a deserved friday the 13th

The coronavirus (or more specifically, COVID-19) is a world pandemic. 

I've decided to write, lest I forget the world today.

Yesterday, Mayor DeBlasio declared a state of emergency in NYC.

To name just a few of the closings:

• All of Broadway — just as M, V and I are trying to re-schedule our tickets for Diana, The Musical, which we were supposed to see next week. Looks like I'll now most likely be spending my birthday alone.

• All national sports events, including the NCAA Final Four.

• St. Patrick's Day Parades.

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

• CBS Upfronts (with other networks to follow, no doubt).

• All venues in NYC that house more than 500 people.

• All NYC public libraries.

• All BAFTA screenings.

The coronavirus has introduced a new phrase into the vernacular: social distancing. We are now all trying to stay at least 6-feet from the next person. Obviously that presents major challenges on the subways and busses.

There has been a run on necessities. On Tuesday (March 10) I went to Costco and bought toilet paper. Big decision there. No regular Charmin, only the ultras. I stood in front of the TP section for far too long, deciding between Ultra Strong or Ultra Soft. I eventually decided to err on the side of strong. When M went a few days later in Boston there was no decision to be made. The TP shelves were empty.

.

We are all second-guessing everything:

• Should we get together and play our Monday night game of Canasta? Still undecided.
• Should I keep a non-essential doctor's appointment at my podiatrist? I cancelled.
• Is my newspaper, delivered each morning, safe to touch? Not sure, but I did.
• Should I cancel my hair-coloring appointment on Sunday? No way.
• What about the book I've been reading from my library? Can't worry about that.
• Is it okay for the window cleaners to come tomorrow? I hope so.
• Should I send my laundry out? I probably will, but then won't touch it for a few days once it comes back.
• And that sneeze I have? Is that indicative of something more serious? I doubt it.

The economy is crashing.

And our President is, well, the same person he was before. Disbursing wrong information and blaming everyone but himself for the virus' spread and lack of sufficient testing kits.

Maybe —hopefully — Trump's mismanagement of the coronavirus will finally cause his downfall. 

Now that would be a good thing.