Never before did life change so dramatically as it did last March. It felt like life as we knew it had put on emergency brakes. And there was no preparation for the new way we had to live if we were to live safely. Many of us wonder if we will return to our former lifestyle or has the virus permanently changed our way of living. Is the new normal here to stay?
Change is something that happens every day. We can’t stop it. When train transportation was developed, the stagecoach industry went out of business; the beautiful old coaches are now only important as museum pieces. When cars and tractors were invented, horses were no longer needed; they are only kept for recreational use and the pleasure the animals bring. Train and ship travel ended when the airplane became a safe and fast mode of transportation; trains and ships are now used primarily for transporting cargo.
The telephone replaced the telegraph, and today the telephone is used less for talking than it is for texting, directing us to a location, taking a picture, looking something up on Google, mail ordering things, checking the time, using it for a flashlight, and on and on. It’s amazing all the things that small phone can do. And now we can even see the person we are talking to.
The computer has made letter writing almost a thing of the past; it’s quite exciting to receive a handwritten letter. Digital cameras have replaced the old film ones. Now we can see the photo we took instantly and even forward it right off to a friend. Yes, we’ve seen lots of changes.
For sure, the restaurant business will boom again and we’ll go on trips, but working from home is a big change that may last forever. It could work well for some positions but not for all. Teachers definitely have to be in the classroom to teach most effectively, especially in the primary grades, and medical people can best treat patients if they can examine them. However, there may be some elements of those positions that will be effective online. But most computer jobs do not require an office outside the house.
My nephew took regular business trips to Europe and Asia. Now he meets with all clients on Zoom. Sometimes the meetings are held in the middle of the night to accommodate the different time zones, but he says it works very effectively. The company saves a lot of money on airline, hotel, food expenses, and the cost of office space. Also, there isn’t business time lost because of travel. Why would they want to change back? Another change may affect architects who will likely be including an office in house plans.
A cousin from Minneapolis brought up another interesting question. She talked about all the tall office buildings in the city that are not being used because people are working from home. What will become of them if it is determined that working from home is effective and less costly? Will the buildings be converted to apartments?
We’ve suddenly been thrust into a new world. I think of the book titled “Brave New World.” I never read that book but the title impresses me because it takes courage to live in the world we live in now. A person needs courage to keep positive. Today’s “new world” makes me look at the old world differently.
The virus reminds me of the statement declared when Sam Colt made his pistol in 1872. It was called “The Equalizer.” With that pistol, a small man could be as powerful as a big man. The virus is an equalizer. It looks at all people as the same. Everyone is vulnerable to the virus’s awful attack no matter the color of a person’s skin or the size of one’s bank account. Everyone in the world is facing the same threat.
Change. Yes, there will be changes. Maybe some will be good changes. Maybe the virus can help us see what is really important for our society. Maybe we can become a better people, a more caring people, a more peaceful people, able to see that we are all equal. In the meantime, let us show our respect and caring by wearing our masks and practicing the safety rules.
Carole J. Gariepy is a resident of Phillipston.