Pia Araneta on the Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Plague on Language
March 3, 2021
In Ann Arbor, Michigan, a man and his wife take their daily walk around the neighborhood, pointing out things that weren’t there yesterday. They spot newly bloomed flowers, Black Lives Matter signage, and an oversized Costco stuffed bear in front of one of the houses. They’ve seen the bear dressed up in different costumes and in at least half a dozen positions on a chair outside.
In Grand Mere State Park, Michigan, a woman grabs a spot on the beach, a place she’s frequented growing up. In the last two years, the beachfront has eroded, destroying the shoreline and bringing the boats in closer and closer. Usually, she wouldn’t be able to get a spot on the weekends because of overcrowding tourists, but today, there are few people, and the waves are calm around her.