I have a tendency to daydream over certain images. Yesterday I couldn’t stop staring at the news photo of the smashed SUV that saved Tiger Woods’s life. After Woods lost control of his vehicle, 10 airbags were deployed as it rolled over in a ditch. It was a nasty single car crash, which shattered one of his legs and ankles. But after all-day surgery, it looks like he’ll walk again.
Oh, and he survived.
In my dreamy state, I saw in the accident a symbol of the horrific pandemic that has upended our lives in countless ways.
I saw in the accident a symbol of the horrific pandemic that has upended our lives in countless ways.
The damage has been enormous. The deaths, the lost jobs, the depression and loneliness — we can never undo the limitless pain inflicted upon our world by the lethal virus. I saw some of that in the smashed vehicle.
When I thought of the brand new SUV and all of its safety features, I thought of the built-in institutions throughout society that combat the damage triggered by the pandemic.
When I thought of the medical team and surgeons who worked frantically on Woods all day, I thought of the first responders who worked under the most difficult circumstances to care for patients who never stopped coming in.
When I thought of what the surgeons did to save his leg — with special rods and screws and other innovations of modern medicine — I thought of the thousands of scientists around the globe who burned the midnight oil month after month to develop treatments and vaccines to keep us alive.
And when I imagined Tiger Woods coming out of the hospital — whenever that will be — I saw a somewhat battered human being, limping a little, but deeply grateful to be alive.
I imagine that’s how many of us are feeling these days — limping a little, grieving for our battered society’s losses, but deeply grateful for the “air bags” that have kept us alive.
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