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60. COVID-19 Vocabulary

this is a fluid situation

This is a dynamic situation

the likes of we have never seen before

practicing social distancing

self-isolation

we are flattening the Curve

Later. Oh! Oh! It’s changed. we are planking the Curve

Even Later. Oh! Oh! We are PHYSICAL DISTANCING and and social media-wise approaching. Confusing I know. You have to be very clever to survive a pandemic.

we will all get through this together. This last one I have trouble with. I think about the man in the black CR-V who cut me off at First Avenue School and then gave me the finger - this is the temperament of my fellow Canadian. I think about the neighbours who are buying toilet paper in pallets (literally, one guy had a wagon) so by the time I got there the shelves were unnecessarily empty. I think about the man who walked past me, and from 2 feet away coughed into my face and did not even pretend to try to cover his mouth; it was one of those deep rattly chest coughs. I think about my extremely hard working son (retail) who heard about $82 Billion dollars in ‘direct support to Canadians’, and heard nothing ($0) for renters, is now convinced only the more well to-do homeowners count in this country. He is not buying the together spin either.

My fellow Canadians are selfish unsofisticated deplorables (thank you for that perfect word, Hilary). I think the together slogan is more wishful thinking than a projection of the possible. The politicians like the idea, but they need to take a closer look at the raw material that serves as the foundation for this ambitious project of kindness.