Another victim of the virus that is changing is how we will meet and greet in the future; congratulate; show love, compassion and sorrow. I assume kissing will still be "a thing" for intimate encounters though the spontaneous will probably become a thing of historic reference. Unless they develop a "quick test" that one can purchase from a vending machine in the bar or local gas station. I have faith that humankind will find a way.
But there will be no more friendly "atta boy/girl" body whacks after a successful game or business coup. Bumping elbows or rear ends will be trendy or perhaps learning to speak "with your eyes" as so many love songs purport to be possible will develop. I don't know how many spouses complain, in their heads, "how come he/she can't freakin' read my mind?" Well fasten your seat belts. That advance in the human experience may be on the horizon. Hmm with mixed results I imagine.
I can see the awkwardness. "Let me introduce myself," from an acceptable social distance waving in a friendly, non-threatening manner. "Can I see the graph with the numbers?" resulting in fashioning a paper airplane of the document for safe transfer. "Congratulations on your graduation, you'll find your check under the big rock on the porch". "So sorry you got hurt, you're bleeding, let me toss you a bandage, but please don't lose consciousness!"
Digress: Actually funny story. Well not for the victim. I taught many First Aid and CPR classes before I was confronted with an emergency situation. Older lady took a header at a curb right outside my downtown office. Yelling for someone to call 911, I rushed to her, quickly taking in the extremely messy visage that used to contain her perfectly straight nose. I wrapped my coat around her and kept her lying down while waiting for the ambulance. She kept trying to get up saying she was late for an appointment. As she was conscious and breathing alright my only task was to keep her warm and calm. Having time to reconnoiter I remember thinking, "oh please I hope I don't have to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation". Help arrived and the lady was safely transported.
However after that episode I changed my tutorial to recommend in an emergency, "don't think, just do what you have to do." Perhaps actually some type of metaphor for life. A lot of the time it is important to just do something relying on your training and your heart. Don't stop and think about it if you want to make a difference.
It's the compassion and sorrow piece that will prove difficult in the future. To offer a hug to someone in the throes of despair or pain; to offer condolences on the death of a loved one actually demands a human touch. Hopefully we will be able to show our love as time goes on.
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