Life in the times of Corona

March 26, 2020 1 Comment

Hello Everyone,

Kapil here from Mishmi Takin. Corona is on everyone's mind and it is not the sun's corona we are talking about nor the beer. You can't avoid it even if you want to. The world seems to be in suspended animation waiting for the other shoe to drop. Everyone is home trying to figure out how to pass the time while trying to avoid disaster. Like everywhere, the schools are shut here in Tampa and my 6 year old kindergartner daughter is home too. I don't know how you are spending your time but my daughter is into sketching and that is what she is busy doing everyday. About 10-15 days back, we went shopping and at the checkout counter, I saw the ominous sounding 'Coronavirus Survival Guide' and promptly bought it. Now, I am not exactly a prepper and am yet to read the survival guide, however, my daughter has found it fascinating. It is full of information not just about Coronavirus but about world's previous great pandemics and other natural disasters. Couple of days ago, she was reading about Black Death and peppered me with questions about the symptoms of plague and the terrifying costume of plague doctors. I myself didn't know that the term 'Black Death' came about because big chunks of a patient's body would turn black before the eventual, painful death. I ended up showing my daughter a picture of the blackened hand of a recent plague patient. So, the very next day, she sketched and colored a partially blackened hand and titled it 'Black Death'. Similar story with Cholera, Spanish flu and disasters like volcanic eruptions. Someone here is getting an education on pandemics and putting together a sketch book of all the ways the world has gone to hell in a hand basket in the past.

Of course, no sketch book of pandemics would now be complete without coronavirus. My daughter has made two sketches of Coronavirus which I thought I would share with you. She strongly believes that the scientists will soon find a medicine which will make the scary virus run away. So, the first sketch shows the coronavirus while the second sketch shows the coronavirus running away whimpering with its tail between its legs. The two sketches are attached below. A fun fact, the coronavirus she has sketched looks a bit like me!! The next time you see me, please don't mistake me for coronavirus and don't beat the crap out of me. I didn't do it.

In case you are still struggling to find ways to spend your time, here are some suggestions. I personally would suggest the movie 'Contagion'. If you haven't watched it yet, you should definitely watch it. The most apt movie for the times. If you are partial to the written word, my wife suggests 'Love in the time of cholera' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. And, if sketching is not your thing, my daughter suggests this song, 'All izz Well' . Loosely translated, the song goes as - 'when life seems out of control, when you don't know what the future holds, whistle and heartily sing 'All izz well'.

On second thoughts, isn't that always true? In reality, we never know what the future holds. It is the certainty which is the illusion not the uncertainty. It is the feeling of control which is the illusion not the current lack of control. With that in mind, give all your loved ones a big hug today. Let bygones be bygones and call someone you haven't talked to in a while and let them know you are still there for them. As my daughter is lustily singing these days, in these times of corona, as long as we have each other, all is truly well.

Take care and stay safe. Distance physically, not emotionally. 
Kapil


P:S - Last week was my daughter's 6th birthday which means that this week marks 6 years of Mishmi Takin. Usually, every year, at this time, we offer a Mishmi Takin anniversary discount. However, with everything going on in the world, it feels a bit ungainly to say 'Hey, buy our stuff'. So, I won't do that. Secondly, even though Mishmi Takin is an online business, I am a bit ethically conflicted about exposing poor warehouse workers and delivery workers to additional risk.  Because of the ethical conflict, I don't want to promote online orders as well. Therefore, this year, we are not offering any anniversary discount. Instead, I would offer a rain check. When all this is over and things settle down and you are ready to buy some gear, send me an email and I would offer you a 'CoronaByeBye' discount. Till then, stay safe, stay healthy. Enjoy the time with family. 

 

 

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