Like a 'precious few' in the song, September.
Today is Saturday as you read this, but I wrote it on Friday. Thirty-six days of quarantine. Another Friday, another Saturday. Once they were very special in our busy schedules. A chance to pause and relax; share pizza with friends, catch up on chores; take a nap; put files in order, especially after filing taxes; make a list of projects around the house that will need to be done in the coming months. Maybe thinking about a vacation trip? Or maybe simply reading the books and magazines we’ve set aside for so long?
Well, the Fridays and Saturdays keep appearing. They are still days we can task with some things when times were normal. The cadence, though, is off. The tempo of daily living is a continuum of household stuff – cooking meals, cleaning the kitchen, washing dishes, doing laundry, reading the newspaper (most likely the on-line edition), and a host of other daily activities. Only now the tempo is not out of the home, into the office or plant, or even down the street to visit good friends and neighbors.
Fridays and Saturdays are still available to do the reading, napping and projects. Most importantly they are there for our futures. What will we do with the time ahead when this quarantine thing is over and done with? What have we learned from this experience? Have we changed? Will we change? What will we do differently when ‘normal’ returns?
I think we will be a changed nation. I certainly hope so.
I watched the State of Illinois COVID-19 press briefing on TV Thursday afternoon. I was impressed with the language used in informing the public. I was impressed how honest and forthright the speakers were. They told us the facts, helped us understand what they mean, and then introduced some of the experts behind all the data shared. Experts like multiple PhD researches and scientists; many of them with more than one PhD. People who form sentences carefully and report what they know in context with the problem being worked on. And the elected leaders who are smart enough to tap these experts on the shoulder and ask them to help us all.
The speakers were concise, expert and understandable. They were pleasant human beings. They were and are transparent in the work they do for the common good. These are the people who make up our experts in universities, research institutions, libraries, courts, law schools and so much more. They are there doing important work. For us. For our society.
We take this for granted I think. We don’t remember the army of dedicated people working to know and understand how our world functions. Nature or man- made, the world is a complex place. Cool minds disciplined by research and study help us make sense of things. Their advice and expertise is folded into the management of our government units, corporations, businesses and social institutions.
Not all states are endowed equally. Illinois, however, is a treasure trove of academic strength. And governments and leaders who are intelligently using these treasures.
Arkansas has not shut down for the plague. Georgia is opening early with highly personal service businesses and threat of COVID’s spread. Florida beaches are open along with many other venues. Other states similarly deal loosely with the plague.
Not Illinois. Not Chicago. We are serious that the public powers protect and serve the people for their long-term health and prosperity. No guarantees. Just dedication and honest application of what is known. To make sense of all this.
And to invest in the future of all our lives. Like we need to do in public education, higher education, and professional development of government officials. It wouldn't hurt to nurture careers in these fields, either!
After all, this is our investment in the future. And adaptation to whatever change beckons.
April 25, 2020
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