March 20: New Horizons
This title is not meant to be overtly hopeful and tastelessly optimistic. It is solely a reference to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which I bought on a whim today upon its release. I played it for three consecutive hours. Dusk was upon me before I knew it. Who would imagine that pulling weeds and catching fish could be so fun?
I’m no stranger to Animal Crossing games or to video games in general, however I am remarkably unskilled and unknowledgeable about them. The games I’ve played the most include, unsurprisingly, the majority of the Pokemon games (including the spin-offs like Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Pokemon Ranger, etc.), and while there is a certain amount of strategy required to succeed in those games, my typical method includes being over-diligent with leveling up and ensuring that, even with game mechanics that operate against me (like type disadvantages), I can still win through force alone.
It’s been some time since I played an AC game. I bought it today for a few reasons: 1) the hype, 2) the time, and 3) the promise of a relaxing escapist fantasy. It’s an appropriate choice.
As I mentioned in my last post, I had off today thanks to some un-cancelled PTO for a convention that was unfortunately unable to occur. Instead of working from home, then, I just spent most of my day in the same location, doing similar things, but avoiding certain pressures in order to cushion my sanity levels.
And it honestly felt like I needed a day like this. Sure, there are two more days ahead that will inevitably be similar before I return to work (in the spare bedroom), but with my brain and emotions running so high over the last week or so, it felt nice to just take a step back, watch some mindless shows, and relax.
I also spent some time baking bread today, which is always a good pursuit. It’s a little denser than I remember, however, so I had to really choke down the pieces I ate. Still, it was tasty, especially when dunked in soup. I’m gonna mix up some olive oil and black pepper tomorrow and really live life.
Through the grapevine of multiple of my parents’ connections (admittedly, not the most consistently reliable channels), I’ve heard rumors that a stricter lockdown is imminent, enforced by the military, and while I will likely survive being in this house for a month (or two if we’re really pushing it), the thought struck a little fear in me. Like most of us, I don’t like the idea of being contained or controlled, even when I know it’s for the good of everyone. Having my movement restricted more than it is now is a scary thought.
So, like any sane person would do, I accompanied my mother to the grocery store today. It wasn’t terribly crazy, but there were a large number of empty shelves (it seems leafy greens, potatoes, soup, and water were on everyone’s lists). I was also shocked to see how many elderly individuals were out and about.
I’ve seen a lot of criticism of younger individuals failing to respect and abide by the calls for social distancing practices. I’m sure that’s fair. We’ve all got some rebel blood in us, I’m sure, and in this age of digital media and misinformation, there are bound to be a number of people who are ill-informed about the current degree of this crisis. And of course, I’m sure there are some who don’t care, but I would like to believe this apathy is also the result of a lack of information (complete, accurate, forthright) available to them.
But when it comes to older folks, it just shocked me to see so many individuals in the space of the grocery store. The phrasing of some officials has irked me (when they speak of “isolating grandparents” and “keeping them away from the family” as though they have minimal autonomy), but I have to wonder if it is being communicated to individuals in high-risk groups how imperative it is (for their health, for their neighbors’) that they distance themselves from others.
One of my grandmothers is in her 70s. She’s remarkably healthy for her age and considerably more athletic than I am (the bar is low, I confess, but she does a lot). Still, should she be infected with this virus, she may be in serious trouble. But it’s difficult to explain to someone that they cannot continue living their lives as they wish because there is an invisible threat, that the reason for her encouraged solitary confinement is for her wellbeing, nothing more.
It feels like a prison sentence. And as a critic of the U.S. prison system, I don’t say that lightly. But in the case of COVID-19, these behaviors really are for the best, no matter how difficult they are. Cancelling plans, avoiding friends and loved ones, staying indoors when possible, and declining invitations to gatherings are all practices that will help slow the spread and flatten the curve.
Because what people don’t seem to understand is that, yes, this virus is highly contagious and there is a high likelihood that a majority of the population will get it. However, the reason for slowing its spread is to avoid overwhelming an already weakened healthcare system. If there aren’t enough beds to house patients, ventilators to treat severe cases, and supplies to protect healthcare workers, the death toll will rise at a horrific rate, and many people will suffer in different ways.
I don’t mind being by myself. I am often more content to sit in my room alone than with family. I may be better acclimated to situations like this when it is advised and encouraged that we stay put. For others, I’m sure it isn’t that easy. But we all have to make sacrifices. And if it comes down to sacrificing some personal pleasure for the welfare of others as well as the sanctity of society, I feel like that should be an obvious choice.
But enough of that lecture. I plan on finishing up a fluffy show and playing more Animal Crossing this evening. A fantasy world with animal friends, zero-interest loans, and a private island? Don’t mind if I do.
Be sure to follow along with Erin Walker’s posts about how she’s dealing with quarantine life, as well!
