Anti-Social Distancing & Gratitude

Good day readers and followers, I know it has been a very long time since my last post. This whole coronavirus, covid-19, pandemic world has left many of us in a state of suspense and stress. I am not no exception to this notion. I am in the state of PA, USA. We went into a true lockdown in April and that was partially lifted in June. 

 My fictitious enclave of Questionnopolis is in suburban Philadelphia. Down here in the southeast corner of the state we have the highest level of illness, infection and death attributed to the coronavirus. This is not a great trifecta. In the lockdown there were no haircuts, no restaurants and no gyms. I went 13 weeks without a haircut. Literally getting a "back alley" haircut one day after calling my longtime barber. My barber lives near me and I asked if he would give me a haircut in his garage, he told me to just come to the shop, but come early and go to the backdoor. The backdoor is off an alley. Strange times. Strange times indeed. Working at home, schooling at home. 

 This past Friday I learned that we will not be allowed back into the office until at least April 2, 2021. This means that it will be over an entire year since we were put on work from home orders. The pandemic has given rise to new phrases, the most common of which is "socially distant" and other derivitatives thereof. What does this mean? I am Answerman so the scientists have decided that being socially distant means being a minimum of six feet away from each other. The distance based on the spray ratio of the spray we create in droplets from our nose and mouth. However, if your running or cycling there's another slip-stream of 20-30 ft.  That's not social!

 Quite honestly I didn't want to be anywhere near anyone. Life changed. I missed my friends, my family and my colleagues. This whole shutdown, lockdown- got me down. The entire process also became a political ping-pong ball. We have had an election.  The pandemic, the mask-wearing or not wearing became an issue.  In some instances,  I, along with others stopped talking to each other.  Forget socially distant.  We became anti-socially distant.  Forget six feet, for some of us we put miles between us.  

Back in the summer I decided that I wanted to take time to myself.  Travel across the state to the upper northwest corner of our great state.  Go to Lake Erie.  Clear my head, catch some fish, enjoy nature, take a hike.  This was a long drive.  My great friend John joined me and we shared driving duties.  We have been friends for nearly 20 years and have shared many familial challenges, Philadelphia Union soccer tickets.  We both also coached soccer for a couple decades and even shared players and coaching tips and attended each others games even though we always lived a couple counties apart.  The pandemic had kept us from getting together.

The first day was long.  The drive is over 400 miles.  When we finally settled into the rental house on a wine vineyard we could see the lake in the distance. I fired up the charcoal grill and we cracked a few beers.  On day two we were going out on the lake on a charter to catch walleye.  The day was beautiful, high sun, cumulous clouds, a slight breeze.  We were the only anglers on the small craft with Captain Vince, first mate Steve and the captains young son.  Out 26 miles we were just setting up when I got a business call.  I let it go to voicemail, but the message popped up in my texts.  I had to return the call.  

The call lasted no longer than a minute.  I ended the call and turned around to a loud bang.  John had collapsed and nearly went overboard.   This is when I learned about true heroes. I learned about humanity in a way that I never knew.  I tended to John and he regained consciousness.  Captain Vince went through his required maritime emergent protocols but the emergency process wasn't working.  Captain Vince looked at me and said, "keep him safe, I'm calling my girlfriend, Heather-she's medical professional I will get her to set up at the marina so we ready a soon as we get in...just keep him safe."  

Vince had the boat literally flying, he, his son and Steve were amazing.  Heather and her  teenage son even more so.  We weren't even at a full stop when she coordinated a full EMT crew on the boat.  Once John was stable she said "their taking John to Hamot, follow me."  I followed Heather's vehicle all over Western Erie and into downtown.  We wound up at the hospital where her son leapt out of their vehicle to get someone to give me guidance and a safe place to park.  They both wished me well.  The full name of the hospital is The University of Pittburgh Medical Center at Hamot.  Better known as UPMC-Hamot.  I call them awesome.  I’ve long said that few things I’ve experienced could be labeled awesome;  Niagra Falls, The Grand Canyon, lightening and the raw fury of nature.  I can now add the Emergency Department (ED) staff and 5^th floor South staff at UPMC-Hamot.  

The entire Emergency staff and non-emergent staff were amazing and friendly.  I wrote to leadership at Hamot to thank them.  I wrote: "The Hamot ED was flooded with a myriad of patient medical challenges as I watched a parade of ambulance deliveries. Despite the stress of the situations your entire staff was superb, unflappable and most importantly-caring. "  I was truly in awe of the synchronized motions of the staff.

The hospital sent John and I UPMC Hamot shirts and I received a personalized note from the Director of patient relations and the CEO.  They were thanking me for being gracious and grateful.  Apparently that is uncommon.  I say it is unfortunate.   It struck me that people rarely thank these amazing people for the care that they deliver.  We are in the middle of a global health crisis, anti-socially distant and they were delivering emergent care.  These amazing people were doing phenomenal work and nobody was showing any appreciation.   I was told than is just "normal." I was apalled.  John is in good health and their great work discovered an unknown medical issue that is now being addressed.

The Answerman says "Be grateful for what people provide to you.  Humanity and manners are in short supply and yes, frontline workers are heroes.  In these socially distant or more likely anti-socially distant times depression is in greater supply than gratitude.  A smile and a "thank you" mean so much more than any of us would believe."

Be Good, Be safe,

Happy Holidays, 

Answerman