In the COVID-19 era, being long-of-tooth does not mean he’s willing to be sacrificed

I get it!

Win one for the team.

It’s the economy, stupid.

Right.

I just do not like getting thrown under the bus.

I am counted among those most likely to catch COVID-19.

I understand I am among the vulnerable. I will be 77 in July.

It’s the sickly and old (me) most apt to succumb to it.

I am also more likely to die of from other major old-age maladies — heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. — than the rest of the younger, healthier population.

I have some treatment choices for those conditions, either medically or with lifestyle changes.

With COVID-19, doctors can treat the symptoms, not the virus. There is no vaccine and until there is one, I am among the most susceptible.

However, many hip-shooting politicians and other know-it-alls say that is OK. Take one for the team so we can go back to making money.

I understand that. Fortunately, most folks my age are retired with some pension or government income. It may be very little. It might be enough to live comfortably. Regardless, most of us do not have jobs, so we are not as impacted by the shutdown as the majority.

However, most of us also have children, grandchildren and younger friends who are working and understand what a hardship shutting down the economy has been. We get it.

Also, for you constitutional fools, thank you for not wearing a mask. You are free Americans and can practice stupidity. The vulnerable appreciate your thoughtlessness. Hope you don’t spread COVID-19 to your spouses, parents, grandparents, children or grandchildren or the essential workers who serve you as a result of all the wandering about in public unmasked and protesting.

Contrary to the reckless politicians who say only the long-of-tooth and unhealthy get the virus, the “fit” also get sick and die.

I don’t like being cooped up any more than others. I also don’t like being fearful of going out in public. Fortunately, we are still mobile and can shop for groceries and other necessities well-masked and disinfected afterward.

However, you can bet I am not going to any seating restaurants, malls, maybe our church or other places where masses gather any time soon, contrary to the politicians who want to toss the likes of me and my wife under the Greyhound.

Sure, I miss going out fearlessly. I also do not want to buy the farm without downing another cheeseburger and chocolate milk shake at Triangle Drive-In or fish and chips from Red Robin.

The medical experts are a bit overly cautious; however, there appears to be far fewer dissenters about the seriousness of the situation among the meds than the politicians.

My wife and I will wait to see who is right about the future of COVID-19. I sincerely hope the ones who say, “It’s the economy, stupid” are correct. However, I am not willing to risk my 78th birthday on it.

For those of you who want to tie us old folks to the tracks to await the next Amtrak, I don’t appreciate it. I may not have many years left, but I don’t want the undertaker to clean tire marks off this old body.

It may be the economy, but I am not stupid.

I also understand I am on my own with many politicos.