Do you think we, Americans, will be able to self-quarantine?
I don’t. Let me give you two examples of why not:
- It’s this past Saturday. We are getting ready to hunker down at Casa de Sackett. Part of our nesting process is to get some projects done which means a quick trip to the Container Store to get some materials. The Container Store is very close to the Cheesecake Factory. In my mind, “No one is going to be out, let’s just slip into the Cheesecake and get the last supper in before the big shut in!” We arrive at the Cheesecake Factory to find a 30-minute wait to get in. A giant gathering of people inside around the host stand all squished together. Breathing on each other and acting like none of us are really sick.
- Pictures have been circulating (like the one below) from this past week in Florida as Spring Breakers are just out doing Spring Break stuff, during a global pandemic. By the way, similar pictures were spreading about 3-4 weeks ago from Italy before they had to shut down the entire country and start making death bed decisions on who gets care and who dies.
There is a line in the musical Hamilton from the second Cabinet Rap Battle where Hamilton says to Jefferson:
“You must be out of your god damn mind!”
Most of us, right now, are out of our god damn minds. The fact is the vast majority of us, around 97% will survive the 19 without much issue at all. So, we think what the hell, extra Spring Break suckers! I’m outta school!
The reality that will soon hit home is when we are attending virtual funerals for our Mom’s and Dads, and Grandparents, and aunts and uncles, the little boy down the street who has asthma but I thought it was a great idea to bring him a stuffed turtle from Clearwater Beach and kill him.
For all those folks who think the flu is worse and we are just overblowing this entire thing, answer me this – if I gave you one hundred Skittles in your hand and said, no, they taste great, only three of them will kill you, would you eat any of them?
Apparently I would, because I thought going to Cheesecake Factory for one last meal was important enough to put myself and my family at risk, and I’m the average American right now…
But god damn are those sweet potato fries are amazing!
See? We’re all Fucked! Keep safe out there my friends, and for the love of Saint Pete stay away from people! And stop buying all of the toilet paper!
Great article. I shared it with my non HR husband.
I’ve had my daily dose of Vernors Ginder Ale so I’ll be safe. 😉
Americans can always be counted on to do what they want regardless of what the government at any level tells them what to do. Houston City and County leadership told bars and night clubs in Harris County to shut down last week end to help stop the spread of the virus. Guess what happened? They were packed.
Here as well, Don. The universities shut down, so all the kids decided to go to the bars and party!
I probably would have done the same thing, at that age. Hopefully, the brutal reality of what we are facing doesn’t come back and bite them.
T
Tim –
Thank you for exposing your Cheesecake Factory addiction. In all honesty, I think we are all behaving this way in one regard or another. But the reality is we all need to be vigilant to protect ourselves and others.
Thank you for the laugh this morning – keep it coming.
Mary
Thanks, Mary!
Well said (as usual), Tim!
Thanks, Jill! Hoping neither one of us is Patient Zero in DeWitt!