TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 TREES, AND COVID

 TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 TREES, AND COVID

It’s been two years since COVID-19 broke bad around the world.  

First a couple of comments.  We are a global society.  There was the Spanish Flu in 1919 but there was less interaction internationally (although there was some).  Air travel between continents?  Not yet (think of the recent World War I airplanes - Snoopy and his biplane were very different from the thousands of flights that occur daily!!!).  How about ocean liners between Europe and the US?  Yes, they existed but not with the volume of the air traffic today.

Secondly, we (Americans in particular) are an outgoing society.  We go to large events - football, basketball, concerts in arenas that can seat thousands.  We go to grocery stores and other shops mixing with all kinds of people we don’t know. Our children are in schools (and rarely separated by six feet from another human being.

Over 950,000 people died in the United States, with estimates up to 20 million dying worldwide.  For those who survived the COVID-19 pandemic, will there be lingering health effects?  Will their sense of smell return?  Will their breathing ability improve?

As others have said, it was a perfect storm - a storm where the virus could (and did) spread rapidly and the population was “ripe” for breathing in the virus!!!

There were those who tried to follow the guidelines - masks, isolation, six feet separation, and frequent hand washing.  But, there were those that didn’t follow the guidelines (and in some respects ‘flaunted’ the guidelines).

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CHANGE OF THOUGHT (maybe)

From National Geographic:

“By ridding a forest of dead leaves, tree limbs, and other debris, a prescribed burn can help prevent a destructive wildfire. Controlled burns can also reduce insect populations and destroy invasive plants. In addition, fire can be rejuvenating”

Ecologists and forest management people believe that controlled fires in the appropriate places and carefully monitoring and watching the fires can actually help a forest improve.  As the quote from National Geographic suggests “fires can be rejuvenating”.  

Early on with the beginning of COVID-19, some people said the pandemic was good.  It was going to clear out the “deadwood” of society.  The presumption was that the elderly and sickly are less valued members of society. The Elderly are more susceptible to viruses and this would clear out some of the weakest members of society and leave the world stronger (aka Darwins’ theory of survival of the fittest).  

I suggest that our view of the elderly has changed in the United States.  My grandparents lived in their house until they died.  My parents downsized to an apartment and moved to be closer to my sister and family.  It was common to have almost full attendance for “Grandparent’s Day” at school.  I saw my grandparents frequently.  Families were more cohesive.

In my part-time job at the senior housing facility, I see people whose children rarely visit them.  One lady said her son visited twice a year.  Others do see their families more frequently.  One lady I see (age 91) had dinner with her daughter once a week.  One man that I visit never has anybody stop by to see him (at least as far as I know). Another lady (age 95) sees her two sons frequently.  But, the norm seems to be that of “out of sight, out of mind’.  

So, when Covid struck, some said “hurray, this virus is going to clean out the ‘deadwood’, those non-productive members of society - those seniors who take up space and resources.  

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So, (opening a ‘can of worms’) what is the value of grandparents in our society?  It seems like we’ve pushed them away - put them in retirement villages, put them in assisted living facilities, or “shuffle them off to Buffalo”!!  

One author goes against that concept.

“Grandparents meet a special need in the life of their grandchildren. In fact, studies show that kids believe that grandparents are very important and value their relationships with them. Furthermore, most grandparents find their role very rewarding.

“Most parents recognize the need to have other adults involved in the lives of their children. Kids often listen to other leaders and authorities, and parents inadvertently benefit from the parenting help. Grandparents are an excellent source of strength for grandchildren. Not only is there an emotional bond, but grandparents have the ability to help grandchildren feel special and embrace family values.

“Grandparents can be helpful sources of strength, information, and wisdom. They can be a stress reliever for frustrated children, arbitrators in a disagreement, and avid supporters to provide encouragement even during times of failure. Grandparents can be watchdogs, identifying weaknesses in parents, kids, and impending dangers. They can be family historians and offer stories that can teach important lessons to children.

Grandparents often like to joke and kid around with their grandchildren, bring surprises, and take children on special trips. Many children look to grandparents as a source of wisdom, a safe place they can go to for advice.  (My granddaughters learned that I like to ‘pull their leg’)

Grandparents can give perspective to their grandkids about growing up, and what maturity looks like. In short, grandparents become a stabilizing force within a family. 

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Maybe grandparents are not as productive in society, but I’m suggesting there is a place.  My grandparents when retired moved to live close to my sister and her family.  My sister when retired moved to live close to one of their children.  

Our mobile society where you might have to move around to get promoted plays havoc with grandparenting.  

Covid did hit the elderly with health conditions and maybe like the analogy of forests maybe Covid cleared out some “deadwood”.  

But, maybe Covid caused some of us to reflect on how we do need families and how relationships do matter!!!

(And, I know some families that learned to rely on social media and telecommunications to have Facetime chats and although separated by miles, found ways to keep in touch!!)

*****

LOVE WINS!!

Karen White
March 15, 2022