A pressing thought about the C-virus.

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

You know something...I think that my generation that lived through this will be considered in the same light that folks that lived during the Great Depression did in the far-flung future. I as an old man will likely be sanitizing everything every day, and when the younger people get curious, someone will say something along the lines of "he lived through COVID-19, honey, he doesn't like to talk about it." A bit frightening to think about, but this is just history.

[studegary]

Probably a little closer to home here than there. New York has passed the 10,000 death mark. This includes the father of a friend. My paternal grandmother died in the last pandemic (1918). My parents were married on Thanksgiving 1929, so they were just starting out with the Great Depression.

[tsenecal]

The first six months of 2020 will definitely be a "moment" in history. I was talking about this with the younger men on my crew at work. As mentioned above, it will be a time that they lived through. We also talked a bit about the future. Is this pandemic just the beginning, and more powerful bugs will follow? In 1918, people didn't get far from home, and it still spread throughout the world. Imagine a bug like that in todays global environment.

[Chris Pile]

Sorry..... C-19 will be a boring moment in history, and hardly worth even a footnote.

[tsenecal]

Disagree with that. The number of deaths around the world, and the financial impact, that it caused, will not soon be forgotten. I believe that it will also have a large impact on our childrens education. I think that many of the kids that are out of school, will fall behind, and never get caught up. I'm not preaching doomsday, but it will leave a mark in history.

[6hk71400]

My father worked on Submarines in San Francisco during WW2. He drove a 1941 Champion that he bought new for $658.00. Essential? Yes he was. Things that were not available you just did without or make due. When my mother could not get nylons, she got make up paint for her legs.

I was not around after the war and what the impact was on the economy. Reading about what happened is not the same as living through it.

I am not comparing WW2 to our current situation. Prognosticators can throw out their options but we really don't know what the future holds. I do know this: if someone lost a friend or family member, it will not be a footnote in history. It will be a lasting impression. My father was orphaned at age 9 in 1925. He always had a soft spot in his heart when someone lost their father. Think of how many young children will be affected now. I don't feel that will be a boring moment for them.

Bob Miles

[JoeHall]

My late Mamaw, born 1893, used to talk about friends and family lost to typhoid and TB back in the day. When talking about a deceased friend or relative she'd often say, "that old typhoid (or TB) got him/her...". Those scourges made a lasting impression on her, and I am thinking same for most of us, regarding CV-19. Similar to HIV, soon everyone will know someone who perished from it. I will be glad when they finally get a handle on CV-19. I am sure they will, but time is of the essence, especially given how highly contagious it appears to be.

[t walgamuth]

I read the obit today of an acquaintance who died age 69....wonder if he had the virus? I don't agree with Chris on this.....it will be remembered and referred to the virus recession or something similar. Hopefully we are past the worst of it.

[8E45E]

When my mother could not get nylons, she got make up paint for her legs.

Today, we have Tattoo parlors.

Craig

[studegary]

Today, we have Tattoo parlors.

Craig

I can't imagine that they are currently open as a necessary business.

[JRoberts]

As a retired history teacher I cannot believe this bout with CV-19 won't earn a permanent place the history of every country on the planet. The overwhelming number of deaths is bad enough, but add the economic damage and you get something that had such negative results that it will leave an unforgettable scare on mankind as a whole.

[Skip Lackie]

The first six months of 2020 will definitely be a "moment" in history. I was talking about this with the younger men on my crew at work. As mentioned above, it will be a time that they lived through. We also talked a bit about the future. Is this pandemic just the beginning, and more powerful bugs will follow? In 1918, people didn't get far from home, and it still spread throughout the world. Imagine a bug like that in todays global environment.

Certainly agree that this will be a memorable event in history, like the black plague or the 1917-18 flu pandemic. While it is true that people didn't travel much in 1918, it was the troops returning to their homelands from WWI that ensured it became a (almost) world-wide pandemic. More powerful (or at least more efficient) bugs will continue to evolve, as has been repeatedly predicted. Some countries (eg, Singapore) took those warnings and their experiences during SARS seriously and prepared by investing in infrastructure, supplies, and equipment. Unfortunately, our politicians tend to focus only the time period remaining until the next election, and refuse to invest in longer-range planning or investments.

[6hk71400]

Agree

Bob Miles

[Dick LeRoux]

"You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but..."
We now live in a different age and yet we have the most information historically available at our fingertips.

[Chris Pile]

Just to be clear - C-19 has yet to measure up to past and current killers....
Here's a recent chart from the CDC if you don't believe me.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9o0f3HgzBt/

I would agree that 2020 is shaping up to be "The Year of the Asterisk", with school years being cut short, sport seasons being canceled, and so on.