I have been thinking about that movie since the pandemic started. My neighborhood has looked different since the “Stay At Home” order. Many of the changes have been good ones. The sounds of saws and hammers with people working on home projects. Families talking and walking together. What if we never went back to what we always thought was “normal”? So here is my version of what might happen after the pandemic. My hope is that even a small portion of this comes true……
ONCE UPON A TIME IN POST PANDEMIC LOS ANGELES: A FAIRY TALE
The sun comes up on yet another crystal clear morning in Los Angeles, where air quality is among the best in the world. People begin to stir in their homes, getting ready to start their day. Some folks still drive to an office or a job, but the majority of people spend at least part of their week working from home. STV(since the virus), businesses have realized that a lot of work does not have to be done in an office setting. They found that their employees actually got more done when they weren’t being consumed by a two hour commute. Of course, there is no such thing anymore as a two hour commute, since the number of cars on the freeways have dwindled. Instead, you really can get anywhere in Los Angeles in 20 minutes.
They wake their children to get them ready for their day. Some families have continued to home school STV, but those that don’t have a profound appreciation of the people who teach their children. Because of this, teachers have seen a huge increase in their salaries and the best of the best want to educate. Why wouldn’t you want the rewarding job of teaching children when you are appreciated and compensated fairly? As a result, test scores have climbed and we look at all the children in Los Angeles and know with the great education and inspiration they will be getting, they will all reach their full potential.
With the end of the commute, once parents get home, they aren’t as exhausted. Cooking healthy dinners as a family is not a rarity, but almost an everyday thing. DTV (during the virus) many people started the tradition of making their own meals and it has continued. After dinner, families usually take a walk together. Dogs, strollers, families on bikes, all with no phones in site, laughing and sharing what happened today is a very common site. You can hear friendly greetings for neighbors everywhere you go.
Where they walk, even in the more urban neighborhoods, everything is well kept. DTV, people started doing work on their homes. They found passion and talent in creating a nice space to live and that has continued. There are no more homeless people on the streets because no one has to be homeless anymore. Programs that were started DTV to house the homeless got expanded. Since so many people were working from home, there are now available office buildings that got converted to affordable housing. Clinics in the housing unit provide both physical and mental care. STV, more people have gone into the medical field, inspired by all the heroes who bravely helped DTV. The medical care is low cost for the housing units because Los Angeles has enough budget, now that there is no longer a homeless problem to throw money at.
On the weekends, restaurants and clubs are full. After spending time apart DTV, people realized that it is more fun to go out and interact. That social media friends really don’t replace real friends. Binge watching is no longer the thing that everyone does. Some people still do it occasionally, but reading, board games, seeing plays, live music and just being with family and friends is now more the norm.
Every March 19th, “Stay At Home” day is celebrated. Not by drinking and partying, like St Patrick’s Day, but by staying home. All businesses are closed. People have quiet family celebrations and everyone remembers those who are no longer with us. The people who gave their lives caring for and serving others. Family members who got sick and never recovered. Those who were not fortunate enough to see the new Los Angeles. After the virus.