FILE- In this Wednesday, April 16, 2014, file photo, passengers walk past the medical quarantine area showing information sheets for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus at the arrival section of Manila’s International Airport in Paranaque, south of Manila. One expert says recent outbreaks of MERS in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that led to more than 20 infections, many among health-care workers, “have put us into uncharted territory.” (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The global economy is grinding to a screeching halt, schools are closing, sporting events are being canceled, and fights are breaking out in supermarkets over toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Today, the media tells us as many as 21 million Americans may require hospitalization before this is over and we only have 925,000 beds. From the tone and the content of the media coverage of the coronavirus crisis, one would think it was 1940 and we were living through the London Blitz.

I came across Jester D’s thread on Twitchy and found it so compelling, I wanted to share it with my readers. It comes as a breath of fresh air after all of the fear-mongering and finger-pointing. The following text message thread written by “Jester D,” a garbageman, puts this health crisis into its proper perspective. Essentially, he tells us to keep putting one foot in front of the other and doing the next right thing and we’ll get through it. It’s not the end of the world. We’re all going to be okay. His words are grounding and reassuring.

Jester writes:

I’m a garbageman, I can’t work from home and my job is an essential city service that must get done. It’s a tough job, from getting up pre-dawn to the physical toll it takes on my body to the monotonous nature of the job, at times it’s hard to keep on going.

Right now though, right now I am feeling an extra sense of pride and purpose as I do my work. I see the people, my people, of my city, peeking out their windows at me. They’re scared, we’re scared. Scared but resilient.

Us garbagemen are gonna keep collecting the garbage, doctors and nurses are gonna keep doctoring and nurse-ering. It’s gonna be ok, we’re gonna make it be ok. I love my city. I love my country. I love my planet Earth. Be good to each other and we’ll get through this. 💕

After Jester’s thread went viral, he posted a new message:

Wow you guys I don’t even know what to do with a viral tweet. I have nothing to promote and if I did, I wouldn’t do it on this tweet.
My heart is filled to bursting with this response to my words, I’m just a dude with a phone and a little spare time. Thank you. 🤗💛💫

Thanks, Jester. We needed to hear this.

I’m a garbageman, I can’t work from home and my job is an essential city service that must get done. It’s a tough job, from getting up pre-dawn to the physical toll it takes on my body to the monotonous nature of the job, at times it’s hard to keep on going.
Thread 1/3

— Jester D is for Distance (@JustMeTurtle) March 14, 2020

Us garbagemen are gonna keep collecting the garbage, doctors and nurses are gonna keep doctoring and nurse-ering. It’s gonna be ok, we’re gonna make it be ok. I love my city. I love my country. I love my planet Earth. Be good to each other and we’ll get through this. 💕

— Jester D is for Distance (@JustMeTurtle) March 14, 2020

Wow you guys I don’t even know what to do with a viral tweet. I have nothing to promote and if I did, I wouldn’t do it on this tweet.
My heart is filled to bursting with this response to my words, I’m just a dude with a phone and a little spare time.
Thank you 😊🧡💫

— Jester D (@JustMeTurtle) March 15, 2020

H/T: Twitchy