When the first shoe thudded down, we all shuttered ourselves in our homes, hoarding toilet paper, flour and yeast, and trying to adhere to the Stage One guidelines. We learned that some vineyards would deliver wine to our home if we bought a case, which was helpful: the line-ups at the liquor stores were long and slow, and we were drinking a good deal while baking sourdough bread and looking at directions for sewing facemasks. We found that the local distillery sold bottles of hand sanitizer, as well as their usual products, and we purchased both. We washed our hands a lot, noticed how much we were touching our faces and tried to stay cheerful and kind. We slept a lot, and many of us gained weight.
When Stage Two was announced, things eased up considerably as
we expanded our bubbles, shopped more, and went, if somewhat nervously, to
restaurants. We planted gardens outside or on balconies or patios. It looked
like the curve was beginning to flatten and we started to feel smug about how
well Canadians were doing – especially in BC, we said, especially on Vancouver
Island. Small islands were doing best of all. We began to talk about the
future. Some of us spoke about the trips we planned to take.
Now we are in Stage Three, which feels as though we are getting
back to normal. The traffic is as busy as it was before the virus hit. Hotels,
motels, resorts and parks are open, and travel within the province is
encouraged. (Some indigenous locations in B.C. are not welcoming visitors at
present which makes sense, given the devastation they have experienced in the past from
smallpox and flu brought into their communities.) Movie
theatres are opening up people are out in full force in restaurants and hosting
small gatherings. Film and television can now take place within our province,
within the limitations of safety procedures, and there is agitation for yet
greater access to entertainment.
When I’ve been at restaurants and out on the streets lately, I
can feel the joy and excitement that is being experienced. The word that comes
to my mind is “épanouissement,” which translates as “a sense
of blossoming or fulfilment.” Covid-19 is still in our thoughts and often on
our lips, but it begins to feel a lot like a normal summer. People are becoming
hopeful.
And we should be hopeful; we have flattened the curve, but we may have to wait for a while. Dr
Bonnie Henry has said that moving to Stage Four will require widespread vaccination
against COVID-19, “Community” immunity, and broad successful treatments. And if we start to experience spikes in new cases because
of the loosening of restrictions, the restrictions will return. We will move
backwards.
I was encouraged to watch a recent interview with Thomas
Homer-Dixon, a professor and author who is the Director of the New Cascade
Institute at Royal Roads University.
Royal Roads President Philip Steenkamp says the institute
will bring researchers together to investigate how global pandemics, climate
change, growing wealth inequality, economic destruction, social upheaval and
political instability are interconnected. As we moved towards Stage Four, we
are realizing that we’ll be dealing with a new kind of world where we will have
to make progress on all these issues and their inter-relationships. It’s
timely.
Homer-Dixon
has a new book, soon to be released, called Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril.
I’m going to
order it.
While I wait for
Dr. Henry’s other shoe to drop.
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