I was going to get back to some of my regular programmed writing and bypass the latest news, but as the past few days have progressed, this virus thing is still locked in my brain.
My world is shrinking.
Literally.
Maybe you aren’t affected yet by the Coronavirus outbreak, but in the last two days since my previous post, my life has been reduced to a 700 square foot one-bedroom house and only short drives for either food or necessities. The long night has begun.
There is an eerie silence spreading across the City of Angels like the disease itself. Suffocating the normal hustle and bustle sounds of progress and everyday life. The isolation is closing in like a stalking predator. I can see it in the emptiness when I look out my window at the deserted street. Humanity is in hiding and it’s out there waiting.
The virus is hunting.
On Monday LA County officials announced the closure of all bars, fitness centers and movie theaters and directed restaurants to move to takeout only. Any kind of public business that requires more than 10 people is closed. Shelves at all grocery markets and basic supply stores remain empty.
Nothing feels right and I know that it is only a matter of days before the official shelter-in-place order is given for LA.
The surrealness is setting in and the uniqueness of this situation is not lost on me. I begin to wonder if what is happening is part of a dream or if I’ll wake and find myself slapping a 4:30am alarm and stumbling into my normal routine. But I know that is only misguided hope. This isn’t a movie, though it sure feels like one at times.
Because it’s often hard to wrap my limited mind around what is actually transpiring – step by step, the world is shutting down around me. And what will be the greater ramifications? How long will workers get paid? How long will quarantines take? Weeks… Months… does a new version of the Coronavirus come back even more devastating next season? What kind of destruction will be left after the market’s havoc is wreaked?
The questions keep coming but the answers remain unknown.
Most businesses are doing the right thing and shutting down. They should be acknowledged for taking the pandemic seriously. I, on the other hand, unfortunately do not work for one of these companies. In light of all the recommendations and strong mandates from both the State of California and LA County to not congregate in a setting of 10 or more people, my office remains open and my boss made it mandatory to report to work on Monday.
My company is literally doing the opposite of what any news, information or media outlet is recommending to help keep people safe and stop the spread of the virus.
Am I surprised? I shouldn’t be, but I actually am. I had thought more of my employer, but not anymore. It’s crystal clear what worth they place on my health.
Fucking remarkable. Whoever said it is right, “when people are in crisis, we do get to see the best and worst of humanity.”
And keep in mind, I work in a white-collar job and my entire department can work from home just as easily as being in an office. So at the end of Monday, I had had enough. I told my boss that I’m not coming back into the office until this thing is settled. He didn’t like that one bit and told me in not an optional tone to use good judgment.
I did. I used some fucking real good judgment and I’m working from home starting yesterday as well as for the foreseeable future. If my company isn’t going to have my back, then fuck’em.
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
It’s times like these I want to believe that people will step up and do the right thing. I’ve seen some good already, but I’ve also seen some amazing levels of selfishness that can leave you feeling jaded real quick.
But I’m pacing myself and trying to take everything in stride. For now, the goal is to survive like everyone else. Let’s make it through this downturn and lend a helping hand where I can. I’ll do my part and self-shelter to the best of my ability as well as step up for those less fortunate.
I can already tell that this pandemic will be a marathon and not a sprint.
Also on Monday, my wife’s work hours were finally cut. The CDA made it mandatory that all dental offices close for at least three weeks. It’s probably going to be a lot longer, but it’s officially begun for us. Now, shit’s real. We’re in it. Hahaha. J/K. Things got real a while ago… But if there’s anything I hate more than picking up wet soggy dog shit when it’s raining, it’s helping my wife fill out unemployment forms… hahahaha! I had to do this crap back in 2016 and they haven’t improved upon the system one bit since (I know, that’s a government low blow with what’s going on today – but I had to).
Well, we all know what’s coming next. You can’t do an official check-in without giving a little nugget on the market. And what a market it has been?
Another giant swing on Friday, holy shit – I think it was around 11-12%. We’re seeing some pretty heavy movement on a daily basis now. I think it’s safe to say that Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride has formally begun. The only question is, on what mile-marker will the final exit be?
And for all those market timers out there, licking their chops like Pavlov’s bell is ringing in their ears to the sound of clinking gold Kruggerands. Remember that patience and a steady hand can go a long way in times like these.
Sure, you want to be greedy when others are fearful. But you need to be careful that you aren’t too greedy too soon. Because as this thing stretches out, I’m not so sure you want to be dumping all your hard-earned and strategically saved cash into this market overzealously. This is an unprecedented pandemic and whether you want to admit it or not, this is no fucking 2008. 2008 was a systemic problem. We made that just like all the crashes prior. But this virus is on a whole other level and there’s going to be a bloodbath coming that we haven’t seen anything like.
So calm down Buffet Jr… Buy what you will and as much as you may. But don’t say I didn’t warn ya.
Yes, long term things will be just fine. The market will rise. But my point is, you still have to make it to the other side.
And with the storm I see brewing, there’s no telling how deep and long this downturn will be.
-Q-FI
P.S. How are you feeling out there?
Things are definitely surreal. Sounds like LA/So. Cal is pretty bad, so be sure to hang in there. Good call on doing what you thought was best at work because it is the right thing to do in my opinion.
Stay hopeful as this will pass for sure, but it’s definitely going to/already is hurt(ing) a bit for a while, but things could be way, way worse. We’re alive today and that’s a pretty cool thing in and of itself.
You’re right as usual Mr. Fate. Things can always be worse. And it’s such a beautiful day to be alive.
Things are different but most experts I’ve read feel that things are not nearly as bad as 2008 precisely because that was systemic and this may be very temporary and does not indicate underlying weaknesses in the financial system. I have no idea personally but I think it is premature to peg this as being nearly as bad as some of our historic upsets. The death toll may be pretty low and work disruptions pretty temporary. Only time will tell. Of course as a slightly early retired guy without money concerns I can take a much more relaxed “wait and see” outlook versus someone who is still working for a living. There is still plenty of food on the shelves here and we haven’t had a single verified case of the virus within one hundred miles, yet. My fellow runners ran our usual miles early this morning and they, being oil guys, were way more worried about oil prices than covid19.
Thanks for the input Steveark and you might be entirely right. The thing that makes me the most nervous, that I don’t hear talked about much, is although the virus is temporary, it is shutting down almost the entire economy or it eventually will (at least in major cities). I’d rather have only one sector affected rather than this total shutdown situation. But that’s just me, hopefully everything works out and this is only unnecessary speculation. =)