Where is the damn reset button?
I learned about pandemics in school; the flu or Influenza have always been a large part of history with the biggest event occurring in 1918 in which 20-50 million people lost their lives. We studied the bubonic plague, the black death, all of these historical events that changed the shape of our planet.
I never thought of this happening in 2020 with the advancement of medical science. The knowledge we as humans have gained since the beginning of the 20th century should have prevented this.
Yet here we are, in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Reference > https://ncov2019.live/data
2020 went from “hey” to “f**k off” real quick
I see stories of the shortages at hospitals; doctors, nurses not having the needed supplies, the infected are suffering alone, people are losing jobs, companies are scrambling to figure out how to have virtual employees. I've also seen stories of people sewing masks, stepping up to help their local communities.
However, the public, in general, is becoming slightly pissy. Going to the grocery store or Walmart, you will more than likely be yelled at by someone. Parking lots that were once full of cars, sit empty. Restaurants had to quickly figure out how to deliver or offer curbside pickup.
Life as we know it flipped.
If there was a silver lining; the air is cleaner in cities, waterways that were once filled with debris are now clean and are alive with fish. I’m no longer getting 10-50 robobcalls a week. I also have to assume that with multiple National and State parks shutting down, this spring and summer will be the first in decades in which the wildlife wasn’t trampled by tourists.
2020 is not going the way anyone anticipated!
Murphy’s Law - Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
I envisioned what 2020 held for me; life on the road, traveling, experiencing new places, pushing my photography to the best it could be, finding stories that made a difference, and sharing my adventures on YouTube.
However, I’m currently parked in my parent’s driveway, icing my “good” knee.
I know I am not the only one. The frustration I’ve heard, seen and witnessed is unbelievable. Personally, yes, I’m depressed. Everything is on hold. It’s a waiting game where I don’t know when or how it’s going to end. There is no vaccine, there is no stopping it at this time.
Stay Home Orders - Lockdown across the World
Survival became not “we” but “me” for people. It was disheartening and it pissed me off.
I happened to be walking through a Walmart in Tennessee a day before getting back on the road, stock up on just what I needed for the next leg of my journey. I’m walking around and a gentleman probably in his 80s, asked me where I thought the hand sanitizer was. He was in the right place but the shelves were empty.
I apologized, like it was my fault like I was to blame, I felt horrible. This man probably lives on a monthly shopping budget and had to come to the store for the items he needed (including toilet paper) but they were gone. I showed him where the antibacterial hand soap was on the shelf and said this was his best option.
Living life on the road quickly changed for many RVers/Vanlifers/Fulltimers. Some chose to stay on the road, others decided to settle in for a bit and wait it out.
Making the decision on where to head, which direction I should take was a daily mental battle. My brother would send me updates for the state of Ohio. My other friend sent me tornado warnings. I was watching and listening to live updates online and keeping an eye on the weather.
My brother asked the right question which helped solidify my decision.
“If shit goes south, where do you want to be stuck?”
I left Lake Guntersville on the 24th and made my way back to Ohio.
Our Future after the Pandemic?
If I had to predict when the world will be back to what we kind of remember?
September 2020. (Update: I WAS SO VERY VERY WRONG)
Fully Recovered? Two Years (2022). (More Accurate)
Don’t take my word for it, I have no idea, as of today they began opening the beaches in Florida. I don’t think we are ready. The US has now surpassed every other country in regards to actual cases of Covid-19. Personally, I’m going to continue to keep my distance; at least until there is a vaccine. Until then I will continue to make my own margaritas and watch episodes of The Office. I will find work where I can and try to survive.
“At some point over the next ten months all of us will entertain our worst fears and concerns. But I can also promise you this; life will go on. We will prevail.”
— Morgan Freeman, Deep Impact
Granted he was talking about a meteorite hitting the planet but the idea is the same.
Life will go on.
It will just be a bit different than 2020.
