By Kyle Marksteiner
In my other job, working for the City of Carlsbad, we have naturally been fielding quite a few calls from people asking for more information – “Is my business essential or not?” “Can I go to the park?” “Where are the testing locations?” “How much is admission to the water park?”
OK, that last one wasn’t timely.
Usually, the questions we receive are fairly specific. Last week, however, one gentleman sent us a message just wanting to know when the whole thing will be over with.
Um.
The simplest questions are sometimes the best questions because they cut through to the point. His question, however, may be a little over my pay grade. I tried my best. “Thank you for your question. We’re hoping that if everyone can honor stay at home instructions, we’ll get past the worst part of this in a few more weeks.”
“OK,” he responded. Then the next day he sent a matching query: “When is this coronavirus going to end?”
This time, I cast aside diplomacy and went with pure honesty – “I don’t know,” I confessed.
“Hello, will it be over 19 days from now?” he responded.
It has been about a week now, and I’ve come to enjoy this gentleman’s daily queries as to when the coronavirus will end. I’m touched by his honesty, and I appreciate the reminder that most of us are really just doing the best we can right now. No matter how informed we think we are – we’re really all in the same boat.
The truth of the matter is that there’s a lot we don’t know and we just want this coronavirus to end.
Happy Easter and please enjoy the newspaper ~ Kyle