Ghost?

April 18th, 2020| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

We have COVID. And with it COVIDspeak. The virus is changing the way we speak! All over the world. And quickly, too.

There’s “covidiot.” It’s even in the Urban Dictionary.

(If you don’t know who or what a covidiot is, it’s is exactly what you suspect it is. That dumbo with 300 rolls of toilet paper in their shopping cart. I.e., anyone behaving stupidly or irresponsibly in these days of crisis—covidiotic behavior: partying on beaches, spitting on items in a grocery store. Etc.)

There is hamsteren (Dutch): one who stuffs his face like a hamster. I.e., hoarder. Yup, that covidiot with 300 rolls of TP is also hamsteren-ing.

Quarantini. For those who take to alcohol to assuage their panic. As they go to “virtual happy hours.”

Zoom. Used as a verb. (Self-explanatory).

Flattening the curve. Social distancing. Self-quarantine. All are making it to Merriam Webster soon.

Coronaspeck (German) = coronavirus fat. Happens as you feed your fear, with all the stuff we covidiots hamsteren-ed away. What’s a few pounds between (socially distanced) friends? More chocolate, anybody?

Then there is Geisterspiel (also German) = Ghost play. First happened on March 11. In the Bundesliga, Germany’s top soccer division. The virus (also known as “‘Rona”) was spreading and so the city of Mönchengladbach (West Germany) decided that the game against FC Cologne would take place sans fans.

Wrote the weekly, Die Zeit:

Inside the deserted 54,000-seater stadium the announcer rattled through his usual script: team line-ups, league standings, and then, finally, spectator numbers: ‘Today, there are none.’ The hosts won 2–1, but the victory felt hollow. It is sport without a heart.”

Ghost play!

Reported the Economist:

Germany’s is the world’s third most valuable league, and some teams fear that they will go bankrupt if the season is voided. With no end in sight to Germany’s restrictions on mass gatherings Christian Seifert, head of the German Football League, says that Geisterspiele might be the only way to conclude the season.”

But fans are clever. During their team’s Giesterspiele game against Cologne, Mönchengladbach-ians gathered outside the stadium, and yelled and cheered, hoping the sound would penetrate the empty stadium. So now you had a Ghost play haunted by invisible human fans.

All this talk about ghosts in crisis reminds me of Mark 6.

The disciples of Jesus are on a boat, alone. Jesus is on land. A storm assaults the travelers.

And seeing them straining to row—for the wind was against them—
around the fourth watch of the night He came to them walking on the sea
and He wanted to pass by them.
But when they saw Him on the sea walking,
they though that it was a ghost, and they cried out.
For they all saw Him and were terrified.
Mark 6:48–50

And this, right after Jesus had miraculously multiplied five loaves and two fish and fed 5,000. There were even twelve basketfuls of leftovers! Ghost, indeed!

For they did not understand about the bread,
but their heart had been hardened.
Mark 6:52

Jesus gets into the boat. Calms the storm. And they get to shore safe and sound.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

Though death’s valley I may pass,
Still Thy grace will fear surpass;
In Thy presence I will rest,
And, while leaning on Thy breast,
I will hear Thee say to me,
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

Edward Hopper (1871)

No ghost that. That’s God!

SOURCES:
The Economist; Claremont-Courier.com