Talk to Terrie:
The Need for Social Distancing

“Social distancing doesn’t mean you don’t get to be social. It just means you have to do it from home for the time being.” – Brittany Wong from the Huffington Post

I’m the eternal optimist. I always look for the good in people. I try to find the best in any situation. Even during these scary times, I am convinced that we, as a nation and the global community, will pull through this pandemic intact and stronger. But only if we all work together.

My husband, who is a sick nuclear weapons worker, and I self-isolated except for a weekly trip to town for supplies beginning the second week of March. We explained our decision to our family since they work in essential fields and are out in the public. They understood and are very supportive. We actually have had this type of isolation in place for years to protect my husband’s decreased immune system. If anyone of them were sick when a visit or gathering was planned, we stayed away from each other!
Still, knowing that you shouldn’t see family and friends for an extended period of time does weigh heavily sometimes.

But then I remembered how lucky we are. We have emails, texts, Skype or FaceTime, Instagram and Face Book. Oh, and we even have telephones!

When I was a child I contracted at various times measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella, chicken pox and rubella together, and influenza. I know our house was quarantined during the measles’ outbreak because I remember the sign on the front door.

What I don’t remember is my parents ever complaining about being quarantined. It was a fact of life and they accepted it so that the community was protected.

My father was exempt from the quarantine because he was a radar technician for the airport. My mother was a stay at home mom. But she had a phone and a television airing three stations. The corner store down the street from us delivered food.

They and, through their nursing efforts, I and my siblings survived. I’m sure that many of you reading this blog experienced the same thing.

If they were able to get through their pandemics without the technology we have today, I know we can. Still, certain sacrifices need to be made.

Knowing that I can’t give my grandsons in town a hug for awhile is a bit depressing. But then I remember that my other grandchildren live a thousand miles away and I only give them hugs once every year or two. This is doable.

This blog from the Huffington Post explains the need to limit your social interaction, temporarily.

“…healthy self-distancing doesn’t just mean avoiding bars and restaurants…it also means staying home and not visiting seemingly healthy friends at their homes.”

So, pick up that phone, text or email your family and friends, comment on that Face Book page. Let the people you know that you are alive and well and still care about what’s going on in their lives. If we all work together to protect each other the sooner we will be able to return to our normal lifestyle.