Corona Chronicle

2

November 29, 2020 by bonesymackinnon

~ a record from April 2020, posted in our local newsletter, The Meli

My Corona Chronicle on social media began on Tuesday, March 24 when Victoria introduced Stage 1 of our shutdowns. Greg and I had decided that we would be largely staying at home from then on. He had already begun working from home fulltime.

With Stage 1, our gigs had been cancelled and we wouldn’t be rehearsing anymore. Schools were closed that day, a few days ahead of the term holidays. And people who knew they were at risk had already begun to quarantine themselves. I think that was the point when life began to change dramatically for most people in Victoria.

At that time, I had been following the posts of a friend who lives in Madrid. He had been chronicling the lockdown there, which began March 15. Their restrictions were and still are far, far stricter than here. He lives in a very small unit with his partner and their 8 year old daughter. A tough gig.

That was where I first heard about the clapping. After their first day of lockdown, he wrote that it was ‘‘…an amazing thing to be a part of last night. In a show of solidarity for health care workers, everyone in Spain opened their windows and applauded, last night. It was emotional and incredibly uplifting. Keep smiling if you can!!’ And he included a clip.

I was deeply moved by the post and the clip. I could only think, ‘Good on them!’ It kinda symbolised to me that beautiful, deeply unfathomable hope that humans have. And that we all crave. Despite all the crap they were in, they would think to do this.

It was a pure, organic, and spontaneous thing. I had heard of the singing in Italy and both Spain and Italy, of course, were two of the hardest hit. It inspired me to thank our own workers, and the ones overseas, too.

So, I contacted some neighbours and wrote a post on social media, saying, ‘It’s the frontline of an awful war that they face. While we are safely in quarantine, they are in the trenches. May the great spirits guard them🌈’. I invited Maryknollers to begin to do the same as Spain, and in unison at 8pm, hold a minute of noise for the health workers.

Then, in the dark, with a nearby wild chorus of kookaburras, a small band of residents in Maryknoll, stood out the front of their homes. We held our first minute of noise, clapping, coo-eeeing and yahooing in solidarity with health care workers, everywhere, applauding their efforts in this difficult time.

Now, 11 days later, a hearty band of people have continued to observe that simple ritual, each night. As restrictions have tightened, we have moved. Now, we stand behind our fences or on verandahs. And each night I post a movie and a piece of writing.

After our first night, I learned that Greg’s cousin in Paris joins in with clapping each night there. Later that week, ‘Clap for the Carers’ got underway in London. It was inspired by an initiative in the Netherlands which, in turn, had been inspired by the videos of people in Italy and Spain. They have a hearty weekly ritual, and their second was last night. And it now happens in various places across the USA.

We are part of a universal initiative! I asked people from Maryknoll and all sorts of places to take a clip of their noise making and I add them to the movie, each night. There has been some wonderful clips from Maryknoll, Bunyip, Vermont South, Point Lonsdale, Pottsville, NSW, and as far afield as Madrid, London and Illinois, USA.

Here in the Knoll, quite a few people from all around the hill have joined in. We don’t always hear each other. Still, the noise rings through our trees and hills. The coo-ees between neighbours moves like a bush telegraph. And each night new people join the ranks of thanks, from all over the place.

As time went on, it made sense to make mention of all the various other people on whom we rely, at the moment. The people who have the task of making policy, making decisions, doing the vital tracking work of contagion, working on a vaccine and so on. People who carry on essential services of various kinds. I am grateful to them all.

We are not many here but together, from where ever we come, we are much more. In Maryknoll, it seems, our noise time seems to fly. It goes longer. It’s a long way from the marathon of 10 minutes that has been known in Madrid. It’s a fundamental thing being in touch in some way. And I find these noises and messages from people in distant places is a beautiful way to be together.

The news from overseas continues to be bleak. So, whatever the inconvenience our restrictions are, it seems to be our best option. We are all too conscious of what each tomorrow may bring. And our hearts ache to hug dear ones who are apart, to be with frailer elders and family and friends.

Now, the USA, our long-time ally, is listing. It groans and cries. The people are feeling abandoned and understandably frightened. Our geographical location has afforded us some space. So, it’s wise not to waste that gift! Each of us in our homes, in our rooms are contributing to the fight by staying out of the way.

The singing in Italy, the clapping in Madrid and Paris and everywhere are such simple and very beautiful human gestures: being grateful for those who do the hard yards for us. From our dispersed places, these gestures join us all. We have a need for a sense of solidarity and comfort for us all – cos we’re sure as hell in this together.

The way I see it, from out of space, there’s this continuum of action visibly that’s happening all around this stricken planet – like a Mexican wave. A loving gesture of solidarity, gratitude and hope.

And, even if you are on your own in your home, this action is just as powerful for ourselves, as well as it is for the medical workers, indeed our whole sorry world as it struggles and writhes at this point.

Look after each other🌈

Bonesy, April 2020