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My Corona

By Robi Damelin

What does this plague mean to someone who falls into the category of an endangered species. Someone who has never really been in touch with their age and who has lived a life perhaps with the attitude of a 20 year old. Every day filled with action to try and make a difference, someone who has spent almost 20 years traveling and speaking to limited and enormous audiences. Someone who feels that they can still create and change attitudes if only they were let our of solitary confinement. 

This someone, me of course, being an incurable optimist first found the isolation almost an adrenaline rush. How to create a platform for change from home. How even going to buy some provisions became an adventure. Meeting my neighbor and drinking a glass of spirits, for medical reasons of course, downstairs on a bench, the height of the day. Masks and gloves the new fashion statement. Changing from morning track suit to evening pajamas a thrill. Watching and binging a series preferably with 4 seasons became a desirable pastime and of course learning the tricks of Zoom a miracle. Who could have imagined this ghastly disease without Zoom. Suddenly being exposed to people from all over the globe who shared their fears, and sometimes became a little annoying with their rainbow attitude, also became part of the day. Also the tremulous voices on the other end of my mobile, checking to see if I am still in the land of the living and have not succumbed to the latest illness, all this does not contribute to my well-being. The most absurd is this manic cleaning I had to perform until I realized only I would benefit from the sparkling bathroom, no one would be concerned with the dust collecting on the dining room table. 

I have never been fitter in my entire life, what with walking on the spot at a high speed, much to the distress of my neighbor below, Pilates, Qi-Gong and other torturous exercises on YouTube, I could now enter a decathlon. Unfortunately no-one but the supermarket is exposed to my new strength and talent. Another interesting side benefit will be a two toned face after wearing the mask all summer, I guess only the top half of me will be tanned. All of this may seem rather amusing for a short while, until suddenly it occurred that my life may never be the same and that this confinement albeit in beautiful surroundings may be for a very long time. 

I mentioned before, that I am no spring chicken, and so a creeping depression started to appear, like not really wanting to listen to people all over the world, both on T.V. and all news channels saying that things will never be the same. I am well aware of that. I am now also aware that time is more than precious, and no matter how many chronological years I have experienced, I still have a passion to work and make a difference. So dear well-meaning people who leap to the other side of the road when they see my greying hair and wrinkles, do please be aware that there is still some life in the old girl. 

To end on a more optimistic note. I have had wonderful gestures of kindness from friends who would be happy to fulfill any quirky demands and also I am so grateful for the love expressed by so many. For my wonderful surroundings, for the industrial quantities of food and of course to Netflix. See you all at the other end of this madness, and please stop reminding me how ancient I am.