Walking down Pine in Seattle today on my way back to my conference after lunch at Beechers, I noticed something unusual for the busy Seattle I knew: the streets were nearly empty.
Before long, I walked by a man who looked troubled with mental instability and difficulties. It looked like he was holding a lighter that was extra thick, metal, and big. When I got a stride past him a SUV Police car rushed up and a policeman emerged with a large double barrel gun and demanded, “Drop that in your hand!” I quickly ran and ducked around the corner of the building with two other women. After a momentary pause, I told them, "Let’s run ladies," and the three of us ran a city block in an alley to get away. I took the pictures in this blog minutes before my fleeing incident. After the recent acts of violence in Seattle, I knew to flee.
Before long, I walked by a man who looked troubled with mental instability and difficulties. It looked like he was holding a lighter that was extra thick, metal, and big. When I got a stride past him a SUV Police car rushed up and a policeman emerged with a large double barrel gun and demanded, “Drop that in your hand!” I quickly ran and ducked around the corner of the building with two other women. After a momentary pause, I told them, "Let’s run ladies," and the three of us ran a city block in an alley to get away. I took the pictures in this blog minutes before my fleeing incident. After the recent acts of violence in Seattle, I knew to flee.
After gathering myself I reflected: in ways similar to my experience this morning, I feel like I am living amidst the danger, with the heart of the coronavirus outbreak in my city residing just miles from my home. Things looked calm, but they weren't.
I was walking down the sidewalk the other day, when my neighbor mentioned that she is on personal lock-down with her family and not going anywhere. It was later that evening that I saw that Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon were allowing workers to work from home. Even though I continue to work, I still do my best to follow the directions of people who know what is going on, such as the Center of Disease Control.
People around me are pretty freaked out. Is this right?, my friends and I ask ourselves. Indeed, it is a horrible thought to potentially contract an illness that could be passed on to a person who has a weakened condition, oh my heart! Nevertheless, it is worth it to be vigilant: not be in large groups, stay home when able, sanitize, and of course be stocked with toilet paper (if you can still find any, of course). After my incident where my adrenaline led me to run for my life today, I wonder if we are faced with a less visible tyrant.
Danger is visible and invisible. Today things seemed nice, but danger was just around the corner. I am constantly conflicted and trying to figure out what is right. As a society let’s do our best to “run for our lives,” as best as we are able, even if we are surrounded by something as sweet as the public market. "Let's run ladies."
