Life Post-Epidemic, might we be safer?

What do I know about Covid (or Corona Virus)? Nothing, really, but here's what I think is in our future. Life has changed and will be changed for good. Yes, for good, as in for the better, safer, healthier.

Many of us still recall the events of September 11, 2001 vividly. But can you recall what we were told about how to protect ourselves in the future, which at the time, seemed impossible? First there were no, ZERO flights anywhere for days. And that going forward, every cockpit would have an impenetrable door. No more meeting your arriving guests at the gate, only ticketed passengers were allowed to go to the gate. Pilots were allowed to carry guns. TSA DID NOT EVEN EXIST UNTIL AFTER 9/11! In 2006 (August 10, 2006) after the "shoe bomber" it was mandated that every passenger had to remove their shoes for screening before boarding (imagine the delays that would cause!). Also in 2006, liquid (containers exceeding 3 oz) were banned on flights. Or how about for us older folks, who used to walk to the plane without ever going through a metal detector? One day in the 1970s it was decided that every single passenger would have to pass through a metal detector-impossible, how could we do that, how could the country afford metal detectors for EVERY passenger, it would cripple airline travel?

Yet here we are. The airline business bounced back and was stronger than ever. And our country has not suffered attacks similar to those of 9/11. It may happen again, in a different way, but we found a way to move forward and to live, freely, and to enjoy life. And that will happen again. In the future (in my un-researched opinion), we will again live freely, joyfully and publicly. But certain things that seem strange now (or a week ago) will become normal.

I predict it will be normal to see a majority of shoppers at grocery stores, malls and elsewhere, wearing protective face masks. And it will not be considered rude.

I predict it will be normal to see no one shake hands with a stranger, ever. And it will not be considered rude.

I predict it will be normal to eat restaurant-prepared meals at home MORE than in restaurants.

I predict it will be normal to use Apple Pay and other non-touch methods of payment.

I predict it will be normal to teleconference for meetings which until today, were primarily in-person. Like in my profession, where people contemplating a divorce come to see and sit with me and discuss their lives. And for therapists, and consultants and financial and other advisors. Even doctors, yes doctors. They can see you, they can digitally be transmitted your vitals (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, etc.) and they can listen to you.

I predict it will be normal for groceries and most home products to be purchased online (and for the delivery people to wear protective clothing and masks).

Even vices and addictions will be less personal and more virtual and online (as is already happening, like with gambling and porn).

Virtual travel may even become more appealing, although that is a prediction I don't make.

In fact, all of these predictions are already trends. Covid, or the Corona virus may just be the catalyst. And are these trends a bad thing (scientists and doctors have been calling on people to stop shaking hands for years-click for a story on this)?

Well we can talk about the past, our days of innocence and be sad. But isn't that always the case in the history of the world? Our elders talk about the good old days before TV, when everyone sat together and listened to the radio. Or when we all watched the only show on TV at night (Sonny and Cher or Laugh-In) together as a family. When we could not pause TV, so we had to gather together and watch it live. When we couldn't "google" an answer to our burning questions (like how hot is the sun, how big is the earth, why do people have different skin colors) and so we had to ask the smartest person we knew (grandpa/grandma?) or go to an Encyclopedia Britannica. But isn't it better today? Yes the old ways and old days have their charm, but we have so much more access to information.

And so it will be post-Covid/Corona. Our world will be different, but better. We will be safer. We will be smarter. Corona has educated us, shown us the errors of our ways and made us better citizens of the earth, better suited to live in this social universe. Human beings are so damn adaptable. Just think about all we have overcome. This too shall pass.