PANDEMIC DIARY — Roaming with Roth

THESE DAYS OF DEARTH

July 24, 2020

Last Sunday very dear friends came to sit on our screened in porch for a couple of late morning hours catching up. The evening before, another couple, dear friends also, came for dinner on our screened in porch. Last week, we went to the home of new friends who are absolutely dear, sitting outside on their lovely patio for dinner. What we have in common is a deep respect for the Covid virus. We share knowledge that each of us follows CDC recommended procedures and guidelines. Each of us is in a higher risk category. We socially distance when we get together. We wear masks when we go out to shop and do chores. We take strict precautions mutually acknowledging that those favored activities, now sorely missed, are not worth the risk.

Here is what each meeting looks like. We greet our friends at the door and walk them around the house to the rear entrance to the screened in porch. People supply their own drinks. Dinners have been picked up by us, as hosts, or by our company on their way to the house. We take seats. The couple on the sofa. Adele and I, easily 6’ away, sit on our outdoor club chairs. Our greetings are mimicked hugs and kisses. We stare across the fabricated expanse, “How are you folks?” And, the response is predictable at its core, “As well as can be expected”.

Then, all grey cells devolve and disappointment, fear, anguish and solemnity takes over so that for the next 2 hours all that is spoken about is Trump, the the failure of our democracy, concern for the next generation, what actions to take to oppose this administration, and the November election. Among the people I have described are an Entrepreneur; University Chair; Investment Counselor; Human Services Consultant; Human Resource Consultant; and International Financier. I am talking about superior intellects. I am speaking about people who know how to rift and improvise. Great minds. Liberal minds…and by that I mean open to differences and dialog; open to change and possibilities; open to nuance; and willing to be wrong. I am talking creative, caring, and conversational people. Yet, we all ‘de-generate’ and descend into advocates of what each of us already know to be true. Preaching to the Masses…of four. So, we vent because we don’t spend our days dislodging and evacuating our thoughts and fears with our spouses since that scenario is untenable contributing naught toward marital bliss.

Let me be frank. Does anybody under these current set of circumstances have anything to talk about (other than their kids). And, you know the saying, “A parent is only as happy as their least happy child”, is absolutely true. Is it any wonder the suicide rate is on the rise. I mean, if I were inclined toward self-harm, this would be the time to:

Leap from tall buildings in a single bound…

Which is why I posted the picture of the couple at the outset, enjoying a respite at a cafe. Isn’t it our spouses (Yes, both husbands and wives) that are making these demanding times easier. Even playful. We watched a movie last week at 11 AM. (That is strictly between us) We have a whole lot of nothing to do and a whole lot of time to do it in, and having someone you love by your side makes ‘these days of dearth’ worthwhile and enjoyable.