Nora Lane
English Composition
Professor Crowther
4/17/2022
The Virtual Covid Experience
It’s as if someone unleashed Jumanji among us all and we are playing infinitely towards the end. With each turn, a rumbling effect of change unravels and shifts our perspective. First, the wave of panic with the ongoing cases and a new virus update, to the anger and confusion, and ongoing frustration of the CDC changing the course of how we should manage it all. But, what of the humor that lies in the middle of the conflicts? Maybe it’s time we see the light of all the predicaments instead of hiding indoors and letting it take over us all.
For the past two years, everything has felt more like a simulation than reality. We have seen the lengths that people will go through to greatly embarrass themselves. Watching people swarm the grocery stores and horde food, tissue, and cleaning products has honestly helped place everything into perspective. I wouldn’t put it past anyone if someone hauled three shopping carts worth of nonsense into their homes, only to return it a day later. Now things have shifted where we have a shortage of various items and inflation is keeping the impulse of the masses at bay. It’s like watching the chaos of the cirrus being whipped into shape by a lion tamer.
I think the best form of irony comes from the vaccine and mask mandates that started in March of 2020. People felt as if their rights were being taken away by trying to save their lives from a deadly virus. could die from “carbon dioxide poisoning” by breathing in their own air in the mask. Honesty, I could be more in shock with humanity up until that moment. Face masks were used in hospitals, dentistry and even across the world for decades and without a single objection and now suddenly fear of face mask have plagued the country. With the constant buffoonery of common sense, I am starting to believe in the virtual reality conspiracy. Yet, my hope continues to swing from a single brain cell.
On a brighter note, pandemic pets were key headlines for quite some time. The saying “a dog is a man’s best friend”, has completely taken on a new meaning at this point. In turn to digest and take charge of Covid was to adopt a pet to tolerate it with a plus one, or so. I have also played a part in the “plus one” impulse with my own pup, and I can confidently say it is well worth the headache. I think with depression and anxiety on the rise, a furry friend would defiantly soothe the nerves. I can only hope that in exchange when things go back to normal that we don’t give our pets separation anxiety. That would be an uncomfortable form of reality.
Overall, we can all say that the pandemic has swung at us in all directions like unavoidable infinite pandemonium. However, we can honestly say there have been various low moments within our grief but what is critical in moments of chaos is laughs and unity. If we can look through all that we have transcended for the past two years. It is a slight possibility we can move forward in better spirits.
(Source: Nora Lane) (Personal photo and edited by me)