Day 70: Happy Memorial Day!!!

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you’re all safely enjoying the festivities and the beautiful (though occasionally rainy) weather. Quarantine restrictions have been relaxing, but maybe sooner than they should and people are flocking to parks, beaches, and rivers in droves. Unfortunately, the concept of social distancing has gone out the window which is ironic considering this holiday commemorates the dead. Technically, Memorial Day is meant to honor the men and women who died in military service, but this year we also remember those who died from the Covid-19 crisis. The last projected number of deaths from the virus in the United States was just shy of 100,000. And with restrictions loosening and more people throwing caution to the wind, this number is only expected to rise with a second resurgence on the horizon.

I’ve tried to keep my social interactions limited to a select few, but it’s certainly difficult at times when the weather is beautiful and everybody’s out. And now my state has made national news for its carelessness. People are crowded together at a pool at the Lake of the Ozarks. Making national news is pretty embarrassing, but mostly I’m worried about these people’s safety. Why has the concept of common sense protective measures become associated with living in fear?

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/24/us/ozarks-missouri-party/index.html

At the same time, I’ve heard a lot of discussion about navigating that fine line between safety and sanity. We’ve all been going nuts staying trapped inside, and it’s even harder with this gorgeous weather. A handful of bars and restaurants in my hometown are allowing dine in at this point with restricted capacity. Are we being careless? Is it safe to start going out?  I hope your Memorial Day is safe, and for all of those grieving lost loved ones and those that died serving this country remember just how lucky we are. Hopefully, this year becomes a little bit easier, and the number of deaths from this crisis doesn’t surge.