How would you like to wake up tomorrow and not have your spouse lying next to you…ever again?

How would you like to wake up tomorrow and not hear your child laugh…ever again?

How would you like to wake up tomorrow and not have your Mom or Dad to call and ask a question…ever again? 

How would you like your kids to wake up tomorrow and not have you around…ever again?

Do I have your attention?

Good.

Here is my plea to you.  Please do your part in stopping the spread of this heinous virus.

Why?

Because even though I don’t know most of you, I don’t want you to have to live the crappy life that my boys and I led for years and sometimes still lead.

How’s that for a good reason?

This virus is unpredictable.  The original patterns are proving to be untrue.  People of all ages are contacting Covid-19 and dying from it.  Healthy people are contacting it and dying from it.  We know very little about this virus but we do know that it is frighteningly contagious.  We also know that it’s turned our entire world upside own.  In addition to killing people, this virus is doing catastrophic damage.  People have lost their jobs and businesses are either closing or will be closing soon.  We are all watching our hard earned money disappear in the stock market.  Our incredible healthcare providers and emergency responders are putting themselves and their families in danger.  Our children’s educations are being negatively impacted.  High school seniors are being robbed of their senior year.  Spring athletes, college and high school, will likely never play their game again, after years of hard work and sacrifice.  Families are losing time with the older members outside of their households, older members who might not have many years left.

Here’s the amazing thing.  Every single one of us can help.  Every single one of us can play a role in turning this around.  All it takes is some dedication and sacrifice.

Stay home.  I know it sucks.  I know you are bored.  I know your kids are bored.  But please stay home.  The experts are telling us it will make a difference.  We have nothing to lose and everything to gain if it works.  The next two weeks are supposed to be bad…really bad.  Stay home.

Get out and do your essential errands, exercise, and get fresh air but follow the social distancing rules.  The rules are clear.  Follow them.  As of today, the news is telling us to avoid our essential errands if possible.  I know for me, it’s not likely that I will avoid the grocery store.  But I will wear my mask and gloves, stay at least six feet away from everyone, and take all the precautions I can.

Hot weather will soon be here (in the northern hemisphere at least).  Hopefully this virus is not heat resistant.  With a little social distancing now and heat from the sun, hopefully our lives will be back to normal sooner rather than later.

Here is what I will tell you.  Unexpected, tragic loss is horrendous, more horrendous than you can ever imagine.  The only people who really know how truly horrendous it is, are those who have experienced it.  If you have been lucky enough to avoid tragic loss so far, trust me when I say that you don’t want any part of it.  You certainly don’t want this vicious virus to cause it.

I’ll end with my own personal plea.  I’ve already had two tragic, unexpected losses in the past eight years:  my husband and my mom.  I can’t take another one.  My sons can’t take another one.  Two weeks ago I was driving with my 14 year old son and he said “our family can’t take another loss.”  It broke my heart that he was even worrying about it.  It’s the reason he has not given me any shit about having him locked down and not able to see his friends for weeks.  It’s the reason both of my sons don’t complain when they hear of other people violating the shelter in place but they are bored out of their minds in our house.  They don’t want anyone else in our world to die.

Most importantly they don’t want me to die.  I am all they have left.  Similarly I don’t want either of them to die because I am not sure I will have what it takes to lead the surviving child through another round of grief.

I don’t even think I have it in me to run through another journey of grief.

And believe me, you don’t want to be running in the shoes I have been running in for eight years since my husband died.

Please.  Stay home.  Stop the spread.

Author’s note:  A huge thank you to our healthcare workers, emergency responders, grocery workers, retail workers, truck drivers, restaurant workers, other essential workers, and all the teachers who are keeping our children educated through this..  Much love and prayers.  -SB