Cheers Theme (Original Demo)
Song by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart-Angelo
In my area during the Covid pandemic we quarantined, shut-down business, locked down schools, banned social activities and isolated healthy people. For 18 months, face-to-face contact with others outside of your household was severely curtailed.
During this time, many of us focused our attention online, where we were barraged with speculation, political posturing, infection stats and death counts. We were fed a relentless onslaught of partisan political “news” and views, myriad conspiracy theories, scare stories and, of course, the usual marketing drek.
Here’s what happened to me:
- I became more cynical, pessimistic and fatalistic. For months, I studiously followed the “science” reported by the NY Times, the BBC, the CDC, the Federal Government, CIDRAP and other seemingly reputable sources. Over time, I realized that everyone was speculating and that the “source data” reported on infections, hospitalizations, deaths, R values and probabilities was inconsistently gathered, erroneously analyzed and frequently a total cluster f**k.
- I started viewing people as “disease vectors“. Since I live a solo and isolated life, there was little chance of me catching Covid. But I assumed strangers had families, friends, work and social activities that put them in contact with many more people, making every person as a potential Covid vector.
- I interacted even less with people. The enforced isolation, the physical distancing and wear of face masks intensified the dehumanizing effect of lockdowns. I saw fewer people, I spoke to fewer people and I interacted with fewer people. The less I interacted, the more I withdrew into my own head.
Here’s what happened to the people in my small social circle: They became increasingly anxious, bitter and depressed . Without work, shopping, dining out and being able to visit with family or friends, they were online most of the time. They ate poorly, slept badly and seemed to regress into themselves. Most people watched everything available on Prime, Netflix, cable TV and online. Good stuff. Bad stuff. Negative stuff. Stupid stuff. Political stuff. Conversations centered around Tiger King, Internet memes, politics and murder hornets instead of the stuff of life like sports, meals, love, life, family gatherings and nature, the quality of life declined. I observed constant fear.
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- I saw people every day outside who wore masks – even though they were alone and outside. Many whom then would veer off making a 20 foot detour to avoid being in proximity of me or any other humans.
- Many of my neighbors had groceries and take-out delivered. They would hide behind their doors until the delivery person left and then meticulously wiped down everything with disinfectant before bringing it into their homes.
- People avoided having any face-to-face conversations – even distanced ones from 10 feet apart. As for social activities, I saw a few face masked people sitting in lawn chairs outside 25 feet apart from each other. In businesses, workers on break sat far apart from each other alone at tables or wandered outside to stare at their cell phone screen.
Now that vaccines have been made readily available in my area, I am witnessing a gradual “return to normal”. Stores, businesses and restaurants are opening. Every day, parking lots are getting fuller. Traffic has gradually returned to nearly pre-pandemic levels. At my pool, I see clusters or people chatting when resting at the end of the lap lanes. Kids are getting swim lessons while their parents sit in the stands maskless and chat with each other. People are smiling more. They are going to hickey games. Swim teams are practicing. Masks are no longer required in most places here for people who are fully vaccinated. Some places are “recommending them” but not mandating them. Each day, I see a gradual lessening of mask wearers. It is uplifting to see people’s faces once again.
I had been wearing my mask at the pool even though I think it is silly because it is officially “highly encouraged” by the City. I decided I would wear my mask until I see the staff not wearing theirs. Well, the staff is gradually losing their masks. I asked the pool check-in guy today what he thought today. He said, “They are highly encouraging wearing masks.” I said, “I know. But what do you think and how do you feel? Do you want me to wear a mask?” He replied, “Nope. You can take it off.” So I did.
At the grocery store it seems like about half the people are masked. I think I’ll soon stop masking up there too if the workers seem comfortable with it.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name. The pool is my “Cheers Bar”. I go there everyday. I talk to the check in guys, the lifeguards, the Covid screener and the other “regulars”. I know their names, families, pets, hobbies, etc. They know some things about me too. When someone is missing for a few days I notice it and ask them when I see them again. They do the same with me.
A long time ago, I had a small posse of friends. We shared common activities, places and camaraderie. Then I had coworkers. Then fellow 6AM daily gym goers. Then I had a family and a wife. Today, I’ve got the pool, my neighbors and a handful of people at the park who know my name and make me feel as if I belong. That is a pretty damn good place to be in society.
*A final note: Most people in my circles have been fully vaccinated and are gradually re-engaging in social activities. There is a palpable lifting of spirits. People are laughing more, smiling a lot and generally seem enthusiastic and energized. The social isolation of the past year truly dampened life for many, many people but it did not crush it entirely.