Small Steps - the Coronavirus Diary or How the Heck Are You Doing?

I started to write a diary about this annoying, awful, evil, Pandemic. But then I thought, what the hell is the point? Future generations will have enough information from the Internet.

So I gave up.

It is weird how the Coronavirus came about, and the way that it affects us all though.

I remember the first few weeks.

We all felt weird, as though we had been taken over by aliens or something. The virus was new, and it was terrifying. It left a sour taste, and let's face it, we needed a few bottles of wine to calm our nerves.

A couple of months on and we seem to have accepted it in a strange way.

We have bouts of terror which peaks, then it comes down in a rush towards indifference. But only for a while.

Obviously, if we watch the horror on TV the terror peaks again quite significantly.

Most of us are stuck somewhere in the middle.

Where I live we all seem to have settled into a very polite, 'How do you do, please after you,' sort of stance.

If we come face to face when out walking, one of us, usually me, let's be honest, gets out of the way. But then we smile and move on. I am lucky I suppose. I live in a small town where many people know each other.

I can't even bear thinking about living in a city. I heard that the shops are always full of people still pushing and shoving.

I remember a few weeks ago when people were grabbing toilet rolls and running over the feet of the people behind with the store trolley!

But we all carried on.

Being told to stay in and save lives was such a surreal thing to do at first. But as the weeks have gone on, it now seems the norm.

Then Boris Johnson dropped a bombshell.

From 'Stay Safe,' it is now 'Stay Alert.'

And then we were told we could go back to work, and mix with others!

A strange thing happened when this was announced.

It was as if the Emperor had declared;

'Send them to the Lions, open the gates and put them in the Arena!'

Yes, it does sound strange, but that is exactly how I felt. And I know others felt the same.

I also believe that words can be so powerful.

When Boris told us to 'Stay indoors, etc, we picked up on the word 'Indoors'.

Now the door is open, and they are using the words, 'Stay Alert.'

What, no more Stay Indoors, safe?

Powerful stuff. Take the word 'Indoors' out of the equation and it has had a pretty big impact on the people.

We all know the word.

It's called agoraphobia.

The fear of outside. I am sure there is another 'ism' for being terrified of a pandemic when told to go outside and get on with your life. But I have no idea what it is.

So, let's stick to agoraphobia. It really was like that. Someone opened the door, and yelled,' Get back out there!'

Eek, no! Go to hell!

But of course, we have too.

People need to eat. Firms need to work to survive, and for the mental health of the nation, we have to see people and interact with them.

Funny how we pick and choose the stuff we like though, isn't it? Over here in the UK, we have been told that:

1. You can go out and meet one other person from another household.
2. Play a sport with a small number of people.
3. Go back to work if you can.
4. Wear masks or face-coverings in an enclosed space.

So far I have seen people playing football, others out walking. Cars scooting along the roads as though they are trying to escape, and so on.

Wearing masks in the shops to stop the spread? Er, no.

So it seems we only do what we like. If it is inconvenient then forget it.

And this is us so far.

Scared at the next level. Worried about what comes next, and so on.

Let me know in the comments what you fear, hope, or dread. And tell me how you are at this stage of the 'Pandemic Drama.'