Day 25- The New Normal

Holocaust Museum, Cary Street, Richmond VA.  Photo taken by Steven King

Dear Richmond,

The days are starting to run together to create one never ending Super-Day as we all are getting used to this "New Normal" and while it is hard, it is not so hard that I believe that we should not do it.  You see the country is starting to get antsy.  This past week has included Georgia and Florida reopening their states and beaches, Protests around the country where individuals are standing in the streets yelling for the country to open back up, and our President pondering during a live news briefing if we should consider injecting bleach as a way to combat the virus.   All of these responses are fear driven that are implemented under a false hope that we, as humans, have control.  

We have become weak.  We got used to our capitalistic lives where we can get what we want when we want it.  We are annoyed that we have to wait in lines, wear masks, social distance.  It has been 2 months- 2 months...that is it!  Walking through Richmond, Steven and I arrived at the Holocaust museum.  What a humbling reminder.

Members of the US are upset about not being able to eat out when at this time in 1942, the Jews were not able to eat at ALL.  A scrap of bread in a week was a treasure because lack of food was one of the many atrocities that they were facing.  We are forced to stay in our homes and they were forced into ghettos.  We cannot get haircuts and they were forcibly shaved bald.  We have to wear masks in public, they would have LOVED masks to help them survive the gas chambers. The perspective that this photo gave me was chilling. 

I do not mean that what we are surviving today is not hard.  It IS hard, our economy is taking a hit, our at risk populations are dying, and there are so many isolated individuals,  I am worried about our countries mental health needs.  AND while it is hard, we can take care of each other by being patient and staying home.  We can learn from the Holocaust survivors that humans are resilient.  We can and will survive this and the best way to do that, is to be part of flattening the curve.  If your neighbor cannot afford to eat and you can afford to feed them, feed them.  If you are healthy and can go grocery shopping for your elderly neighbor- do that.  We can take care of each other and stay home.  

Let's bring community back, lets take care of each other so that our health leaders can have room to fight this fight.  

Stay safe and well,

<3