Hospitality by KimB

Things have certainly changed on the planet. Well, the planet is still here but there are about 2.5 million fewer humans due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 525,000 dead in the USA.

We are partly through the storm and still have a long ways to go to find out how this virus will impact human populations into the far future. At the moment, it looks like we will have the COVID-19 virus around forever in countries that did not engage in Zero Tolerance, with regular outbreaks occuring in the population. In other countries that opted for Zero Tolerance at the beginning, their biggest worries now are US(A) hauling our virus laden bodies, trade goods, food and exports into their countries. Some are getting pretty good at realizing Quarantine means Quarantine.

One of the changes that's been going on for a while, is a change in our social interactions. COVID-19 has made most social interactions a bad idea, but people like people, and they want to pass along their infection so everyone can share. Some people die from this: 525,000 so far.

One of the old hallmarks of the USA was our Hospitality ¹. Our friendly outgoing nature. Our open views and eagerness to experience the world and to meet other people from all walks of life (as the saying goes).

Something flipped.

It's been flipping for some time now but it's pretty obvious that the whole concept of Hospitality has hit the dustbin.

I am not sure when it all started but we can trace the slow ebb and drain in my own lifetime. 

Remember when: 

• You didn't lock the doors 
• You talked with the neighbors 
• You visited other people's houses 
• You played with the neighbor kids 
• You took people who needed a ride to an appointment 
• You didn't pull down the blinds or drapes until nightfall 
• You could ask people questions 
• You could invite a stranger into your home 
• You fed a stranger who came to "beg a meal" 
• You could sleep with the windows wide open 
• You could borrow a "cup of sugar" if you just wanted to chat 
• There was always room for one more at the table

It was one of the biggest differences between the United States and other countries where Class, Social Standing, Wealth, Pedigree, Title, School Affiliation are the indicators of who you can or cannot talk to or interact with.

Long ago, during a summer trip with Grandmother and Grandfather, the car broke down while traveling through a semi-rural neighborhood somewhere in the Upper Midwest. The houses were on large lots, maybe acreages. The houses were older wooden structures, well kept, nearly all with white paint which was The House color at the time. They had large grassy areas in the front, side and backyards. No fences.

We pulled over to the side of the road and waited while Granddad diagnosed the problem. He said it wouldn't take too long to fix.

Soon a man came from one of the houses to inquire what was the problem. Grandfather explained the situation. The man invited us to come sit under the shade trees in his backyard and have some ice tea while the repair was done.

We all greatfully accepted. It was hot. The shade was cool and the man brought out extra chairs for us to sit on. His family came out and brought the cold ice tea for us. It was Just Perfect.

The man went to help Grandfather repair the car and brought some tools to make the repair easier. Soon they had finished and they came to sit under the large shade tree out of the hot summer sun.

The adults talked and exchanged news. The man said he had killed a snake while mowing that morning, so he and Granddad went to check out what kind of snake it was. It was a water moccasin.² Granddad offered some advice on how to keep the snakes away from the house. Everyone noded sagely.

Soon the hot day began to cool and it was time to continue our journey. We thanked the people for their kindness, piled back into the car and headed for the next adventure.

I do not think I ever knew the people's names or perhaps I have forgotten over the decades. I have never forgotten their kindness and their graciousness, or their open welcome of total strangers passing by and briefly stopping to share a life's moment with them.

I did not realize how special those few hours were until many years later.

Not once did they make us feel unwelcome, awkward or mention the color of our skin: white.

1. 1 ht tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality
   

   Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, where in the host receives the guest with goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis, chevalier de Jaucourt describes hospitality in the Encyclopédie as the virtue of a great soul that cares for the whole universe through the ties of humanity.

2. 2 ht tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_moccasin

   It is the world's only semiaquatic viper.... It is the only venomous species of North America's water snakes and one of 21 venomous snakes in the United States.