“Walk! Don’t run!”

“Wait your turn!”

“Don’t pee in the pool!”

Two of my closest family members were lifeguards. When I was a kid, I didn’t mind at all when they shouted rules to all us kids.

I didn’t want someone to run and knock someone over.

I didn’t want someone to jump off the diving board before someone else cleared the deep end.

I didn’t want someone peeing in the pool.

I grew up valuing my personal freedom. I didn’t like to be bothered if I wasn’t hurting anyone. I tended to prefer that people mind their own business so they wouldn’t be minding mine, as an old song states.

At the same time, I didn’t mind rules to keep a safe and orderly environment. My mom signed me up for Safety Town where the school taught safety common sense to pre-schoolers. “Stop, Look and Listen.” You shall not run into oncoming traffic.

This week, more than half of states in the US are making moves to reopen while confirmed covid-19 deaths pass 62,000 and confirmed coronavirus cases in the US are at 1,069,637. One state opened up hair and nail salons and tattoo parlors. How do you keep social distancing while getting a manicure, getting hair done or getting a tattoo? You can’t. That state was one of the last states to close down and one of the first states to open back up. That state is one of the worse states in testing numbers, 40th in the nation for testing.

When I was 8 years old, a close family friend had a saying when I was doing something that lacked common sense-he would say to me: “there’s going to be a quiz and I think you’re going to flunk it.” And yet Governors are opening back up during a global pandemic where confirmed covid-19 cases are increasing everyday without a treatment and without a cure.

I usually am all about personal freedom. Don’t bother me and I won’t bother you. Personal Freedom…except when someone might get hurt, then Courtesy and Decency trumps Personal Freedom. Personal Freedom…except when people’s health and lives are at stake, then, Health and Safety trumps Personal Freedom.

Today, I savored a talk on the phone with an old friend. And a delectable bowl of cobbler. Keeping an attitude of gratitude is key, especially during this time. I try to practice sober awareness + faith, instead of utter panic or utter denial. One day at a time. One moment at a time. Meanwhile, there are 23,182 Covid-19 cases in Los Angeles County and unfortunately, 1111 fatalities.