i don't have any family in the city i live in.

my father died of cancer in 2013. his father died in the late 80s or early 90s (i remember it, but i can't place it in time). his mother moved to british columbia a few years later in an attempt to start a new life and asked her children not to contact her, although some contact was reestablished many years later; i have no relationship with her, by her choice. i'd guess most of my father's siblings are probably dead by now, as they were all in very poor health, but i've maintained no contact with any of them at all.

my mother is in her 60s and has smoked since she was 12. she's a sitting duck. i don't want anything to do with her, generally, but i wouldn't go anywhere near her right now - she should lock herself inside of the house until christmas. she can order groceries online. i don't have a relationship with her father. her mother is now 80, and has apparently been moved into a care facility due to a struggle with dementia. i would avoid her like i have the plague....

so, i don't have to deal with this.

but, i would not be stupid about it. i would be very clear: i would tell them i am a clear and present danger to their health, and i can't go near them for their own safety. and, if they don't understand then that's too fucking bad.

i'm not going to coddle them with lies and delusions to stop them from crying, and kill them in the process.

because i know better: attempts to prevent this from spreading are futile. we're going to have to build immunity, and we will.