March 2020
Living in so much craziness would make anyone’s head go whirly. My friend thinks Covid-19 is the craziest event of our generation, while I’m thinking - “I hope it is.”
Many things happened, and very fast, and for once I’m not talking about my personal life.
What am noticing though is how we cope with it. Italy has its own spin on WW2’s “keep calm and carry on” aka “everything will be alright”. While people my age are typing up new corona and toilet paper memes so fast, the keyboards might blow out. Humor is still a strong defense mechanism.
The internet is the place to hang out now and masterpieces like this are born
A DJ from Brooklyn has made CardiB’s Coronavirus shouting into a song and it’s now available on Apple Music and Spotify. Ironically, in the profile picture the artist is wearing a mask.
But really, I’m wondering how is this going to make an impact on our future as a culture? Will employers become more accommodating to working from home? Will “cooking and chill” become the new go-to date? And will quarantine babies be the new boomers?
I don’t really have the answers to this but sounds possible to me.
Could not find the author but would love to give credit
The economy is crashing, even though I see it as more of a shift in consumers needs. We are choosy of what we spend on. Suppliers of products necessary right now and businesses that provide them are exploding in cash while others (not necessary in this exact moment) are drowning in debt, struggling to keep open. Just a few days ago I saw an ad on Instagram for ShopRite, while others are reporting ads for apps on homeschooling. I don’t believe supermarkets need ads right now, the small pizzeria around the corner does for sure, but with recent inability to eat-in, I’m not too sure all small businesses like that could afford an ad right now. All this is due to just a small circumstance somewhere in China that blew up into a worldwide pandemic.
In midst of all this thinking, I went out to NYC to see the scene there and observe how a daily lifestyle of the city changed. The streets were of course empty of cars but some walkers remained. Washington Square park was actually busy with people around the fountain and benches, though they did keep distance from each other. “The virus” and “distancing” were the only topics I heard from those walking while talking on the phone. A couple was kissing without touching each other with hands.
Couple kissing in Washington Square Park
One woman screamed “holly Jesus” then jumped to the side when she saw my backside while I was taking a picture (which scared me so much I jumped too). She then apologized and said from behind I looked like I was blowing my nose and right now she is walking away two blocks away and around the last person she saw who were blowing their nose. Then kept walking.
It’s basically panic mode in real life and a party online.
Soho street entirely empty. (Bouqueria is a Spanish restaurant with great tapas)
I just hope that politicians are going to do the right thing now more than ever. After all, elections are coming up.
