Human Touch
I’ve been sick. It’s flu season. Turns out I have a form of Influenza (even though I’ve been vaccinated). I’m not able to get close to another human for at least four more days, perhaps longer. The Dr. instructed me to wait 3 full days after my flu symptoms are gone, and today I still have flu symptoms. So I wait…probably more than 4 days; only time will tell. That will make it at least 10 days without the touch of another human.
Today is Tuesday and I still don’t feel well. The last time I was touched by another human was last week Wednesday at 4:30 pm. I got a quick good-bye kiss from my boyfriend. At the time I had no idea I’d look back on that quick peck as a momentous event; as the last time I’d truly connected to another human on a very personal level. I had no idea I’d get so sick with Influenza that all I’d want to do was lay in bed binge watching Seinfeld, napping, pushing fluids, popping acetaminophen and trying to get through my days with a minimum of cold sweats, fever and pain. Never mind all the dishes and cleaning and picking up that needs to be done as a result of my living alone with influenza during this time of CoronaVirus (and no I don’t have Corona — I tested negative).
We happen to be in the middle of a global pandemic due to the CoronaVirus. There are instructions for humanity regarding CoronaVirus and how to flatten the curve. It’s an important time to pay attention to our social responsibilities. And I’m trying, really hard to comply, but it’s painful; both emotionally and physically it turns out. Instructions have been given by local, state and federal government: use social distancing, stay at home, socially isolate. What does this mean? It means we need to stay at least 6 feet distant from anyone who is not living in our homes with us.
Herein lies the problem for folks like me; I live alone. Completely alone. No one comes home from their essential job at night. No one is here to make noise in the other room. No one to make dinner for. No one falls asleep watching TV with me. And there’s no one I pass by in the kitchen or hallway and lightly touch. Nothing. Nada. No human touch for me. It’s been 6 days and apparently for me — this is too long. I’m feeling it this afternoon. I miss my family, my friends. I miss the people I love. My mental health and constitution are being tested.
I needed groceries like fresh fruit and juice so I ordered them online, but was too sick to drive to pick them up. My son volunteered to pick them up for me. He brought them this afternoon and put them inside my door for me to grab and put away. That was super-helpful, but REALLY hard! All I wanted to do was give that man a hug; for many reasons. But mainly because right now I miss the touch of another human. He offered a hug, he’d hold his breath he said. I had to decline due to my current illness and suppressed immune system. I can’t risk a hug right now. I need a 3 day reprieve from this flu before I can touch another human. If I don’t, I could get CoronaVirus leading to COVID-19, and an outcome I don’t want to imagine.
I understand there are a lot of folks with bigger problems than I have. There are folks who don’t know where they will get the money they need to pay the rent, utilities or even buy groceries. I know and appreciate there are folks who live paycheck to paycheck and many people have lost their jobs. There are people socially isolated in a compromised or abusive domestic environment. I understand all this and wish times were different.
And I know logically, and in my heart, that “This too shall pass”. But that doesn’t make it any easier to get by every single hour of every single day.
So if you can, give the people you live with a hug. If you don’t want to do it for you, then do it for them. Maybe they need one.
References:
ABC.News -Calls to US helpline jump 891%, as White House is warned of mental health crisis
Bing.com — Domestic Violence Resources
CDC.gov- CoronaVirus Disease 2019
CDC.gov — Influenza (flu)
CNBC.com — Flattening the coronavirus curve: What this means and why it matters
FoxNews.com — How to get financial help amid coronavirus outbreak
Wikipedia.com — Seinfeld
Wikipedia.com — Social Distancing
