Being a single person is not easy during usual times, but in these days we are living in, it can be even more difficult.
Ever since I took this job two years ago, I would try and visit my parents up in Memphis about once a month.
But, these trips are now on hold. Both my mother and father, who are in their 70s, have recently recovered from health scares where they both had to stay in the hospital for extended periods of time. The last thing I want to do is, unknowingly, infect them with the virus.
So, I stay in my apartment and do my best to wait this whole craziness out.
And, to make matters worse there are no sports to watch!
Now, I am not writing this column for anyone to hold a pity party for me. I am an introvert by nature. I have hermit-like instincts. A weekend on my couch, with my remote control and some delivered pizza sounds almost like paradise.
But, there have been moments, even for me, when I have reached what seems to be a boiling point. Too much time alone can make anyone sad. Too much time to think can be a real downer.
For me, calls I have received from my friends and family have helped brighten up many of my recent days and nights.
If you know anyone who is living by himself or herself, I encourage you to reach out to them. Even though they may appear to be all crusty inside, I can assure you that they will appreciate the gesture.
I worry for people who are living alone but aren’t like me. If an introvert like myself can struggle with this, imagine how hard it is for naturally outgoing people who are forced to be by themselves?
If there is a silver-lining to these times, I believe it will be how we all have grown to appreciate each other more, especially those providing for our health care and daily necessities.
When we get through this pandemic, I believe we will be even more appreciative of the daily human interactions we once took for granted.
Maybe we will all be a little kinder to each other.
Maybe we won’t get as angry when people are too loud at the movie theater. Maybe we will just be happy to be able to go to the movies again.
Perhaps.
But I think people talking at the movies will still drive me insane.
David Healy is sports editor of the Delta Democrat-Times. He can be reached at dhealy@ddtonline.com
