Whimsies

In 1722 Daniel Defoe wrote about the bubonic plague that ravaged London in 1665. In his Journal of a Plague Year, Defoe offered this observation of people living in a unforgiving maelstrom of disease: “their fears were predominant over all their passions and they threw away their money in a most distracted manner upon those whimsies. “

In 92128 Defoe’s observation is manifest in the careening Amazon, Fed Ex and UPS trucks that briefly halt in front of homes where the quarantined indulge what passions they can. Tupperware, throw pillows, books, KN95masks and a bounty of other products land on the porches of the those afflicted by the virus anxiety. This spate of consumerism suggest that we are desperately seeking normalcy and control in the midst of chaos. It is satisfying in the extreme to find that our passions can be requited in spite of everything.

A smart purchase gives us comfort and a quick delivery restores our faith. The Londoners of 1665 must have had their own coping mechanisms. Today – in a capitalist society – our happiness is weirdly tied to the acquisition of goods, and fortunes are being made by those who know how to satisfy our acquisitive passions. In fact, the deliveries have become quotidian in both senses of the word – “daily” and “mundane”.

An entire wall of my garage is now lined with bales of paper towels and we have throw pillows festooning every piece of furniture from sofa to chairs to bed top.

Yet, I don’t minimize the need to throw some money at whimsies. It makes perfect sense. The other day we got six large bottles of ketchup delivered to our front door and I knew it was time to order a similar delivery of ground beef…way leads on to way. Friends have ordered tools and toys that make their fears dissipate. This seems as good a way as any to survive the plague. Defoe said, ” fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.” Maybe…

I am currently awaiting a number of deliveries and I make no apologies for it. Again, Defoe catches my drift. “The height of human wisdom is to bring our tempers down to our circumstances and to make a calm within, under the weight of the greatest storm without.” So find your calm and dig out your credit card. You have always wanted one of those heap filter air cleaners.

Stay passionate.