We won't be allowed to touch each other. We'll sometimes have to queue for groceries. We'll have to cover our faces - all the time. We'll have curfews and alcohol bans. Beaches will close. In some countries, Christmas will literally be cancelled. Certain world leaders will say the virus will just magically disappear.
The perfect April Fool's joke?
Not exactly. Because it's really happening and we're all living through it. Make no mistake, we've had our share of laughs. Remember when our president got his mask stuck over his eyes? Remember when one of our minister's comments was transformed into a wildly successful song called "When People Zol"?
Some might say it's too soon to look back and laugh because we're still living in the days of COVID-19. But as another April dawns, it's worth remembering that last year this time we were only just beginning our "New Normal". (Anyone else tired of hearing those words?) There were so many unknowns, including how long we'd be living in these very strange times. Last April people were shocked that COVID regulations could last until… (gasp)... July! Now it's over a year later and here we are.
We didn't know when schools would re-open. We didn't know when we'd be able to go to restaurants again. But here's another thought… we also didn't know what strength lay within us. How resilient we are. How we have a capacity for humour even in these scary times. Yes, people have been selfish and corrupt. But people have also been incredibly kind. There were a lot of things we didn't know last April. And look at what we know now.
April is always a time for celebrations. We have our multitude of South African public holidays, which are as bad for productivity as they are good for morale. There are a number of religious celebrations this month. Should you subscribe to a particular belief, it's an opportunity for spiritual reflection and tradition. In fact, someone commented that with a virus, a lockdown and load shedding, we're well on our way towards the Ten Plagues.
Of course, we don't know where we'll be next April - or next month or next week. There's no telling when or if the… (sigh)... New Normal will return to the Old Normal or a Different Normal or New Normal 2.0. What we do know is that here we are with another April upon us.
And maybe it's not a bad time for an April Fool's joke to lighten the mood.
So how about this? As if COVID and load shedding weren't enough, an unknown number of crocodiles have escaped from a farm in the Western Cape. Which means that even as they capture them, they'll never know how many are still on the loose.
Oh wait. Not a joke. That happened too.
Happy April 2021!