Pandemic Purgatory

 I have discovered something while serving my time as the Ultimate Essential Worker: 

(first of all, please know that that was sarcasm. Second of all) Many jobs could be done - to completion! - by a much lower number of people than are doing the jobs now. 

Or... at least most of the jobs that are to be done at my place of work.

I had two brothers in arms fighting the (good?) fight alongside me as Essential Workers during my stint in a very nearly empty office. Granted there was still an army of the Sub-Essentials working from home... but let's get real, guys. Let's throw some quotations around "work" when we mention those of us "working" from home. Sure, I believe there is a small number actually trying. But I truly believe that - as earnest as one's intentions are, going into the game - we all succumb to opportunity at some point. Doubly so when it comes to our job. And if you aren't nodding your head a bit in reluctant agreement, you're lying to yourself (and myself. How dare you. I really thought we had something).

Surely I digress. These brothers and I were killing the bureaucratic GAME. We were answering telephones, making (color!) copies, flinging notarized documents at our superiors by the dozen. And that was just the first five minutes! It felt like I was back in the Service Industry, with a pace more akin to a seasonal restaurant than any office I have ever heard of. Sure we were miserable - but we're always miserable! 

This just makes me wonder how much less we office-folk are all doing in another dimension. And that dimension wouldn't know any other kind, so if they were then forced to do our amount of work, they would very likely react in a similar fashion as we were acting while we were in pandemic purgatory (another decent band name) ...(see also: COVID Emotion). I know I'm rambling again, but a curious thought, no?

This could have all been summed up in a sentence: it's all relative. But let's face it; you don't come here for the succinct conclusions. The ride - often times - is much more entertaining. 

Another thing I would like to touch upon (this blog will make the third today, all about the pandemic, so let's wrap it up here, folks): the Convenience of Opinion of the Non-Believers [Very Typically at the Cost of the Good Samaritan].

See, there's this collection of sheep who are just doing as they're told. Then there's this collection of people who just respect the government / care to do what they're told / maybe it's easier than starting a revolution. There's the group of perpetual Contrary Marys and conspiracy theorists who will never do as they are told, and then there's me. I don't know what the flying hell to believe, but I do know that I do not know what this illness is (as I am not a scientist). Ergo, I will "play the game". Is wearing a mask going to kill me? Presumably no. Then sure; I'll wear one. Who cares. (Quit being a baby, other group!) The Contrary Marys are who I would like to focus on now, as these are the humans making me feel so irritated, I may as well have assumed some otherworldly rash.

Head to toe. 

These are the individuals who find convenience. These are the individuals who have cut off members of their otherwise friendly PTA group for going out to eat at a restaurant (a veritable pariah!) but assume nonchalance as they host a family barbecue for twenty. "Well it's family, so..." It's not an inherited gene disorder, Agnes. It doesn't care about your family. You may as well have relations with your cousin under the guise of avoiding gonorrhea. "It's so ridiculous that we have to have contact with the general public for work - wait - What do you mean there's no holiday party at the office this year??"

I think I've made enough enemies for tonight. Thanks for reading.