Letter: Together in isolation

As we sit isolated in our homes, sequestered from our ordinary lives, we are discovering all the things we take for granted. Our freedom to move, access to food and entertainment and, most importantly, our health. Like new parents discovering how much time they squandered in their previous lives, we will eventually come to terms with our isolated existence, only to return to our ordinary lives in a shock to our discovery. Until then, we need to learn to appreciate our time with our families, learn to cope with isolation and keep ourselves and our Community safe by keeping to the plan. It is our unfortunate reality that the best thing we can do is continue to isolate ourselves.

I want to advocate for our favorite local haunts but I am left in fear for my family. I would love to take the offer of a take-out order from the perceived safety of our car but I know I cannot. Nothing is worth the safety of my family. So we stay at home hoping that our many friends who rely on our regular business survive this isolation order. I hope they know that we will return when the all-clear is called. Please do what you can to get through this frightening ordeal, your customers will return.

I am also thinking of those who continue to work during this horrendous time. The obvious heroes who work in the medical and emergency services and the less obvious heroes who continue to deliver our supplies, stock our shelves and keep things running while we hide in our homes. Those people who expose themselves and their families to the fearful danger of an unseen villain need to be thanked for their service. They are the heroes of our time who would make our previous heroes from the Greatest Generation proud for their efforts. Thank you for your service and please stay safe.

The true story is that this will end and our lives will be restored. I wish I could say that we will see the end of this story unharmed and intact but that is not the case. We will lose friends and family, we will see favorite businesses close and many lives changed but we will also be stronger for having gone through this trial and uniting in our efforts to defend ourselves and our families. As ever, we are stronger United and must make our stand Together in Isolation. Please keep to the plan and help our many heroes deal with the dirty work of fighting this monster. The most patriotic thing we can do now is to stay in our homes or do the work that is required to keep things running. Please keep to the plan.

- Scott Ramirez
South Lake Tahoe Resident