'Shelter' as a Verb

I woke up this morning feeling a little useless. I’m a nurse but not on the front lines. I’ve worked in Health Education for eighteen years with fifteen of them being in some form of management. The faculty that I’m blessed to work beside will say that I’m a good manager, but my skills in conflict-resolution and spreadsheets have come at a cost. I’m not a floor nurse any longer.

I’m watching my peers that are on the front-lines look exhausted. They don’t have the needed supplies and are watching news reports of people continuing to minimize the potential devastating results of the Coronavirus. This is usually after seeing reports from Italy and the horrific choices that are being made about prioritizing treatment. I read that some patients over the age of 80 are no longer receiving treatment. I don’t know if it’s true but even the thought took me to listing those people that I know and love in that age group, starting first with my Dad.

California received the order to “Shelter-in-place” on Thursday night. I think most of us knew that was coming and started making adjustments. Eric and I don’t eat a lot of bread or pasta but we are stocked with Costco sized packages of spaghetti and sauce just in case. We have half a bag of Costco toilet paper left and for the first time, I’m considering middle-age constipation a blessing. There is always a silver lining!

I usually seek out humor in everyday situations. Humor can sometimes be found in simple words with multiple meanings. Even something as simple as “balls” can provide a play on words. That desire brought me to the word “shelter” today. I was struck by the difference between the noun and verb definitions.

Shelter (according to the Cambridge Dictionary)

Noun – (a building designed to give) protection from bad weather, danger, or attack

Verb –  to protect yourself, or another person or thing, from bad weather, danger, or attack

Our healthcare professionals, elders and anyone with underlying health conditions are at risk. Maybe it’s time to look at the verb form of ‘shelter’. We are not being asked to “Shelter-in-place” entirely for our own protection. We are being asked to help decrease the ability for this virus to spread so our healthcare system is not overwhelmed and our healthcare workers are not inundated with patients that they have no supplies or beds for.

I think everyone has seen the “Flatten the Curve” diagrams but in case you have not, please see it below. If this one doesn’t do it for you, I’ve also seen one with cat drawings. Whatever works…

So here is my plea to anyone reading. If you are young, healthy and have no underlying health issues, you may or may not get Coronavirus. You may or may not know if you have it. You may or may not even be an asymptomatic carrier. So…since you don’t know, please “shelter-in-place” when directed…but in the verb form.

You may be protecting my Dad…or yours.

Please stay safe.