Peril Without

Good Friday, 2020, a time of peril.

I agree, we’ve all experienced one, if not more, before during our lifetime.

This time, however, it not only appears different for obvious reasons, but the magnitude of menace causes bewilderment. This unprovoked emotion only increases our persistent anxieties.

In the past we have been alerted to lethal exposures, some potential, some possible and some a bit more vague and less threatening. As a human family, we now tremble at the lethal potential of this invasion, and quiver with awareness of vulnerability.

Indisputably, the unknown outcome for any variety of contamination is grim.

Especially for those of our generation now deemed vulnerable and who were blissfully unaware of our status only six weeks ago.

Today as we slowly digest the warnings, the fear becomes a garment embracing us in negativity, shutting out reality.

We begin to view others in our isolated world with suspicion and avoid even remote contact with friends.

It becomes quickly apparent the current virus has tentacles and they grow more deadly than the disease.

I feel the cold breath of the unknown as I listen to the constant seemingly unending news conferences. I retreat to the comfort of streaming Larry David’s cruel humor but find myself being drawn back into the far grimmer reality of Covid-19 updates. I am hypnotized by the brutal bleakness of the words I hear.

I learn of an exposure in the residence where I abide, and find myself unsurprised. I suppose I had pessimistically anticipated the inevitability, yet cringe at the stark reality the unwelcome news brings.

I try to rationalize this new cruel world with objectivity and find that impossible.

There can be no denial of the universal terror of the unknown, regardless of age or degree of fragility.

Firsts were once viewed as adventurous or fun or memorable, I doubt this umique first in history will ever be remembered by any of those categories.

For those blessed to survive, they will attempt to remember once when the world was young before the Coronavirus descended.. Then, quietly wonder how long it will be before humanity walks again without the grim shadow of fear.

And ever pray it never happens again.