Incessant Need to Socialize Will Kill More People

Friday evening I ventured outside of my apartment building and sat atop our adjacent parking garage to gaze out at Downtown Dallas. For a moment, a still and calming night air silenced the confusion and frustration surrounding the pandemic.

Partygoers who had convened earlier that evening at our building’s swimming pool abruptly interrupted the momentary peace. While the pool is closed for safety reasons, these teens and 20-somethings wanted to gather, so that’s exactly what they did. I watched as they poured drinks, sat shoulder to shoulder inside of the gazebos, shared the same hookah, danced, repeatedly took dips in the swimming pool and ran back and forth into the building.

None of them live here.

They are part of the ever-growing number of young people renting out Airbnb units to party. Two of my neighbors joined me on the roof and for some three hours we watched as countless young people filed into our building, toting party essentials. As I looked at them, many of them weren’t a day older than some of my high school students. The low cost of Airbnb units during the pandemic must’ve appealed to them and their incessant need to party – so that is what they did.

Much to the chagrin of the 40 or so residents left here at my Downtown Dallas highrise, there are units here that go for as little as $35/per night. Yes, you read that correctly – in a building where many of us pay upwards of $1600 per month in rent, teenagers and young adults are renting out units for less than $50 per night. Not even a ban by Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, temporarily halting the rentals of such units slowed down these Airbnb companies.

Every single night partygoers who have either gone stir crazy during a fictitious Dallas shutdown or those who simply have no regard for public health during a pandemic overtake our building.

These young people don’t own their own homes. Neither do they have their own apartments, hence their decision to rent a party space. So what are the chances they won't go home to a shared space with their parents, grandparents, siblings and smaller children?

What are the chances that after a Friday night of partying they didn't go home, touch the back door, open the refrigerator door, sit a purse or phone on the counter tops, utilize a family bathroom, toss their dirty clothes into a shared hamper and then pass out on the couch?

They did all of the aforementioned and thought nothing of it, because this is what they normally do. That is the problem – during a pandemic, we simply cannot afford to do what we normally do.

In many of their homes is the sweet abuela who makes sure that they have a gourmet meal several times per week, even with all of her underlying health conditions. In many of their homes is the father who returned to work a few months ago after recovering from a stroke and an extensive stay in the hospital. In many of their homes is the single mother who doesn’t want them to grow bored and complacent in the absence of school, so she doesn’t start a fight when they go out or attempt to bring a friend over. In many of their homes are young and innocent children, who should be kept safe by adults practicing safety now moreso than ever in the home. All of these innocent lives are put in jeopardy because of these young people and their incessant need to convene.

This behavior epitomizes the cross-cultural entitlement in this country. Yes, it’s hard to tell a grown person what to do. Someone who pays a car note doesn’t take lightly to being told where to go, however, every single young person convened at our swimming pool on Friday night and at various gatherings around the city should’ve arrived home in the wee hours of Saturday morning to find dead-bolted doors.

Take a stroll through social media right now. Many of your friends and mine are not on an essential drive to the grocery store, nor are they on their way to the pharmacy to pick up necessary medications. They are convening at parks to show off their online fashion purchases, to flaunt their cars and sadly to argue and fight.

While I can’t speak for other cities, I can say with certainty that Dallas was never truly shutdown. Throughout both March and April, people moved about this city as freely as they did in October. Sure, restaurants and nightclubs were closed, but gatherings were still very much in effect.

I’m not sure if many of these individuals are in denial, uninformed or simply don’t care. As of today, the Trump Administration predicts that by June, 3,000 people will die each day due to COVID-19.  Many of those to perish will not be the irresponsible partygoers and those who refuse to compromise their social lives. They will be the innocent grandparents; parents, children and essential workers who either don’t know how or can’t find it in their hearts to turn away their nonsensical loved ones.

And then will come the trauma, the lifelong battle with guilt and regret. Your nights of partying, meeting up at the park, inviting your friends over because you’re bored and having birthday parties will ensure that some of the people who love you the most won’t be around for your next birthday.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday. My mom and I have the healthiest relationship that a mother and daughter can have, and I’m wrecking my brain to figure out a way to have dinner with her on the patio, so that we can remain six feet apart. Why? My mom, a very active community member has remained in her home for six weeks and has only made essential trips. I on the other hand, live in a building where I have to access a public elevator to get outside and I also have to wear gloves and a mask to take out the trash. My chances of exposure are much greater.

The objective is to move like you already have the virus and don’t want to give it to the people you care about.

Unfortunately too many people in our society think that they are immune to this virus. You refuse to stop your normal routines, but will expect the world to stop for your heartache when you lose a loved one. Stop being selfish.

To those of us making every effort to be safe – stop being so tolerant of THE SELFISH.