As we slowly leave our coronavirus cocoons and re-enter the real world once again, or at least a portion of it, itsa国际传媒檚 almost like we have to relearn to trust again.
Certainly most of us are eager to get back to wing night at the bar and patronize our favourite restaurant once again after three months of social hibernation.
We may even want to try our hand at golf or tennis again, two sports that lend themselves quite well to physical distancing.
Itsa国际传媒檚 funny as we not-so-patiently wait for phase three and expand our horizons even further, but still within the province apparently, we begin to think of a more normal life, as in pre-pandemic. However, we also know theresa国际传媒檚 a long way to go before sa国际传媒渘ormal,sa国际传媒� or if even thatsa国际传媒檚 possible.
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It seems like only yesterday we were panic buying toilet paper and sanitizers and yeast before we mostly trusted the essential service we used to call the grocery store.
But we always seemed to trust Dr. Bonnie Henry, MD, MPH, FRCPC, British Columbiasa国际传媒檚 provincial health officer.
From the beginning her calm demeanour, reassuring voice and gentle coaxing have guided the way, on a daily basis, to a successful outcome for this province, especially when compared with Ontario and Quebec and even more, our neighbours to the south.
sa国际传媒淏e kind, be calm, be safe,sa国际传媒� indeed. And we did feel like we were all in this together, just like she told us we were. A glowing New York Times article called her sa国际传媒渙ne of the most effective public health officials in the world.sa国际传媒�
Health Minister Adrian Dix and Premier John Horgan have also been effective as Dr. Bonniesa国际传媒檚 backup singers but shesa国际传媒檚 running the show with humility and grace and we are all the better for it.
Look at jurisdictions where itsa国际传媒檚 the politician leading the way.
I think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is at least attempting to lead and reassure a country going through uncharted and turbulent waters but sometimes I wonder if he has his boatersa国际传媒檚 license let alone his captainsa国际传媒檚 papers.
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As the daily pressers usually result in more millions of dollars being handed out, dollars that Isa国际传媒檓 pretty sure we donsa国际传媒檛 have and who knows when wesa国际传媒檒l start paying taxes again, I begin to think it might be better if he, well, shut up for a little while in both official languages. At least donsa国际传媒檛 make it a daily thing. We cansa国际传媒檛 afford it.
In Ontario, itsa国际传媒檚 Premier Doug Ford as front man and although hesa国际传媒檚 done better than most people thought he would, resulting in improved poll numbers, I still feel like Isa国际传媒檓 being sold a used car, thatsa国际传媒檚 been contaminated.
Everyonesa国际传媒檚 favourite conman, Donald Trump, tried his hand at daily briefings in the United States for awhile, flanked by his medical experts and noted coronavirus guru and vice-president Mike Pence. But eventually, it was too much bull and bleach that was later walked back by the medical experts at virtually every turn to reveal a rudderless ship, so why pretend otherwise?
In fact, theresa国际传媒檚 still a lot of pretending going on at the White House, as usual, as the president claims the virus is sa国际传媒渇ading awaysa国际传媒� even while cases are spiking in nearly half of the 50 states.
It makes you worry about the future of the planet and mankind, but at least wesa国际传媒檙e doing pretty well here in B.C. We hope, we pray, we trust in Dr. Bonnie (not to put too much pressure on her, ha).
Of course theresa国际传媒檚 no guarantees, thatsa国际传媒檚 one thing wesa国际传媒檝e learned out of this pandemic, but as we regain our mojo, our trust in each other and our faith in our future, wesa国际传媒檙e beginning to feel like things will be okay, eventually. Certainly in a world where we think itsa国际传媒檚 high-risk behaviour to leave home without our cellphones, wesa国际传媒檝e got trust issues and obstacles to overcome to achieve a new normal.
But Dr. Bonnie thinks we can do it, as long as we keep washing our hands sa国际传媒� so be kind, be calm, be safe. And it will happen.
Glenn Mitchell is a columnist and former editor of the Morning Star.
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