The other day, I was walking in downtown Boston, and walked past a pharmacy. From a distance, I would read a poster on the window saying ‘Stay protected’. As I got closer, I realized that of course it was talking about COVID-19. Now you say what is odd about this? Not much, but .....
I recall a couple of decades ago, when you walked by pharmacies, you had the same message on their windows, except that it was telling you to ‘stay protected’ against AIDS, by using condoms! I also remember when AIDS meant ‘a lot of help’, and not a deadly disease. I also remember that Cannabis sale was considered so illegal, that under Reagan presidency the US forced the Mexican government to attack Cannabis farms, thus making it more expensive. This only drove the rise of other , much more serious drugs, such as Crack and for the more fortunate, Cocaine. Oh I also remember a time when you were seen as suspicious, if you walked into any place (store, bank, office building) with your face covered.
I guess it is no scoop to say that in the last 4 decades, and possibly the next couple, we have been and will be singing Bob Dylan’s words, «Times they are A-changing». It just remains to be seen if it is for the better or the worse.
NB- Spring Equinox is here, and I will be off until April 3
Paris, March 16, 2023
Zeejay