The Earth healed

And people stayed at home

And read books

And listened

And they rested

And did exercises

And made art and played

And learned new ways of being and stopped and listened

More deeply

Someone meditated, someone prayed, someone met their shadow

And people began to think differently and people healed.

And in the absence of people who lived in ignorant ways dangerous, meaningless and heartless
The Earth also began to heal

And when the danger ended and people found themselves

They grieved for the dead

And made new choices

And dreamed of new visions

And created new ways of living and completely healed the Earth just as they were healed.
- Kathleen O’Mara (1869’s Pandemic)

I don’t know about you guys, but I am tired of being at home. This is coming from a really “stay at home” type of guy. I usually spend most of my work day out on the street, driving from place to place, working in different scenarios, so, when the weekend comes I love to just stay in.

Except of course for game day. GAME DAY! Oh, will you ever return?!! I was listening to a talk show the other day and they were giving a dismal take on the eventual return, not of players, but of aficionados to the stadiums around the world. They were giving data and eventual return dates for countries with developed infrastructures and well laid out contingency plans. The data I repeat was dismal. When they came to Latin America, particularly Mexico, there was a nervous silence then an explosion of laughter!!! One of the announcers said it was going to be a cold day in hell before the authorities would be ready to deal with the seething masses of futbol fans.

I have to say this outburst crushed me. I know that we may not be the most prepared country, but when mexicans put their mind to it, great things can be achieved!!! Partly to find evidence against their commentary and partly to assuage my own indignation I went to the source!!!

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html

After perusing the general information included there and many of the external links, I have to agree it’s going to take some doing to make it back to any sort of mass gathering. Well, most of the points suggested are attainable and are basically preventive measures.

The first suggestion is implementing everyday preventive actions, starting with making sure everyone knows how the disease spreads, basically from person to person, and how to prevent it from doing so. Simple actions we are already aware of: no shaking of hands, coughing and sneezing into the elbow, wash your hands with soap and water, use hand sanitizer (60% alcohol), avoid touching eyes, nose and face in general. This we can do.

And the authorities in charge of the stadiums can obviously provide the manpower to clean and disinfect surfaces as frequently as possible, as well as provide staff and participants with prevention supplies, masks and antibacterial gel and such (My son is reading over my shoulder as I write this and he says “Windex!!!” Canijo chamaco). Even with all these measures in place our biggest problem will be the Personal Space Invaders (PSI’s).

I mean, come on! We are latinos after all!!! It’s part of our DNA to slip in close to gossip as we share the victuals and beverages. Everything is done within close quarters!!! And touching!!! Touch the arm, touch the elbow, hugs and slaps on the back!!! What are we going to do when our team scores?!!

Another thing mentioned as an alternative was having only half a stadium capacity filled in order to keep the 6 feet distance between aficionados suggested by the CDC. How in the world would this be imposed? What about all the season ticket holders? Would we be assigned a certain number of games? I think that would be better than nothing, but what if your friends were assigned an alternate date to your own?

The list of suggestions goes on and on and mostly seem impossible to implement without stepping on any toes. I guess the only thing we can do, as fans, is “apechugar”. Time for us to take the good with the bad and use the time to reflect on how our lives will be changing and how society will change along with it. Believe me, I more than anyone miss seeing my Chivas.

I think this time of reflection has to do a lot with our place in the universe. Yeah, you might laugh, but it’s really on that sort of universal dimension. Take a moment and look around. I have been pleasantly surprised by images of life moving out of the forests and countryside, slipping cautiously onto our city streets. Different birds species have been visiting the trees in the park across the street and those in front of our house, the twittering and bird calls light up the morning as the sun rises. Not to mention their poop peppering the top and side of my car. What have they been eating?

I have looked up at the night sky and been able to see the stars so clear that they light up the darkness. It’s a time of healing. If the Earth can heal then so can we. Maybe it’s a not so subtle message for us to change. Maybe we better listen. ¿No creen?