Disquieting Tones: It's a Long, Long Way from Temporary🎝

Piercing the Silence and Solitude: Too soon, in my opinion. Shortly after I enjoyed the serenity of silence and the associated uplift I mentioned in yesterday's post, I heard a few messages yesterday and early this morning that struck a tone that was far from melodious to my ears. Messages of a varmint variant that may at least slow the pace if not preclude the success of the vaccination campaign in some geographical regions (e.g. South Africa). Messages that some businesses, especially retailers and restaurants, after being shuttered and curtailed for so long, may not come back at all. And messages that students, despite the valiant efforts of educators and parents, may have a degree of 'learning lost' that might not be retrievable. Finally, messages that, despite the return of some activities in most locales, remind us we are still a ways from a complete return to normalcy. A condition we convinced ourselves about a year ago would be temporary, is far from it. Collectively, the messages prompted a poignant version of the song I referenced here February 5th (only a complete cynic would think my references to earlier posts are an attempt to get you to read them again or for the first time). As well as some quotes from different points and places in history we are all familiar with, signaling a 'return':

"I Shall Return": On March 11, 1942, about a month before Bataan fell, President Roosevelt ordered a reluctant General Douglas MacArthur to leave the Philippines, to seek refuge, knowing that the remaining thousands of American troops (as well as nurses and health care providers I referenced here on December 5th, whose heroism is detailed in "We Band Of Angels") would fall into the hands of the enemy. Imagine how many times, whether in an attempt to rally each other, in a state of despair, or just out of customary GI cynicism, MacArthur was quoted. Fast forward 78 years later to March, 2020, and think of how many times we heard "These are temporary measures...necessary inconveniences...we'll return to normal as soon as..." Well, as we know from WW II historians, General MacArthur did wade ashore onto the island of Leyte in the Philippine Islands, on October 20, 1944. I don't know about you, but there's no way being born under the sign of Taurus, I'm waiting that long to return to 'NORMAL', wherever that is located these days...

"I'll Be Back": While not the first time we heard this, it was the first time we heard it in a voice, tone, and emphasis that became indelibly associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger, specifically while portraying a Cyborg in "Terminator". When Arnold said it, you could count on it, as in body count. In 2005, it was chosen as #37 on the American Film Institute's Top 100 Movie Quotes. A related quote we all heard growing up was "I'll be right back" as well as "We're almost there" from our parents, which usually meant we better be patient, it's going to be awhile.  On the other hand, is highly likely that "when things get back to normal", one of the most frequently encountered phrases these days, will be 'voted out' of our popular usage...when things do finally get back to NORMAL, that is. 

"We'll Meet Again": Sure, but exactly when, where, and how (i.e., with/without masks, up close or...)? The song referenced here February 7th, made famous by Vera Lynn in 1939, a song of longing, longing for reconnections, even before the soldiers deployed. A phrase I have heard exchanged between so many throughout the last year. So, the exact dates that we are allowed, able to fully reconnect continue to be ambiguous and this COVID varmint has proven to be capricious, together which makes us anxious due to the lack of certainty. In the meantime, we can seek refuge in...

Disambiguation! A word many of us have become familiar with when looking up something on the internet, but a word that can actually become a 'destination' -- 'Temporary' has become about as familiar to us as "Tipperary" was to folks during the WW's. On the way back from Temporary, then, we can find some places of comfort and respite, like the rest stops along our freeways. We can find them without even leaving home, in such places as Certainty, for example.....if we are forced to put up with ambiguity, we can also build feelings of security based on reminding us what we are certain about. Such as "you can count on me to...I am still here to listen and talk with you whenever you need it, even at a distance...of this I am certain !" Certainty, a welcoming place on the way to Normalcy, a long, long way from Temporary!

Until We meet again...in a place called SOON:  

"We've come a long way from Temporary,𝅘𝅥𝅮

Feeling quite alone

We're a long way from Temporary,

Still just talk by phone

Still away from Piccadilly,

As well as from Times Square,

We're a long, long way from Temporary,

But my heart resides THERE  still (with YOU!)