COVID-19; MY OWN SCARY MOVIE

Covid-19 has somewhat turned many into new conformists; forced to re-evaluate, readjust and reconfigure their lifestyles. It is certainly obvious: humans have been forced against their freewill to align and embrace the new paranormal the virus has created.
I am certainly one of those conformists or let me say with a speck of comic, “loyal and obedient student’’. I obeyed lockdown rules and curfews. I only went out if it was necessary and, virtually stayed off the social radar. No hanging out, No visiting.
Covid-19 was a threat and remains a threat. While Nigeria and Africa as a whole are not epicenters of this pandemic, however, the fact and truth is, “we ain’t out of the woods just yet”.
With the media awash with the pandemic and its growing casualties, around the world, one can’t help but remain guarded and guided till the storm is over.
It is a principle I have held unto like a religion and diligently practiced and observed. “Always wash your hands at intervals, wash your hands once you return either from work or an outing, observe social distancing, be mindful of social gatherings exceeding 20 people and please…strap your sanitizer if you need to and always wear your face mask.” Yes! I turned it into my own nursery rhyme just because I didn’t want to come up on the virus’ menu list. Yuck! Not me.
But, I got a resounding whiplash on Thursday, a reality-check that got me scared and, left me wondering if really, covid-19 is not a threat or my finickiness about not getting infected is turning into paranoia for me.
I got a call from my uncle, requesting I come to my hometown because in his words, “we can’t discuss on phone I need to have a face to face conversation with you.”
I hesitated but, then agreed because I felt it would also be an opportunity to visit my Dad’s grave side and you know have some quiet time with him.
So, I got into the car and drove down to Sagamu (my hometown) in Ogun state, 13km from Lagos, where I reside.
I got to sagamu and proceeded to my Dad’s grave side before seeing my uncle.
After spending few minutes with him, telling him how I missed him and the struggle to be a man that he wants me to be, I hopped into my car and drove to the address my uncle gave me.
Oops! I forgot to tell you, he told me we were having a burial ceremony for a nonagenarian. Yes, a grand uncle, old enough to be my grand dad. He died at the age of 90.
I don’t know maybe he deliberately left out the details but, he made it sound as if is just a gathering where social distancing and other protocols would be duly enforced.
But, guess I was wrong. I saw a mammoth crowd with little or no respect for all your social distancing, gathering and so on.
I stared on, in utter disbelief. Damn! You need to see my eyes, my eyeballs popping out like ‘’the Mask’’, remember the movie? Ace Ventura was the mask character.
My thoughts ran wide, “what if there is a carrier here’’, “how can I be sure that nobody has exhibited a symptom”. It was crazy I panicked, quickly put my sanitizer in my pocket and wore my face mask as I walked feebly into the unknown.
Uncle spotted me, and was happy. I kept a straight face and asked him, “what is this? You never told me it was going to be this big. What about social distancing, the government directives on social gathering,” I queried and was just begging for answers.
“Hey! Young man, relax there is no coronavirus here. We are here to enjoy, grab a sit and let’s drink.”
He beckoned on a server to bring me a cold beer, I wasn’t convinced. I was not going to just let go of my inhibitions. This is coronavirus, no cure yet, I repeatedly said to myself.
Still grappling with his less-convincing assurances, uncle threw me another bomb, and this time I sank into my chair. “Hey sola, your mum is here too. She came for the party.”
I just uncorked the beer and drank peacefully. And I said, really, how good can this be? My mum is here, she is a grandma in her late 60s, my mind quickly flashed back to the medical experts’ warnings about protecting old folks in their sixties and little kids.
My mum walked up to me, wanted to give me a hug, stylishly I refused and just fist bump her.
I spent the next 30 to 45 minutes sipping my beer and turning into a health officer, watching every move, slight cough, sneezing, it wasn’t funny.
When I eventually left, I did some thinking while driving back to Lagos.

Covid-19 is real, but why do people choose to ignore this threat and carry on as if nothing is happening.
China, the country where the first outbreak happened is experiencing a second wave of infection. Brazil is Latin America’s most infected country, it is all stark reality.
And here, my own folks chose to ignore. Could it be that we are not as scorched by the virus as the government is making it? Whatever the case, I concluded covid-19 is real and I just escaped a scare. If I’m paranoid, well I care less, can’t wait to get home and take a shower..jeez!.

(Me, with my best buddies, face mask and a sanitizer)