Figure 1 – Derby Joe Cafe, Salem, MA, April 15, 2020. (c) DE Wolf 2020.
There are three types of people facing the COVID-19 pandemic: those who are inconvenienced by the isolation, those made financially desperate by it, and those who face the full physical brunt and terror of the disease. Needless-to-say the sick suffer the most, and the omnipresent fear of everyone else is to become one of the sick. Such a terrible and stressful time for everyone. It is one that challenges our humanity.
I had thought that signs of the isolation and financial ruin would be subtle and really hard to find. But in fact, that is not truly the case. Signs are everywhere. You just need to look for them. They may at first be subtle to the sight, only to become vivid and horrible when at last you find them
I was walking along Salem’s waterfront thoroughfare, Derby Street, the other morning, when I passed the Derby Joe Cafe. It is a place that is ever familiar. But when I crossed the street to maintain my social distance from another passerby, I spotted two makeshift signs on either side of the entryway. “HUNGRY?” and “FOOD PANTRY.” Embarrassed in the way that people are when they look through and ignore the homeless, I stopped to take the image of Figure 1.
Written now some four centuries ago, and despite the rantings of a senile egomaniac, we are reminded that people are not statistics. They love. They are loved.
“Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.”
― Meditation XVII – Meditation 17
I loved this post.
We are living in a very strange time on this planet. I think it’s a wake up call for humanity. We’re all traveling together on this planet, and it’s time to support and care for one another. We’re all connected whether we believe it or not.
The link here is to an imagined letter from the virus… https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/a-letter-from-the-virus-listen/#.Xn_hOCewHV4.email