Here we are once again, heading into year 6 of the COVID pandemic and people are still in fucking denial. Even people I know here who have always seemed reasonably reasonable are not only NOT getting their Covid-Flu boosters (although they have been available to everyone in Andalucía for the past couple of weeks) they are also NOT GETTING THEIR KIDS BOOSTED.

I think the greatest trick the Devil every pulled was when they told us early on in the pandemic that KIDS ARE NOT AFFECTED and somehow people chose to believe this. When even the least scientifically-minded person must have wondered… how would that even be possible? Why are kids magically exempt from viral contagion? Well, because they weren’t that’s why. Just like they’re not now. Yet even more than adults they are shoved into crowded social situations every day without any protection or proper ventilation and parents are somehow aghast when their little darlings comes home with yet another “bug” while they also suffer from a litany of symptoms that leave them almost constantly feeling “under the weather”. But god forbid anyone should mention the C-WORD.

Peter has just got over his second “bug” in two months. In October it turned out to be Flu A, this time it apparently was just a cold (he tested negative for Covid-Flu several times over ten days). But he stayed home and wore a mask. We also bought a small hepa filter for his room as it was too cold to open the windows for fresh air. And I think thanks to those precautions I didn’t catch either “bug”.

Which brings me back to… why the fuck won’t people take any precautions at all?? For starters, get vaccinated and keep up to date on your boosters. Wear a mask in crowded situations, especially on public transport. Stay home when you’re sick. If everyone did just those three simple things there would be so much less airborne illness. But people seem intent on pretending we are back to “normal” despite what is right in front of their faces. In short, people are inherently selfish.

[A note: I was reminded by my friend Sharon that one of the worst offenders are health care workers who are not wearing masks in spite of what they should have learned during the worst of times in 2020-2021. Bad enough that patients don’t mask up, but doctors in cancer wards, for example? No excuse.]

Because although Covid-19 is airborne and often presents as a respiratory illness, it is in fact a cardiovascular disease that affects the entire body, ageing blood vessels while destroying immune systems, increasing inflammation and leading to all manner of short and long term complications. IT IS NOT A COLD. And it isn’t seasonal like Flu, which is bad enough (and also isn’t a cold). What’s so frustrating is that we have the tools to help, if not eliminate, significantly reduce transmission. Except nobody cares. There’s no social conscience or sense of civic responsibility any more. Was there ever?

I sit here looking at everyone out there almost frantic in their need to spend and consume, with one obvious example being the over tourism explosion. Investing more and more into the most fragile of economies while destroying the cultures it requires to exist. I mean, just pull one thread and it instantly unravels, and then it’s gone, as we found out in March 2020. And it’s going to happen again.

Anyhoodle… I’m pushing 70 and probably won’t be around when the worst of it happens. At least I hope I’m not. So why then do I care so much? I can’t help it. In spite of all my cranky complaining I still love this world with all my heart. I even love some of the people  😉 Because the best of you are simply awe-inspiring and admirable in your empathy and courage, your talent, your energy and generosity… and so you inspire me to keep getting out of bed and caring. Please don’t ever stop.

The rest of you… either get vaxxed, wear a fucking mask and stay home when you’re sick or fuck off.