I keep waiting to wake up and find that I’ve been having some sort of ongoing 3-D full color hallucination, but so far it hasn’t happened. I’m concerned about this virus. Maybe that’s an understatement. I’ve been following the news, and reading articles and reports from sources that I think are credible ( CDC, New York Times, Time Magazine ) and it seems to me that we all just need to get very zen and stay home. Okay, maybe not all of us, but most of us.

I’m trying to limit my social contact, but it’s hard, especially since some people in my life don’t seem as concerned about this virus as I am. My concern isn’t really about getting sick (although that would suck, I’m not gonna lie), but it’s about people nonchalantly spreading this nasty thing around all over the place and a bunch of people getting sick all at once. If we can avoid that, why wouldn’t we? Again, I’m not talking about everyone. Someone has to deliver babies and answer 911 calls and care for sick people and feed and water shelter animals and on and on. I’m talking about the rest of us.

If we could keep our communities safe and our at-risk populations well, wouldn’t it make sense to close schools and stores and restaurants and libraries and on and on? I know, I’m not thinking this all the way through. There are ramifications to these drastic measures, both financial and otherwise, but my gawd, look at what happened in Italy. Now the country is on “lockdown” but so many people have lost their lives, and their healthcare system has been completely overwhelmed. That can happen here, I have no doubt about that.

Here’s the thing… maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’ve been reading and listening to the wrong things, but what if I’m not? We’re this far into this thing, so why don’t we take this social distancing thing seriously? Is it imperative that you go to the movies this weekend? Isn’t there enough entertainment available to you at home? And brunch can wait a few weeks, can’t it? Stay home, friends. Your pedicure isn’t that critical, and you can do yoga in your living room instead of the gym. And yes, you can skip religious services too. There’s no deity I’m aware of that won’t listen to you from the privacy of your home. Slow down, stay calm, take care of your loved ones, and for goodness sake, wash your hands. Oh, and if you see my mother out and about, please give her some space