apart.

We're not keeping our distance because we're afraid of each other. We're doing it to slow the spread.

It’s crazy to think isolation means being alone. That’s what virtual hugs are for—to remind us we can Be Safe, Be Healthy, Be Well. We can stay in touch without touch because we have ZOOM.  With ZOOM we can be anywhere, anytime from the safety of our own homes. And it’s cheaper, too. We can attend virtual weddings, virtual funerals, and give our virtual good-byes to people who must pass on AloneTogether.

It’s true that these are difficult times that call for difficult solutions. But we’ll get through this. And we’ll do it because we’re in this together. As long as we Stay Home.

While we are apart, though, We Are Together. It hasn’t been easy for anyone these days. What a comfort to know in times like these, when it’s unhealthy to be outside, in the sunshine, in fresh air where it’s dangerous to encounter other people, we don’t have to be. We can be HealthyAtHome.

In these difficult times, even vacant schools assure with bold signs at blocked entrances that “We Stand With You.” How grateful I am that I can read during these uncertain times thanks to former days when schools were open and stood with me in person.

And, thanks to non-virtual teachers, I can also read highway signs. For example, ADOT has spent the last three months reminding us with illuminated overpass marquees to Stay Home/StaySafe/FlattenTheCurve, which is ironic since I’d have never known how to stay safe if I stayed home where I couldn’t read ADOT’s message.

We all know there are times it’s essential to drive, though. Not to one of those small stores that are non-essential, of course, but rather to one of the big box stores that were lucky enough to make the A List. You’ll be happy to know if you do need to drive, tires stores are An Essential Business Open To Serve You. I know that because I read their sign on my way to a small business who left a note on their darkened door—“We’re Closed But We’re Here For You.” I felt so valuable. And Essential.

In these unprecedented times, just knowing we’ll get through this together is enough. While businesses and churches are closed and millions are suddenly unemployed, all forms of abuse are on the rise, depression and suicides are soaring, and people turn to alcohol and drugs for comfort, some say the reason we Stay Six Feet Apart is so we won’t be six feet under. Which, as we all know, is far worse than a lockdown that feels like house arrest.

That’s crazy, of course. We’re all just doing our part to love one another when we stay apart so we can stay together. How ridiculous to believe that a house divided against itself cannot stand. President Lincoln must have been deluded when he quoted Jesus Christ. And Aesop’s observation that ‘united we stand, divided we fall’ was simply a fable. The only people who have our best interests at heart can all be found on social media.

In these difficult times, we must protect the most vulnerable. If you won’t wear a mask then everyone knows you just want Grandma to die. You don’t love others. Or maybe you do. We Just Don’t Know. It’s selfish to long for a hug, a personal touch, for things to go back to normal. You can Find Your Together if you stop thinking about yourself.

It’s easy. Stay Home/StayHealthy/StayConnected. There are HomeTogether Essential Movies & TV if you use Roku. Paramount Network offers StayHome Movies, too, which is good because movie theaters are all closed during these social distancing times. There used to be a lot of concern over too much ‘screen time,’ but in these unprecedented times, who cares? We don’t even bother to get dressed below the waist or put on makeup. We’re taking our cues from the news media. Stay Home and virtually connect—what people don’t know won’t hurt them.

We’re all just doing our best during these uncertain times. There’s a lot to do while we stay at home. With all this isolation and time on our hands there are closets to clean, TV shows to binge watch, alcohol to drink, and drugs to take. But as long as we’re safe at home, the virus can’t get us and it’s safe to self-destruct.

Sorry. That sounds so negative when positive energy is all we need to get through these uncertain times. Churches are non-essential. Gyms are non-essential. Why go somewhere to wok-out when you can do a home work-in instead?

It’s not like we’re living under martial law. Or even medical martial law. This is still a free country. We can drive anywhere we want to go that’s not closed, as long as we’re willing to stand outside in the sun, six feet apart, and wear a mask, to wait our turn to go inside and follow the arrows and wait on circles to buy essential toilet paper and rationed meat. This is still the land of the free and the home of the brave. On paper.

Virtually.

Certainly, we can all agree that in these tough times we need to stay together while we stay apart. Because we just don’t know if it’s safe to be around people. In groups of five. Or ten. Or one hundred. Or two hundred fifty. Unless we all wear a mask and socially distance. During these uncertain times.

Thank goodness politicians know. And the media knows. And science and doctors know. Because they’re the authorities we can trust. I sure wouldn’t want to depend on my own common sense or intuition or experience or faith in an invisible God.

Everyone knows those are non-essential.