Seeing spots

To someone whose perception of time differs from most, this pandemic has been even more of a challenge. Earlier this year, as I removed laundry from younger daughter's room, I saw that she had filled in each and every square of her calendar, clear through to December: "VIRUS - VIRUS - VIRUS . . . ."  Like a flashing alarm, blinking repeatedly, world without end, amen.

At the same time, a friend posted this equally alarming animation on Facebook.  It covers the period between January 1st and June 30th, 2020, and it uses visuals and sound effects in a simple but unsettling way.

We start, seemingly drifting somewhere in space above China (which is unnerving in itself, to tell you the truth). One screen corner shows the date, the other the number of deaths -- not case numbers, deaths; that's important. It starts at 0, of course, but once the numbers appear, it will change every four seconds.

For the first few seconds, we have silence, until the first death, sometime in January.  A beep sounds, and a red dot ripples out, like a pebble hitting calm water.

The beeps come closer together, as the circle morphs into what looks like an angry scarlet pustule -- as the Philippines, with a beep in a different tone, joins in, and we float backwards and outwards, so our view takes in all of Europe, as Iran, Italy, France, and Spain become inflamed rippling spots, all beeping on different notes.

By March 11th, the day the pandemic was declared (and the last day I shook anybody's hand), we're viewing a flat world map. European countries are obscured by red welts. 

On March 16th, Canada gets a scarlet circle. That was the day that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau was confirmed as a COVID case, and things began shutting down in Canada like a row of falling dominos. 

By April 12th, the day elder daughter came from Hades to shelter with us in Victoria, the Canadian circle is large, and the United States is pulsing angrily. 

And so it goes to June 30th, spreading and spreading, the mingled beeps becoming a cacophony, as I compare my own personal timeline - I've kept one while all this has been happening. 

I understand there will be an update covering July 1st to December 31st. 

 I can hardly wait. 

Will younger daughter fill in her 2021 calendar with anguished repeating words, flashing like an alarm clock?  To her, it seems it will never end.  I can't convince her otherwise.