Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
By: Lonny Anger
Friends, especially in Florida, this is not meant to be a political post.
My oldest son has tested positive for the coronavirus. The rest of us got tested today, and there is a good chance we are positive as well – won’t know for a few days.
In a non-coronavirus world, we would never have been concerned. He was running a low-grade fever for less than 24 hours. That wouldn’t normally even warrant a phone call to the pediatrician. Because of the world we live in today, we thought the responsible thing to do – especially since we were supposed to be in Ft Myers this weekend for a baseball tournament — was to have him tested.
We have done, or least thought we have done all of the right things over the last few months.
Social distancing.
Masks.
Stayed home.
No visitors inside.
But the problem is that “Success relaxes you.”
In this sense, “success” is that none of us had it or had any symptoms. Nor had we been around anyone (knowingly) who had symptoms or who had it.
As the State has opened, we have as well.
We like to believe that we had followed all protocols 100% of the time in regards to social distancing, and/or mask-wearing when social distancing was not possible.
We probably could have done a better job.
And my suspicion is that if you are truly 100% honest with yourself – you probably could be doing a better job as well instead of convincing yourself that you are doing everything possible to be safe.
Now we have to deal with the consequences of those decisions, including our baseball team canceling going to their baseball tournament this weekend (sorry team), and quarantining for 14 days.
So, all we are really doing is just starting over from where we began in March.
I urge you to learn from us.
And learn that no matter how smart you think you are, this virus is smarter.
I have been asked, “How did he get it?”
I have absolutely no idea.
I wish I did.
I wish I could pinpoint the exact moment the virus was transmitted. I just don’t know. All I know is that there could have been 5,000 ways. Through me. Through other family members. Through friends. Who knows?
I guess it doesn’t really matter anyway, except to alert all those with whom we have been in contact.
Many of you have asked me if there is anything you can do for us, which we very much appreciate.
Here is my answer.
Work from home (if you can.) Stay home. Order in. Support local businesses. Resist the urge to socialize. Wear a mask everywhere. Keep your kids home. Make this a non-political issue and make a decision based on common sense, logic, and data.
Simply put – don’t try to outsmart something that is smarter than you.
We tried.
We lost.
Lonny Anger is a “proud” Parkland resident and father of three children including his daughter, who attends Marjory Stoneman Douglas. He is a licensed general contractor and owner of Merrick Industrial Management Corp, a commercial construction firm specializing in hospital and healthcare facilities interior renovation. Anger serves as vice president/media relations for Shine MSD, which was formed by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Students after the shooting to support victims’ families and healing the Parkland community through the arts. He also enjoys volunteering in the city as a baseball and flag football coach.
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