I’m writing this article during first full week of April and reflecting back on the last four weeks of changes to my neighborhood walks. By the time this gets into the public eye in early May, I anticipate even more changes will have occurred.
Before the official edict by Governor Brown, my wife and I took our family’s suggestion and self-isolated beginning March 11, a tough decision as we live only a few blocks from our youngest two grandchildren. Once schools were closed, it was only porch-to-driveway meetings. No hugging was the most difficult reality to adjust to and still remains the hardest adjustment many weeks later.
Although the 6-foot social distance was recommended early on in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, it was not adopted by all right away. That first week, many folks seemed to lack either awareness or concern for distancing at all, like the joggers who did not announce themselves and blew by me a couple feet away or the side-by-side walking friends who took the whole sidewalk and forced me to veer onto the lawn. However, it didn’t take long for the vast majority to adjust and attempt to keep a proper distance. The next week saw businesses close with some trying to manage takeout amid changing guidelines. Tacovore, for instance, became a stark contrast for my walks with overflowing crowds during evenings and weekends replaced by the simple table out front with a reduced menu and instructions for takeout. Things were changing quickly. A few more folks were wearing masks, despite the continuing debate about whether they were a help or a detriment. Crossing Fremont Street was easier than ever before, and side streets evolved into pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares.
After a few weeks of kids cooped-up with families, I noticed that even a short period of sunshine would change the streetscapes drastically. It was as if entire families were waiting behind their front door in anticipation of the starting pistol to sound, and a break in the clouds provided the signal. This “blooming” of people was even more evident in Wilshire Park, a magnet for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and dog walkers. The day I was writing these words, I actually left the park because it required so much attention to maintain 20 feet of physical distance—the newest social distancing recommendation.
On the brighter side of all this, I get a lot more smiles and hellos on the neighborhood walks as the spirit of “we are all in this together” gets stronger and stronger. That is something I hope we hang onto, even after this health crisis fades in our memories.