The Incredible Lightness of Seeing

We are in Day 4 of lockdown here in New Jersey. Prior to that day, and once we knew the virus was beginning to spread, people began hoarding goods of all kinds, which simply equates to everything on the shelf, no exaggeration. The big purchase surprise: toilet paper. From then on we are hearing stories of the tug o’ wars over it. People were even driving to multiple stores in search of The White Savior. Seriously?

Our country was forewarned, from news reports and social media of other countries where the coronavirus had already exploded: wash your hands to the twice-sung tune of the ABC Song, wear masks, and the most difficult—do not touch your face!

So here we are again: the hoarding of personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. Hospitals, medical centers, nurses, doctors, healthcare workers of all kinds are screaming: WE NEED MASKS AND GLOVES! And it’s the new norm if you’re out in public—to see people wearing protective masks (of all different kinds, even gas masks) and rubber gloves.

The biggest producer of facemasks is China where the virus originated.  Sadly, our president* makes unfortunate rhetorical statements by referring to COVID-19, as “the Chinese virus,” which in turn has now led to xenophobia throughout the country—as if there weren’t already crazed toilet paper hunter-gatherers out there… Now there’s this.

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About six years ago, I met a lovely Chinese woman with whom I made fast friends during a trip to Alaska. She quickly referred to me as her “sister.” We communicated for a few years after, and then our emails stopped altogether.

Yesterday, while lying on the couch in my self-distancing, zombie-like stupor, a reminder floated to the surface to send Tao, my sister, an email to inquire as to her and her husband’s health. Why I didn’t do this sooner or why I didn’t follow-up, especially when they were in the hot spot and throes of the disease, is beyond me.

March 24, 2020. I opened my email account to find this letter from Zoutao:

                        Dear sister, how are you and your family? I saw

                        news of USA about Covid-19, just like here before

                        2 months ago, do you need some face masks (for

                        one time using)?

I was immediately consoled. She’s OK! I felt the love across all those miles. She was thinking of me, too. Our stars were aligned. Her letter, a salve.

We furiously emailed back and forth while she stood in the post office filling out forms. Our masks are on their way. From China.  Tao is going to help my family get through this crisis safely with a safety net from China.

So, do not listen to all this negativity about China or Chinese people. or attack Asian people in general (because I am Filipino). They went through it, too. We are all in this together. People! WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER! When it comes down to it, to the big picture of the universe, we are all brothers and sisters. Aren’t we?