One moment stands out like none other. It was the day We reached over seven hundred Covid Cases in Melbourne.
We had a real pandemic on our hands. Not a little, let’s play pandemic; this one was real. I listened to Brett and Dan announce a huge Shut Down in Victoria--that if we did not shut down, we could end up like the US OF A or England.
I must admit that the Covid Crisis affected me more than I thought it would. It was like an invasive blanket sitting over everything I did. There was danger out there and I had to admit I was scared.
I was on my own at home during the shutdown, just communicating minimally outside the home, mostly with shop assistants. Well, the Moment went on for quite a long while. One moment in time which stretches, even now, into a huge moment of fear and faith and security in the decisions people make.
Facing almost certain death began to impact me as if there was a War. I am of that lucky generation who has never experienced War, but I imagined that the Covid Crisis was a bit like a War. In a War: Peace is dependent upon the actions of other people. Mostly, other people! But I had a role to play to remain safe and follow the community rules.
Fear that we would not do the right thing. Fear that some fool would carry Covid into our Community. Fear that some unknowing carrier of Covid would accidently spread the virus into our lives. That someone I love may get Covid.
Interestingly, my fear was a controlled fear. The logic of the whole situation being examined every day. Okay; stay home; stay safe. Wear your mask. Do not touch other people. Listen and watch the numbers and instructions every day. Simple!
I accidently touched my Dentist this morning. He handed me something and I accidently touched his hand. I felt us both pull back. We do not do that any longer. He gave me some hand sanitiser to use which I was glad of. We talked of Covid, because despite the Vaccinations we are still experiencing the effects of the year of Fear we lived in. We both agreed; we have a way to go yet before Australia is safe. But generally, people feel we will never be safe again. Not just Covid, something else will develop.
Family members returned to Australia to live after living in the US OF A for twenty-five years. They went into two weeks Quarantine and there was an anxiety that perhaps they carried the virus in from the US . They did not; and after release they headed straight for family and the beach. They are not going back to the US OF A. Or anywhere else, for the moment.
So; the doubters; the conspiracy theorists can pooh pooh my fear. But it was my fear. And it was my caution which has kept me home and being very careful during the Covid Crisis in Victoria, in Australia, in the World. The figures speak for themselves. And I will continue caution.
So, this is not my normal ‘happy chappy’ write. It is a form of therapy; a confession to being totally scared of Covid. And to talk of the respect I have for the Australian population who worked to control the Virus. And the lack of respect I have for the people who maintained it was not true. Mind you, I think around 2% of the population always insist upon saying and living the opposite of other people. It seems to give them individuality and they are entitled to their opinion, particularly as 98% of Australians have worked to keep them safe as well as themselves.
2...
We will need this year and next to find a normal world again. And then a couple of years for the trauma of Covid to slide into a memory. In the meantime, stay safe; follow the rules and be vaccinated. Then perhaps by the end of this year Australia will be smiling just a little more widely than it is now. We seem to be heaving a sigh of relief, but with caution right now. A way to go! Lots of building to do. Hopefully, a better world will develop as we have all faced the same enemy.
Helen Duggin
22 February 2021
We had a real pandemic on our hands. Not a little, let’s play pandemic; this one was real. I listened to Brett and Dan announce a huge Shut Down in Victoria--that if we did not shut down, we could end up like the US OF A or England.
I must admit that the Covid Crisis affected me more than I thought it would. It was like an invasive blanket sitting over everything I did. There was danger out there and I had to admit I was scared.
I was on my own at home during the shutdown, just communicating minimally outside the home, mostly with shop assistants. Well, the Moment went on for quite a long while. One moment in time which stretches, even now, into a huge moment of fear and faith and security in the decisions people make.
Facing almost certain death began to impact me as if there was a War. I am of that lucky generation who has never experienced War, but I imagined that the Covid Crisis was a bit like a War. In a War: Peace is dependent upon the actions of other people. Mostly, other people! But I had a role to play to remain safe and follow the community rules.
Fear that we would not do the right thing. Fear that some fool would carry Covid into our Community. Fear that some unknowing carrier of Covid would accidently spread the virus into our lives. That someone I love may get Covid.
Interestingly, my fear was a controlled fear. The logic of the whole situation being examined every day. Okay; stay home; stay safe. Wear your mask. Do not touch other people. Listen and watch the numbers and instructions every day. Simple!
I accidently touched my Dentist this morning. He handed me something and I accidently touched his hand. I felt us both pull back. We do not do that any longer. He gave me some hand sanitiser to use which I was glad of. We talked of Covid, because despite the Vaccinations we are still experiencing the effects of the year of Fear we lived in. We both agreed; we have a way to go yet before Australia is safe. But generally, people feel we will never be safe again. Not just Covid, something else will develop.
Family members returned to Australia to live after living in the US OF A for twenty-five years. They went into two weeks Quarantine and there was an anxiety that perhaps they carried the virus in from the US . They did not; and after release they headed straight for family and the beach. They are not going back to the US OF A. Or anywhere else, for the moment.
So; the doubters; the conspiracy theorists can pooh pooh my fear. But it was my fear. And it was my caution which has kept me home and being very careful during the Covid Crisis in Victoria, in Australia, in the World. The figures speak for themselves. And I will continue caution.
So, this is not my normal ‘happy chappy’ write. It is a form of therapy; a confession to being totally scared of Covid. And to talk of the respect I have for the Australian population who worked to control the Virus. And the lack of respect I have for the people who maintained it was not true. Mind you, I think around 2% of the population always insist upon saying and living the opposite of other people. It seems to give them individuality and they are entitled to their opinion, particularly as 98% of Australians have worked to keep them safe as well as themselves.
2...
We will need this year and next to find a normal world again. And then a couple of years for the trauma of Covid to slide into a memory. In the meantime, stay safe; follow the rules and be vaccinated. Then perhaps by the end of this year Australia will be smiling just a little more widely than it is now. We seem to be heaving a sigh of relief, but with caution right now. A way to go! Lots of building to do. Hopefully, a better world will develop as we have all faced the same enemy.
Helen Duggin
22 February 2021
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