…to this article.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/120524231/my-generation-wasnt-designed-for-lockdown?cid=app-android
Dear Verity,
Hope you’re doing okay in all this lockdown nonsense. It is varying degrees of hard for everyone, I understand.
I’m 32, only just though! Don’t be fooled – I’m very insecure about my age but I’m well placed in the millenial category much like yourself. I’m a home and business owner, a dog nurturer, a cat supervisor and a mum. I’m privileged to be any of those things, let alone all.
However, my parents are considered by the system to be elderly and they both have cancer. My dad is terminal and my mum is half way to a remission however, she is pre-diabetic and comorbidities tend to include some form of immunosuppression. That goes without saying my dad’s leukaemia deems him absolutely immunosuppressed, due to a severe lack of neutrophils (antibodies). COVID 19 is especially deadly to him as his particular strain of leukaemia affects his ability to produce haemoglobin – the protein that carries oxygen through the blood stream and to the lungs. Any exposure to this will kill him and my family will not be able to say goodbye. Before he was given a bill of ill health in November, he had an underlying mild form of leukaemia which he battled for 8 years. My Dad is, as I’m sure yours is, the pillar of our family. He has and still continues to work hard to better his family and community. He likely won’t see through the year with his illness but, he might not even see through the month if people aren’t locked down. There are kids in our hospitals who have the same cancer too. These cancers are otherwise manageable in regular situations but this is not a regular situation.
I too am a career woman, so I love the ubers and coffees (I love coffee and brunch so much, it’s literally my business now – I went from PR and marketing to making coffee, eggs and baking). I afterpay everything too. I already see myself missing the Once’It sales, next day shipping, click & collect from Platypus etc.
However, health is resilience and I can’t stand by this privileged ignorance that we millennials are somehow hard done by missing out by having to peel potatoes again or learning to bake bread. Frankly, you’re speaking for yourself. We’re lucky we even get to have the privilege of going to the supermarket right now. The loss of Uber Eats and conveniences for a month (or even two) is absolutely not comparative to the devastating loss that the virus could have if it takes hold here. Look at less fortunate countries like say, the United States where they’ve let the market decide the fate of the masses. Soon, there will be no more market to decide.
So before you whisk another egg into your cookie batter or use your 2 day old sourdough starter (you shouldn’t do this by the way, you need at least 4 weeks), think about how cosy you have it right now. Then think about how cosy you might not have it. Then take away your parents and everyone you love who is over 60 and maybe has had a hidden chronic illness.
Right. Cool. Not so cosy now. Give a solo mum one of your handbags and be done with your whining.
xx Leah
