2020 - Living and breathing history
Like everything else in the world today, the novel coronavirus aka COVID-19 has completely disturbed and postponed all things cornhole. While I normally have cornhole on my mind 24/7, it's this other c-word that has me up in my feelings. It's like we are in a war with no weapons and anyone with a pulse should be an ally. Imagine that! It's been chaos in America since approximately...the Ides of March. As we take a pause from cornhole, I need to vent a bit about the early stages of this pandemic!
Quarantine is Un-American
Social media, sure. Social Distancing, not so much. I will certainly defer to Dr. Fauci and the experts with regards to what is necessary to flatten the curve. Unless you have been living under a rock which I guess would be a good thing these days, we all know the plan. But, as recently as Friday, I walked past two basketball courts that were full with 3-on-3 games underway! I don't want to throw stones because last week I accepted John Moran's invitation for some 1-on-1 cornhole. Are we allowed cheat days?
Seriously, I think most, including me, have done well with social distancing. I certainly do not want to be the one to pass this virus to somebody who is vulnerable. Let's continue down the best effort path for as long as we need to, but reduced freedom is not sustainable. When it's business as usual again, coronanvirus and panic will spike. With an already crippled economy, there will come a point when Americans just shrug their shoulders. With that in mind, my message to the smart gals and guys of the world is that you are on the clock! Find a vaccine and fix it. We're all counting on you!
Rules are better than Guidelines
I am certain that many of you have seen the viral Spring Break video of youngsters living it up despite calls for social distancing. Well, were the beaches and hotels open for business? I first saw this video on social media when it was shared by someone who was in Cleveland for the ACL National. Once the National in Cleveland was canceled, did all of you hop on the first flight out of Dodge or did you stay and continue to play cornhole under the 50 or less guidelines that were in place at the time? And a week prior to that, I hopped on a flight to London knowing that I was heading to an area that was already under the duress of this pandemic. At that time, travel was not verboten, I had purchased my ticket, and wanted to visit my friend. I have absolutely no regrets. Although once the UK was added to the list of "bad" countries, my employer forced me to take my temperature twice daily and all I had was an old-school thermometer that I had to keep in my mouth for three minutes. Do you know how long three minutes seems with something in your mouth?
If you expect people to do the right thing, you have obviously never run a Switcholio event that finishes in a playoff bracket. Whether it's cornhole or life, rules are better than guidelines! Sometimes you have to be the bad guy and lay down the law!
Anxiety and Frustration
There is so much doomsday and contradictory information out there fueling my anxiety and frustration that I am considering going into Internet isolation (who am I kidding). The British Prime Minister, aged 55, can run a country of 60 million plus with the virus, but a teenager in France has succumbed to it. I am not old, but certainly would not consider myself young either. Experts have surmised that 80% of us will contract COVID-19. That fact or rumor has me wondering with every cough if today is the day? I have started running again, not for fitness, but to have a way to regularly check my breathing capacity.
The lack of available tests also means that we must take all statistics with a grain of salt. Does Germany really have a lower mortality rate or have more just tested positive with no symptoms? The most complete statistics I have seen are from Granite State correspondent, Keith Buxton. It appears as if New Hampshire is doing okay, but if those numbers start to mirror their vanity plate pandemic, trouble is ahead!
Politics
Cornhole or National? Yes. I would suggest that now might be a good time for the ACO and ACL peeps to be like Michelle!
On the National front, President Trump is not my guy, but he is my President. With this unprecedented crisis, let's cut the Commander-in-Chief some slack and keep in mind this is not the only thing on his plate. At least we know the issue that will decide the election in November. The right thing to do, may not be what wins the election. And is the candidate that comes out on top really the winner? I mean, who would really want this job and the responsibility to deal with this? Perhaps, there is an opportunity to put politics aside and work together.
Gig Business
For the past decade, I have often wondered if cornhole could become a full-time gig for me. For many reasons, that will never be the case. Today, I am very thankful that it is not. I am extremely grateful to have an employer that allows work-from-home flexibility, has a medical staff available, and has even offered some free lunches. Thank you. My initial frustrations of having lost a month plus of events has vanished. I do not need the gig business to survive, but others do. I reckon that most people who read this blog are not in a position to find the coronavirus cure. But, once normalcy returns, you can certainly help those who have been hit the hardest. If you had to cancel a tournament, please reschedule it. If you are tired of cooking, go eat out every night for months on end.
Silver Lining
Has anyone noticed that this winter has been mild? Of course, a spring Nor'easter will slaughter my optimism and have me calling for them to reopen the bars! But, even in quarantine, there are still ways to enjoy cornhole with the virtual matches and podcasts that are all over the Internet. Even if cornhole is not your thing, facebook has cooking groups, amateur karaoke, and much more! And if you really get bored, you could always complete your census because I'm told it's the law! While we wait for things to get better, let's remember that it's really not that bad.
We need a Hero
I do not think our savior will be my president, your president, or anyone's for that matter. I am not going to look in the sky for someone with a cape and I am not searching on Sundays. But, that game changer (thinking more Bill Gates than Frank Modlin) is out there. Technology which has helped this pandemic to spread, will ultimately solve it. The next Louis Pasteur will walk through that door!
Please, stay safe.