In Plague Times

It's a good time to read a fantastic Italian tale--The Decameron--set in fourteenth-century Florence, Italy, during an epidemic of Bubonic plague. Ten young people, so Boccaccio's story begins, decide to self-isolate in an uninhabited villa outside the city in hopes avoiding a death just as awful, and even uglier, than that caused by corona virus. Without social media or any other modern convenience, they keep their spirits up by telling stories, and that's the meaning of the title, drawn from the Greek, which translates as ten stories in ten days. The seven young women and three young men avoid all physical contact, but vent their feelings in a series of ravishingly erotic and funny yarns, with just a few tragic ones thrown in for contrast. The book inspired Chaucer's raciest stories, like the Miller's Tale, involving a gorgeous young woman, her two suitors, and her hapless husband--that's the G-rated version of the tale. 

In my latex hospital-grade gloves--worn partly for protection, partly to remind me not to touch my face--I went to the local DM, where we had to stand outside in a line--we chose to stand about three feet apart from each other--because only three or four customers were allowed in the store at once. I'm glad I ordered toilet paper from Amazon while I still could, along with the ingredients for hand sanitizer. 

When I was out on the street, a man standing a good fifteen or twenty feet away sneezed loudly without covering his nose and then, for good measure, coughed. I edged as far away as possible, darting into Edeka where there's still plenty of produce but no paper products of any kind. Occasionally passing people on the street, I held my breath. 

Germany has 11,973 cases, up 2,606 since yesterday, and the U.S. 7,687, up 1,276. But Germany has lost 28 people to corona virus, and the U.S. 117--already. 

Update, March 21: According to World-0-Meter, the USA now has 19,774 cases, 391 new since yesterday, and 275 deaths. America has almost caught up to Germany, which has 19,848 cases, 68 deaths.
We are all mortal, but Germany excels at planning, managing, organizing, cleaning, and rule-following--traits that, when they emerge in relation to any art form, are profoundly destructive.

But in an epidemic, these annoyances are just the ticket. I can't think of a location I'd rather  contract this illness in, if I were compelled to do so. I hope, of course, that I'm among the lucky, but time will tell.