Life in a box. Right now , the world is seeing a story unfold unlike any seen before. Plagues have traveled the earth in times past. However, the immediate coverage and response is unprecedented. As with many other major event , life will undoubtedly change after all is said and done.
Here in the US, much of the country has come to a standstill. Most cities and towns have implemented some form of “stay at home” order. People are asked to avoid contact with others outside of the home. I really don’t have to explain this. I think much of the planet has instituted the same.
Honestly, this is pretty normal for us with ALS. At least those of us further along. Isolation, by choice or by fault, is common. The risk of becoming ill while I battle this disease is great. What may be little more than a minor annoyance to most people can be fatal for me. So, every exposure is carefully considered. This leads to less and less interaction. Not just for me, but my wife as well. Naturally, as we refrain from participating in activities , opportunities shrink. That is just the way it works.
When you are the person with ALS, this is more pronounced. Your world really starts to close in on you. First, you lose the things that you can physically do. Your box gets smaller. Then, your relationships begin to change. Smaller still. Your ability to interact with the world decreases and the lid closes. Trapped in your own body , your life in that box.
The world will return to “normal”, at some point. Hopefully, with greater appreciation. One day, people struck with ALS will be able to do the same. For now, the box continues to be our inevitable life.