Day 32: A Death Close to Home. Six Degrees of Separation

Each week I have a list of people I think I should check in with.  Some are family.  Some are colleagues.  Many are friends.

Today I was able to speak to Nana.  The caption phone didn’t work for the first fifteen minutes, and I was forever grateful that her aid, who still goes to work with Nana for four hours a day, was willing to help out.  Eventually, the captioning phone kicked in and if I speak slow enough, the words pop up on the phone’s screen so Nana can read them.  This does make for stunted communication, but it is communication. And since Nana is in a NJ nursing home where Covid 19 is making the rounds, every communication is golden.

I also reached out to a co-worker just to chat.  It gave me a sense of normalcy to speak pedagogy.  And it was great to hear that things are well at home. She and her kids are having a bit of fun.

Another call I made was to a friend.  He’s alone right now, and somewhat disconnected from the world.  I’ve always enjoyed our conversations and listening to different viewpoints about books and movies.  But today’s conversation began with him telling me he lost a family member to Covid 19.

I knew this would happen, and that it would only be a matter of time.  It’s like playing six degrees of separation Kevin Bacon style.  You know that someone will know someone affected by the virus.  Unfortunately, this someone passed away from it. It’s horrifying.

I wonder how many other people I know have someone in their lives who is ill, or hospitalized with Covid 19.  There has got to be at least one more.  I do know a couple from church who both have it.  So far they are kicking it.  I have family members working on the front lines who have been exposed, but as far as I know, they aren’t ill.

But it is just a matter of time.  I wonder how close to our front door Covid’s Death will come.  Not to sound morbid, but there is that possibility.

Have you played Degrees of Separation from Covid?

Stay safe dear reader.