This self isolation is becoming real, very real, too real.
Every day is like Bill Murray’s repetitious Groundhog’s Day. (If you haven’t seen the movie, see it soon.) If you have a down day, take extra good care of yourself, renew your commitment, and keep on keeping on.
Until the weather got nice, the highlight of our days has been the 2 o’clock COVID-19 Update. Some folks call this “Wine with Dewine”. In our house it’s coffee with Dewine.
MORE FROM PAM COTTREL: Social distancing frees up time to do things you’ve put off
Our soft spoken non-assuming governor is dominating the 2 p.m. television and radio space and impressing the world. These daily updates are important and this is when he has made most of his life changing announcements.
At first when his press briefings scared the socks off us, his sweet wife Fran was at his side. I feel that she’d hug us all if she could and offer us pie. Fran Dewine does make awesome apple pie.
Standing six feet to the governor’s right, Dr. Amy Acton is a new celebrity. It is kind of like she has become Ohio’s big sister who became a doctor and keeps the family in line. Her matter of fact, straight to the point, presentations introduced us to terms like “flatten the curve.” And her excitement that we really are doing that makes me smile.
To the governor’s other side stands Lt. Gov. John Hustead. And we’ve been watching what he is wearing. At first we thought he was called in to do the briefing from chopping wood or some other outside activity. He was wearing a down vest and plaid shirt. For awhile he managed to resist wearing a tie and we were disappointed when a tie showed up one day in his ensemble. This is not to diminish his message because he always has something interesting to add. We just like the normalcy of it. Sometimes it’s nice to not have to wear a tie.
MORE FROM PAM COTTREL: ‘We are all in this together’
The big star of the daily presentation is the governor’s sign interpreter. The animation and energy she adds to his restrained briefing is mesmerizing. We loved her from day one. Since then we’ve learned her name, Marla Berkowitz, and that she is a legend in the signing community.
Berkowitz is the American Sign Language (ASL) Senior Lecturer at The Ohio State University and an ASL Certified Deaf Interpreter.
I think we all have learned some of the signed words and have gained more respect for these talented communicators.
The governor’s COVID-19 fighting team and our state of Ohio has captured the world’s attention including the BBC. The world points to us to show how social distancing can slow down the oronavirus.
Ohio was the place where social spacing was implemented first on a large scale. Closings that at first seemed draconian are now making sense and we can see that curve flattening.
The world is watching the Buckeyes with envy. And as one of the COVID-19 presenters said one day, referring to the last OSU Football game, the “officials” cannot take this accomplishment from us.
We are seeing progress but the virus fight is far from over. Thanks to shopping family, my husband and I haven’t gone into a store in weeks. But I hear from others that some of us are not practicing the social distancing that has gained the world’s attention.
Seriously folks, what are you thinking?
In Enon last week a store passed out letters asking people to stop hanging out in the store. It asked the customers to quickly come in, find the needed items, and then go home.
It seems that store clerks are getting nervous because some of our essential businesses are becoming like crowded shopping malls where the whole family goes to browse and no one is paying attention to social distancing. Last week outside of a popular food store in Bethel Twp. I saw a line where folks were standing elbow to elbow. The larger box stores in Springfield are having a big problem with this.
This social distancing thing and all the hand washing have been successful so far. Let’s not get lazy and let that curve get higher.
I’m so proud to be a Buckeye. Proud to be part of the intelligent state effort to flatten the curve, and keep Ohio’s COVID-19 numbers as low as humanly possible. We can do this.
On Monday Dr Acton really spoke to my heart and I hope yours too.
“You people staying at home; you are moving mountains…” she said. ” Double down on your commitment Ohio. Let’s fight this. Let’s not let this virus own us.”
About the Author