Our grandchildren's grandchildren will listen to stories of the time the world stopped

Over the last few days I've encountered a growing sense of fear and unease. Wherever I've been people are talking about Coronavirus; Covid-19.  I haven't been able to escape it, it's everywhere - in conversation, on social media, on TV. With it comes an eerie, surreal feeling that life is about to change. It reminds me of being a child and listening to my Granddad telling me stories all about the war.

I distinctly remember thinking how scary it must have been, hearing the sirens, fearing death, the sight of destroyed buildings, devastation, corpses, body parts. Families clinging together under tables, in air raid shelters or being evacuated. Children being sent miles away from home, going to live with strange people in strange places. I couldn't even begin to imagine the fear, disruption, chaos and change it brought to peoples lives.

Back to today and life very suddenly has started to feel different! Streets, shops, shelves are emptier.  Faces scared to cough or sneeze. Fear of being observed by watchful strangers with hyper vigilant eyes. Face masks, disposable gloves, distinct smells of bleach in the air.

Then there are the people; the optimists, the pessimists, the blame-shame people, the lets rally around people and the live in a bubble people in complete denial that life as they know it will never be the same again. There is no way of knowing what's going to happen, how long this is going to last or the lasting effect it will have on our lives. The unknowing brings fear. Fear for love ones, fear for loss - loss of life, loss of business, loss of routine, loss of normality.  I am without a doubt in the 'life in a bubble' type category. I like life in my bubble, it feels safe there, it's a happy place. I clung on to hope and positivity for as long as I could before reality popped and the 'this is a bit shit' fan hit.

After an initial gulp, once that bubble pops there is no turning back moment, I started to think about my mum telling me stories about her being an evacuee, living on a farm and how she'd loved to ride on the backs of the pigs.  I remember all the things I loved about the war time stories my granddad told.  His tales always involved a sense of hope. Despite people being faced with real atrocities and fear for their lives, his stories were jam packed full of how resilient and resourceful people could be.

It's definitely time for me to face up to the reality that things have changed. There will come challenges along with these changes. Life has sent us its own adventure and there isn't enough emojis to acknowledge all the emotions going on for people all over this planet right now. Every day, every hour brings with it something new. It's time to grab hold of hope, become resilient, be resourceful and remember compassion, love and connection is the antidote to fear!

 History will remember when the world stopped

"This damn virus has already taken plenty lives. No more!! Let our legacy be we are kinder, braver, more considerate of others, more helpful, more co-operation between individuals & nations, more fairness, no more war threats, no more hatred, more power for the people not the rich, greedy or despots. In the end we are ALL the same to this virus - colour, creed, wealth, looks doesn't come into it. It will kill anyone anywhere. Once we have won this battle to survive, let us rise together as one united world, together, & let this invisible killer be our only enemy. " Marilyn Elizabeth Taylor

One way or another the world will get through this and our grandchildren's grandchildren will listen to stories of the time the world stopped.

by Maggie Martin