Waiting on Xena

We are used to seeing superheroes on the big screen, full color, sharp outfits and amazing super powers. I have loved them all, loved that the good guys win in the end, good over evil, love conquers all. Now, I’m not so sure. This sneaky virus, like a hooded thief in the night, has turned our world upside down, literally. All of the activities we loved, the restaurants we dined at, our dentists, chiropractors, gift stores, hair stylist, shoe stores, concert venues, gyms, art galleries, libraries, coffee shops–all shuttered for now and nobody knows for how long. Nobody says out loud how many places won’t re-open because life is too hard right now and we can’t bear to think of it. Our brains shut down like trauma patients. The news can only be taken in small bits, like a 3 year old eats spinach because you know that it is reality but the taste when you swallow is really bitter. Some of us are lucky and have routines but mostly, working from home with the kids, is a brand new experience for all. At least, in our homes, we are mostly safe.

The superheroes now don’t have capes or snazzy outfits–they wear scrubs and borrowed masks and homemade devices to ward off this tiny killer. Somehow, the richest country in the world doesn’t have enough PPE for these frontline workers. The scam is up. A healthcare pyramid scheme that is falling down like a house of cards. We are failing big time and putting nurses, doctors, paramedics, CNAs, physical therapists in grave danger. We are letting them carry the load for a failed healthcare system. It is appalling and sad and unbelievable. I’m not a doctor or a healthcare worker but my heart breaks every day as the deaths of these heroes increase everyday. I can’t imagine the stress of having to go into a war zone everyday. They should all get a presidential Medal of Honor when this is over.

So, I’m looking for Xena to make her appearance. She is fierce, just and a general badass. She didn’t take no for an answer and didn’t back down from any obstacles, no matter how hard they were. She had a trusty sidekick and a supporting cast that appeared just in time to save the day. Xena didn’t make excuses and she righted the wrongs that were forced upon people. She did the right thing. And she always knew what the right thing was. That is the trick these days. There are excuses that we only have so much money, we can only save so many people, we can’t do everything, we are powerless. We may not win every battle and life is going to be different after this is over. And it isn’t going to be over anytime soon but we can’t be powerless. Each one of us can do the right thing and those single right things add up to a whole bunch of right. A kind word, a delivered meal, a card in the mail, send the nurses at your local hospital lunch. All of the good energy has to build and build and finally burst like a bubble of love, spreading over the land. My fellow Americans, be like Xena. We need you more than ever right now.