It's been around a year since someone close to me got COVID. I was pretty happy with that 365-day streak; however, one of my friends recently got hit with that infamous virus yesterday.
Interestingly, it's always in May when someone gets sick. Even more interestingly, it's always around my brother's birthday (May 18th). Last year, it was actually the birthday boy himself who got sick. We had to do a FaceTime call to celebrate his 17th year of existence.
Anyways, I had just left school and was pretty excited to tell my friend about this chem teacher that I was always hearing about (apparently, he isn't a very good teacher).
"No, Eian. I can't." "Why not?" "I have COVID."
"Oh..."
That was pretty sad to hear. I was with them a couple of times, and I'm hoping I don't need to wear masks again. I mean, no one likes them. It's like having to adapt to a whole new environment again, but it's necessary.
TBH, I kinda forgot about the 'rona (corona) for a while, and I think everyone else has too. It's been left in the dust to dry and harden. It's been left as something we once knew, even though it's letting us know it's still here (it's definitely letting me know). I don't know how ideal that really is...
Does something still "exist" if everybody has forgotten about it? And I talking about everybody.
I mean, in our eyes, George Washington will always "exist" (not physically, but spiritually) because he'll always be remembered. MLK will always "exist" because he's made a dent in history. Even fictional characters like Spiderman will always (in a way) "exist".
In the movies, they constantly say "You'll be remembered" but is that really true? In real life, we probably also say that sad phrase.
But, does anybody remember a random baker from the 1900s years and years after he passed? Does anybody remember certain sports players (who didn't cement a legendary legacy) years and years after their retirement? For those who play soccer, when was the last time you heard the name Bojan Krkic? The so-called "next Messi?" Does anybody remember Cristian Tello?
I don't think so. And I think the same thing applies to the 'rona.
The pandemic isn't over in that there have been 438,000 cases in the last 7 days (as of May 16th). The pandemic isn't over in that some people at my school still wear masks. The pandemic isn't over in that people are still dying from it.
However, I think it is over in that people just don't talk about it anymore.
In fact, I literally just talked to my friend (let's call him Z) at the same time I'm writing this. I asked him, "When was the last time you had a conversation about COVID?"
"Just now."
"No, Z. I mean like, a real convo."
"Probably a long time ago."
"Bro, COVID's over", said Z's friend who was sitting next to him.
I can't speak for other generations, but for Z and Gen Z, I think the pandemic is definitely over. People just don't care anymore, and I think there's room for both optimism and concern.
Optimism in that human connection is restored. Concern also in that human connection is restored, because maybe the 'rona will be too.
Comments