DEAR Corona Virus,
You can go to hell.
I am not going to give you my fear.
I am not going to be defined by you.
I’m really okay. You, stupid virus!
I’m only scared because you also threaten my loved ones.
*
I really love my family, fans, friends, and relatives.
But if they are still ignorant about hand-washing, social distancing, and protective precautions at this time, I think they should just die.
We could really use less stupid people in the world right now.
Less stupid people, less spread of the virus.
*
That banana thing going all over the Internet – that’s bullshit!
Eat everything.
Eat healthy.
Eat normal, eat usual.
We all know the natural rich sources of Vitamin C, and the immune boosters.
Sure, mega dose of Vitamin C when people can afford it.
But water, water, water!
*
You are a dry throat virus.
When you settle on people’s dry throats, may you be flushed by sips of water every 15 minutes.
May you be flushed to their stomachs, and be burned by stomach acid.
*
I really don’t care when the vaccine will be ready.
I really don’t care when the cure will be discovered.
As a gay man, I have lived with the HIV scare for decades now.
The idea of HIV infection can scare the sex out of me.
Even if my prospective sexy partner is so damn hot.
Even if I use PrEP and condoms.
*
So, no, I’m not scared of you. You, stupid corona virus shit.
You are just a virus.
I will try to protect myself, and my loved ones.
Act as if I’m already infected.
I will cover my mouth and nose when I cough and sneeze.
I will wear masks if I start coughing and sneezing.
*
I will dispose of my masks, and tissues, and napkins correctly, and safely.
I will refrain from touching my mouth, eyes, nose, and face.
And obviously, the front side of my mask, which collects your kind.
I will stay away from sick people, or people with symptoms.
I will stay away at least three feet from people in the same room, if that is possible.
I will monitor myself for fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
And submit myself for x-ray when having unrelieved dry cough and breathing problems.
*
But if I stay healthy, and have a healthy partner, we’ll both take a shower, and continue to have sex.
I mean, if these were the end times, I’d like to die making love.
And making omelets, if I still wake up in the morning.
*
You see, stupid virus, you are just a virus.
And we have a life.
We may lockdown.
We may quarantine.
But in our homes, we can still read books.
Watch movies. Sing karaoke.
Pray!
*
Sure, no big gatherings.
But a family with no symptoms and significant travel history can still pray together, and karaoke or movie night together.
See?
We have a life.
And we will not give you our fear.
We will survive.
*
And if we don’t, if I don’t, at least, we will fight living.
And we will die fighting.
But we will fight with all signs of life: still eating, singing, loving, praying.
And breathing.
Calmly.
And lovingly.
*
(This life positive letter—life affirmative, if you will, started in the previous outing of My Life As Art.
The whole letter, posted on Facebook, enjoyed a certain popularity in the earliest days of confusion around the corona virus pandemia.)
*
May you be kept safe, and healthy.
Wash your hands.
Keep social distance.
Monitor for symptoms.
Pray!/PN
