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| The tragedy -- Picasso |
The rest of the story
It’s a tragedy to lose someone to Covid.
I just finished reading a news article about a family where the husband died from Covid and what happened to the wife and two sons left behind. Similar stories are being repeated all over the nation.
They lost not only their house but their lifestyle. A lifestyle established by a loving relationship and two wage earners. A lifestyle with expenses based upon two. It’s true that when one person passes away their living expenses go away; the expense of food and sundry necessary to sustain their life. The rest of their expenses incurred together continue for awhile.
They impact the future.
Buying time
I remember that when my dad passed away at the age of 57 from a heart attack mom had to send back the Social Security check for that month. (He was on Social Security due to his previous heart attacks and no longer being able to work.) Mom’s bills didn’t change but there was less income. Dad had some insurance and that helped a little. Typically working people, if they have insurance at all, only have enough to buy them some time. Time to settle affairs.
The lady in the story mentioned above had to sell her house and downsize to an apartment. She had to move her family. The kids didn’t handle that well on top of losing their dad. Her job didn’t pay all that well. I’m not going to bother with all the details of their fall. Though the story didn’t mention it it’s likely that she’ll end up in bankruptcy on top of everything else.
It’s a rolling tragedy
The Bigly Picture
The 616,000 dead so far are just one part of the much larger story. Lives forever disrupted. Lives that will have to be put back together again. Often from scratch. Lives without life partners. Children with parents gone. Family units destroyed.
Much of this tragedy is self-inflicted as a nation from the first lack of an adequate government response to the ongoing fight against bringing the pandemic to an end. Silly ridiculous arguments and opposition that end in more death and misery.
Tragedy upon tragedy.