Ghost Town

Where did everybody go?

Been riding around the area (for exercise only) and observed all the shuttered business. There is no one on the streets. There are no lights on. There is no traffic. There is not a sound.

It is a ghost town.

If some alien arrived now, they may wonder if this was gold mining town gone bust when the ore ran out.

If this continues will the street repairs stop? Will all the traffic lights flash yellow? Will the abandoned schools become morgues? Will the church bells ring again?

If the sweat pants been wearing for the past three weeks degenerate, could they be ordered and delivered online? What about the factory that made them? Are they shuttered with no workers? When the sneakers start getting holes in the bottom, where can you go to get a replacement pair? Will you start wearing your heels or wingtips around without socks (for they have also rotted out)? When your hair starts getting into your eyes, will you attempt to trim it yourself? Are all your social inhibitions going to pot as you slouch on the couch?

Will you ever be able to recover and become a community again?

There is some familiar history on this plot of ground. There have been disease and famine, fire and floods. When about to be invaded by an army, panic reign the people gathered their belongings and fled across the river leaving their business district burning and riots in the street.

There was no telephone or television or radio or Internet to let the people in the outlying counties knows the calamity except through rumor and gossip.

When order was restored and smoldering shells of building extinguished, people came back and started over again. They buried their dead. They built their churches. They tore down old buildings and built new ones. They expanded roadways and became a vibrant community again.

A hundred years later, they celebrated their victory of losing.

When my bike tires wear out and the bike shop is closed, who will be around to replace them? If you dent your fender, will you just ride around with a bent up car or try and find some scrape yard for a replacement? Will your neighbor’s kids come over to fix your computer for free for you have no money to give them for the service? Will money even mean anything?

If you break your arm will that become elective surgery, for the hospitals are full? If you need your tonsils removed or appendix or a hip replacement, will you get in line with all the dying?

We all hope the lights will come back on and there will be smiles and handshakes and hugs and kisses.

Until then we crouch behind our curtains losing our humanity. When the door finally opens will we trust our community again?

Stay safe. Stay well.