New Next Normal or New Bad Different? -Rules for Thee, Not for Me; The Hypocrisy is not New
I am first obliged to say:
Corporate wants you to find the difference between this picture and this picture.
As Covid restrictions ease around the world and as the LADPH begins to consider what a post-surge world will look like, I have been wondering if this is the beginning of the end, though not necessarily the end of Covid but of guidelines, lockdowns, and regulations, as we collectively learn to simply live with it? As variants and sub-variants begin to appear of ever-decreasing virulence, and if God be willing, hospitalizations and deaths decrease significantly, how can we begin to replace what was lost? Is this the end of the “pandemic” or is Winter truly coming?
Don’t hold your breath.
A few things to consider:
— In Southern California, as I imagine your area might be experiencing the same, both Delta and Omicron continue to overwhelm hospitals; however, in the last few weeks, those numbers are down to the relief of medical staff.
— But, stranger still, I learned in mid-January that on February 2, 2022, hospitals were no longer required to report their Covid deaths to the Federal government. If true (most information regarding the coronavirus these days is specious), how would they be able to determine when to lift restrictions and “follow the science”?
— Los Angeles City Council has approved the circulation of a petition to reverse their vaccine mandate for indoor spaces. Second only to New York City in its severity, the vaccine mandate for the City of Los Angeles had been detrimental to local businesses and restaurants as fights and screaming matches were shown on local news. (Though, there is an increasing population of those who do not need a reason to become violent and go full rage monster. God help us.)
Stuck in the Middle with You
So, what comes next? As with everything, it is in God’s hands. We know this. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, but even so, blessed be the name of the Lord.
But, what does your heart tell you?-Gandalf to Aragorn
— That if you all would have given the ring to the eagles, they could have taken it to Mordor and come back to the Shire just in time for the fireworks.
— and two, there does seem to be these visible cues everywhere that life will return to the new next normal, one in which we work to rebuild the economy, our spirits, and venture forth a bit wiser, but knowing we can never go back to how it once was. We take the lesson and the small wins, but leave the “we’re all in this together” rhetoric, the sourdough starter, the pandemic fatigue, Gal Godot’s Imagine, and meet at the Prancing Pony for a pint once more.
— Gregory Fox
A long, long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance
And maybe they’d be happy for a while
But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step
