With the COVID-19 pandemic, life continues to shut down around me. Whole cities are facing curfews with only essential services considered a reason to be out and about, and gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. The virus permeating the entire world seems to be finally losing traction in China, where it started, while Italy is in full fledged disaster mode, having to chose who will live or die due to lack of ventilators and care. The USA is taking powerful measures to flatten the curve of illness rate so that won’t happen here, InshAllah.

The situation is affecting nearly every family member and friend that I know, with varying degrees of dismay crossing the country. My youngest, Jennifer, was supposed to take her first Optometry Board Exam today in Houston. Only 10 hours before the exam started, Pearson shut down testing centers in all regions. The retake date is unknown. My oldest, Amy, just started a fabulous job in Maine, teaching children with special needs. Two weeks in, she is now filing for unemployment, as school is not in session. My son, Philip, is heading home from the Denver area, regrouping and looking for work.

My own husband drives for Lyft and people who used to use Lyft for bar runs, concerts, and games are now sitting at home. Tips are falling off and he can be out from midnight to six am, earning 48 bucks for his efforts, less than half of what used to be. My sister just planned to close on her first house sale as a new real estate agent, only to have it fall through. Why? The buyer is an American Airlines pilot and may be laid off soon. My brother-in-law, Robert, is a DJ. Cancelled weddings, bars, and celebrations will not make paying his mortgage very easy.

Which is why, tonight, he is on Facebook live, hosting a karaoke party with his diligent followers. Joined together virtually are people who love music, love to sing, have a good sense of humor, and want to hang out! What was to be a business venture (people paying to sing online) may have flopped financially, but I’d say we are all having a good time just feeling a togetherness in the midst of uncertainty and stress. And I think that’s cool.

A friend whose Aunt died drove to Iowa for the funeral only to be told she couldn’t attend and had to watch from an online screen. I know from experience, attending my own father’s service from Dubai, that the online funeral just shouldn’t be a thing. It is painfully lonely, and seems like a cold goodbye.

Most teachers I know are trying to sort out teaching 100% online. This is incredibly difficult, especially for elementary students; but true to form, the teachers are digging in deep, trying to sort it out for their children to continue learning. Still other teachers are photocopying like crazy, because their students don’t have the luxury of utilizing the Internet at home. Schools are wrestling with lunch deliveries to bus stops, and parents are grappling with daycare needs. My brother Tim, an English Professor in Korea, is offering online instruction to his university students, getting a late start to his semester, while his wife has gone almost a month with no students arriving for English tutoring in her home, which is normally the main income for the family. They will likely cancel their trip to the USA this summer as a result.

Another family member is postponing her May wedding, because the venue where the Florida wedding was to happen has shut down for an undetermined amount of time. Teenagers are affected as well. A prior student posted her goodbye to Softball on Facebook, facing the bitter reality that her senior season of college softball has ended, abruptly, and that she and her friends will likely never play together again. Even little children have had their routines upside down with schools not in session. Fortunately, my grand-niece is home with her grandma, baking in the kitchen and getting lessons in writing on recipe cards and a piano lesson here and there. And it would seem most everybody is on Facebook, permeating the feeds with jokes and cautions and political rants about toilet paper, President Trump, and how the Coronavirus should be handled.

So it seems to me that humanity, planet-wide, is united in uncharted waters, and I watch with interest while whole country borders are locked down. I ponder unique situations, such as how jails have no way to observe the six foot rule, and my own mother in assisted living must feel very alone, while nobody is allowed in or out to visit or run errands together. It’s so strange to consider that in January, I had no idea this was coming. I thought my worst problem was finding work. The concept of Phillip not having work or entire communities suffering hadn’t been a thought. Watching store shelves emptied for fearful people to hoard things and those out to make a buck to take advantage of others has been mind-blowing.

Some adults laugh and think the fear factor is ridiculous while other adults are freaking out that we are all going to die. The elderly have a legitimate reason to fear this particular virus, and many of us, like myself, are trying to take a middle road–not going to panic mode, but being prepared, just in case. After reading all sides of the news, I’m personally left unsure of how critical this virus situation is or is not. I am certain, however, that the economic damages and potential restriction on our constitutional rights in the future are real critical topics. And so, while we giggle and laugh about silly topics and sing bad karaoke on Facebook, I think I’m watching the beauty of the human spirit–the ability to pass the uncertain moments while letting loose a bit, having a drink, telling jokes, and laughing like we don’t have a care in the world.

However, I believe we all really do care. We’re all just trying to stay upright, supporting one another, and not giving in to our fears and uncertain futures. I, for one, may not know how the rent will be paid in April, but for tonight I know this little karaoke reprieve was a warm and welcome end to a stressful day. I hope we do it again soon!