How Coronavirus Touched Me

Let me say up front, my decision was mostly a financial one.

Two days before I was scheduled to head to San Antonio for The Association of Writers and Writing Convention (AWP), where I was schedule to appear on a panel, the convention organizers announced they were considering whether or not to cancel the event. San Antonio had just had a major scare, and there was reason to be concerned.  

Since the virus hit our newsfeeds I’d heard of events being canceled or of people canceling their travel plans. During those weeks, I’d check in with my travel partner over and over again, saying, “Oh, we’re going. For sure. No doubt. I’m not letting a little fear of coronavirus stop me.”

And surely, this convention would not turn the 10 to 12 thousand people who usually attend away, many of them powerhouses in the literary community.

Truth is, AWP is expensive. The registration alone is hundreds of dollars. Our hotel was over a grand and that was, by far, one of the cheaper hotels available. The airfare was more than what I usually pay to visit family in Minnesota. Attending this four-day convention puts a big dent in my travel budget. In the past I've been able to justify it. This year was different.

Despite the expense, I usually go because it’s the one time a year I get to be around a large section of my cohort … the veteran writing community. It’s a chance to mingle with thousands of new writers and readers. It’s an opportunity to appear on panels and be in talks that let me advance my point of view. This year, I was going to help man the table The Wrath-Bearing Tree and Collateral -- both literary journals that I assist with fiction editing -- had a shared table in the book fair hall. For months I looked forward to sharing that table with some of my most favorite people and savored the idea of having rare hours of time to spend with them.

But, when I considered the attendance this year would be much diminished because of the virus threat, the potential cancellation announcements just days before the convention, the fact that I had purchased travel insurance (we shall see if the insurer makes good on their policy) and the mayor of San Antonio declaring a medical emergency, I couldn’t square the financial outlay with the threat of infection and a greatly contracted attendance.

Not to mention, according to this administration's health experts, not only am I "elderly" by their definition, I've had pneumonia before, so getting this thing could result in more serious consequences for me than for younger people without my medical history.

"... the US Department of Health and Human Services "is in the process of doing targeted outreach to the elderly community and those that have serious underlying health conditions."

"Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University professor and longtime adviser to the CDC, said these two groups should consider avoiding activities such as traveling by airplane, going to movie theaters, attending family events, shopping at crowded malls, and going to religious services."

Fri. March 6, 2020, CNN report by Elizabeth Cohen

They define elderly as those "over 60." Soooooo, that's me!? Elderly? Really??

Did I make the right decision? My head says, no. My wallet says, yes. My heart says, DAMN YOU CORONAVIRUS!